Scan barcode
veeronald's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Excrement, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicide and Toxic relationship
emilyeehaw's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
this book was such an interesting read! we follow julia, a nurse in a maternity/fever ward, trying to help expectant mothers who also have the flu. reading about a flu epidemic while being in a pandemic was definitely a journey. there were several moments where i had to pause and just marvel at how history repeats itself, the understaffed hospital, how quickly people get sick, the fear of people just trying to live their lives, the government incompetence, all of it.
i loved our main character, julia, she was competent and compassionate and was just doing her best. i loved the moments when she realized how fucked up some aspects of her society and her job were and bent the rules to do the most good.
the descriptions of giving birth and carrying a baby....OOF made me want to never have children. the author clearly did research into the practices of 1918 and maternal health because there were moments when i wondered "how could someone possibly know all of this?" it felt so real and well-described as if the author herself was somehow a time traveling nurse from this period of history.
tw: discussions of miscarriage, stillbirth, maternal death, child abuse, domestic violence, a pandemic, war, graphic descriptions of child birth, medical procedures
i loved our main character, julia, she was competent and compassionate and was just doing her best. i loved the moments when she realized how fucked up some aspects of her society and her job were and bent the rules to do the most good.
the descriptions of giving birth and carrying a baby....OOF made me want to never have children. the author clearly did research into the practices of 1918 and maternal health because there were moments when i wondered "how could someone possibly know all of this?" it felt so real and well-described as if the author herself was somehow a time traveling nurse from this period of history.
tw: discussions of miscarriage, stillbirth, maternal death, child abuse, domestic violence, a pandemic, war, graphic descriptions of child birth, medical procedures
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, and Medical content
j_sherrill's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
marieketron's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I listened to the audiobook for this and the narrator had a great voice and rhythm, but there were two moments I noted where she very suddenly increased in volume which gave me a small jump scare. The story on covers three days, which I didn’t realise at the start and is probably why the ending felt a bit sudden to me. The characters all are distinct and reflect a variety of backgrounds. I could really relate with the main character second guessing herself as she is left in a position of responsibility and authority. She is occasionally overwhelmed but often managed to rally. I’m not sure if I wish we had more of her approach in the current pandemic, but she does bring a human touch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, and Medical trauma
Minor: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, and Religious bigotry
annabunce's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
You definitely got the feeling editing on this book was rushed to get it out the door given the topic's relevance. I think about 12 people "shrugged" in response to a question which was painful. This book would be great if you're someone who loves a medical drama or find medical procedures fascinating but honestly I got a bit squeamish while reading all the graphic details. Like other books of Emma Donoghue the pacing of this book was a bit frustrating -sllloooowww build for 3/4 of the book and then all the action right at the end. Overall still interesting - Emma does a good job of researching and the information on Dr. Lynn, residential boarding homes, the 1918 flu and a window into 1918 Ireland was all really interesting but if you're squeamish I'd pass on this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Miscarriage, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
bookishbrittany's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This story hit hard.
I listened to it on audiobook so I didn't experience the lack of punctuation in the text and I think because of that I was about to take in the story more. I appreciate the unapologetic truth that giving birth is not pretty. Even more so at the height of the Spanish Flu/the end of World War I in Ireland.
This book is not for the faint of heart, but wow does it pack a punch and it hits close to home.
This is my first book by Donoghue and I think I may pick up her other books now because I enjoyed her writing style and they way she crafts a story.
I listened to it on audiobook so I didn't experience the lack of punctuation in the text and I think because of that I was about to take in the story more. I appreciate the unapologetic truth that giving birth is not pretty. Even more so at the height of the Spanish Flu/the end of World War I in Ireland.
This book is not for the faint of heart, but wow does it pack a punch and it hits close to home.
This is my first book by Donoghue and I think I may pick up her other books now because I enjoyed her writing style and they way she crafts a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Miscarriage, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Minor: Death and Misogyny
phoxyphoenix's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Vomit, and Religious bigotry
that_bookish_life's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
That's what influenza means, she said. Influenza delle stelle - the influence of the stars. Medieval Italians thought the illness proved that the heavens were governing their fates, that people were quite literally star-crossed.
Julia Power is a nurse in 1918 Dublin, Ireland, a midwife overseeing the maternity/fever ward at an understaffed city hospital. Both inside the ward and out, war and flu rage while nurse Power tries to preserve life and comfort those within her charge.
Part of my coping strategy for the current pandemic is reading books about pandemics (see: As Bright as Heaven, The End of October, and The Lightest Object in the Universe for recent examples.) Something about dark times always makes me reach for even darker books. It's just what I do.
The Pull of the Stars is set over the course of 3 days. I loved the micro look at an early 20th century maternity ward. Birth and maternity care is described in great detail and the challenges and triumphs of childbirth are transcendent of time. Nurse Power is an admirable character, throwing herself fully into her duties despite the wear on herself. The writing is stylized, but I enjoyed it and found it fitting. The sense of place is strongly felt, just as claustrophobic and needy as the story itself.
The scope of this narrative is very narrow, but says so much about wider topics: society, religion, politics, but really, birth and affairs related to women always do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Miscarriage
This will be a challenging read for anyone with birth trauma. There are detailed descriptions of birth, including stillbirth and hemorrhage, and other challenging circumstances.
More...