Reviews

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

goslinggander's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

riahwamby's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

what a gorgeous, slow story of life and death in the time of disease 

readwithchlo's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

thelaurelwreathcrowned's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

jennifermilanovic's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

viridializard's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

giulias_reading_nook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

lucyabilene's review against another edition

3.0

Never. Having. Kids.

rebekahrahrah's review against another edition

3.0

Reading a novel set in a maternity ward during the influenza pandemic was maybe not the best choice of read while pregnant in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic... This aside, Donoghue's writing is always lovely but the plot felt rushed. I would have preferred this story to stretch out a little longer (selfishly), but I guess as with the nature of pandemics, you don't always get to make the choice on how long something lasts for.

meghan_plethoraofpages's review against another edition

4.0

Set over three days near the end of WW1 in 1918 in Dublin, Ireland, The Pull of the Stars follows Nurse Power on her shifts in the Maternity/Fever ward. The author really puts the reader right alongside her going about her duties, showing the ins and outs of her day.

“Cover up each cough or sneeze... Fools and traitors spread disease” .. one of my favourite parts was getting a feel for what living in Dublin during this difficult time might have been like. The presence of an unseen microscopic enemy causing fear and superstition paralleled spring of last year in a disturbing way.

As a nurse myself I was fascinated seeing an interpretation of historical nursing (imagine mixing your own saline bags out of water and salt!?). Some of the quotes Nurse Power has really ring true to many nurses today - “ Nursing was like being under a spell; you went in very young and came out older than any span of years could make you” (page 154) - if you know you know nurse friends