Reviews

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

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szirbel's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed Emma Donahue newest book. It centers around a nurse who is mostly alone with three pregnant women who are all sick with the Spanish Flu. She receives the help of a strange young girl who is instrumental in helping her get through three harrowing deliveries. Ireland’s first female doctor is also at the hospital and provides guidance all while being a fugitive as part of the resistance for a free Ireland. A great listen!

jozie_bookshelf's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

"The one that gives most trouble, the mother loves double."

I loved this quote because it reminded me of my little girl and having an emergency c-section. I'm so thankful for modern medicine! Childbirth is scary, but in the early 1900s, especially during the pandemic, it would have been even more terrifying, and this book really details that. This book is not for the faint of heart, I couldn't help but cringe at some of the descriptions.

The Pull of the Stars is about Nurse Julie Powers, who is working in Dublin, Ireland, in the maternity and fever ward in the middle of the influenza pandemic during World War I. While on shift, Nurse Powers encounters two extraordinary women; Bridie Sweeney, a young volunteer, and Doctor Kathleen Lynn, who is on the run from the police.

Once I got used to Emma's writing style, I was hooked. This book has no chapters and is separated into four parts; Red, Brown, Blue, and Black (which took me until the very end of the book to understand the significance). Also, the dialogue has no quotation marks. At first, this really bothered me, but I think it actually made the story flow better.

rhiannonshaw's review against another edition

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emotional sad

Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

tessmcn's review

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

Judging by the summary, I thought this would be right up my alley, but it was pretty gory for me so I ended up skipping over some of the parts because my stomach couldn’t stand it. Recommend if you aren’t too squeamish as she really gets into the surgical aspects - turns out I’m squeamish.

I got zero chemistry between Bridie and Julia. it felt like such a beautiful sister friendship and then they were kissing? maybe it’s the audio book but I wasn’t feeling it.

BIG SPOILER

then Bridie just died?? like all of a sudden, which I guess would happen but right after their kiss? very “bury your gays” trope which isn’t for me