Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Pull of the Stars, by Emma Donoghue

22 reviews

ashfantastic98's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, and Child death

wonderforehead's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-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

I don’t even know where to start. Much like what the narrator says at one point, what happens in this book is like a fever dream. What felt like a slow start was slowly eclipsed by the struggles that just kept coming, one after another, in that makeshift maternity ward. At the same time, I wished the book was longer, much as it made me feel all sorts of things. But then again, I think I just wish that because of at the end of the day, this book just breaks my heart. It’s hopeful in some ways, but bitter in others. I’m rambling now but basically, I think I’m gonna remember this book for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Medical trauma

Moderate: War

Minor: Physical abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Child abuse

alisonmac86's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Physical abuse and Vomit

hanmitche11's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Started out so slow until towards the end of RED. Was fully engaged in the story for chapters BROWN and BLUE and then less engaged for BLACK. The romantic relationship felt forced. Was it just to make readers feel more invested in the ending? I think it could have felt more organic without it and still pulled at my heartstrings. The author's note on the real Dr. Lynn was appreciated. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

Minor: Physical abuse

thealienamongus's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Miscarriage, Slavery, Death, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, War, Classism, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Alcohol

kodkod's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Drug use, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Vomit

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, and War

archaicrobin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

This is the second book by Emma Donoghue I’ve read and the first that I actually really enjoyed. Set during the flu pandemic of 1918, you follow Nurse Power as she takes control of the pregnant flu ward and does her best to keep her patients alive. To assist her is young Bride Sweeney and the first female doctor to set foot on the ward, Dr. Lynn. 

Historical fiction is always interesting to read and The Pull of The Stars grabbed me right away. The book describes the current state of Ireland and immerses you in Nurse Power’s life. There is a lot of medical content and it’s graphic at points, so if births or medical content makes you uncomfortable this one might be rough. 

If you’re interested in historical fiction or want to read a strong feminist tale of how three women work together to save lives then read this one! I would highly recommend the audiobook as well. It was so hard to even put it down, I listened to it for 3 hours straight one day!

The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5, is the ending for this novel. I felt like it escalated very quickly and it was abrupt for me as a reader, since the novel seems to hold a study pace until that point. Despite the ending I still greatly enjoyed this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, and Death

auscaz's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Physical abuse

francestea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow! Even though this book takes place over just three days it’s anything but slow paced. Like Room and The Wonder, the cast of characters is small and somewhat trapped by their circumstances. If you liked her other books then this one holds up. I’d also recommend this if you enjoyed the Call the Midwife series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, and War

Minor: Abortion, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Trafficking

libraryghost's review

dark emotional informative 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

4.75

Broke my "No Pandemic Books During a Pandemic" rule but it was worth it.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, and Blood

Moderate: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, War, and Grief

Minor: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse