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clemrain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Violence, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Excrement, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
This shattering story takes place over three strenuous days of a nurse and runner in a maternity ward during the influenza pandemic. It’s a difficult, slow read that dives into the little hours of horrors experienced by the most vulnerable. I don’t really have the words for this book. I had a very vague knowledge of the influenza pandemic. But academic readings don’t do the justice to this tragic period of time. This book does and I think it’s because it’s takes a very small real part of the pandemic and focuses on it. The world is so much more than just the grand scheme of things. I don’t know much about Ireland’s history past the famine most of us are taught about. But of course just like any country, Ireland had its l share of religious trauma. I wanted to scream and yell and cry. The romance was so fleeting but it was impactful. I wish it had been woven into the plot a bit earlier butsarah984's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The last third was just too much for me though, way too soap opera-ish for me with all the romance and drama crammed into two days. After the weight of the rest of the book it felt kind of silly.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Confinement, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicide, and Trafficking