Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

25 reviews

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, Death, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: War

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

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

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

Minor: Alcohol

phoebeeandjam's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! I think that this may be my favourite book of all time (to be fair, I haven’t read that many books). 

Though it isn’t the central focus, it is queer! I felt like the characters were written beautifully. 

It took me a minute to get used to the writing style, and there were a lot of nouns I hadn’t heard before because I was not alive in 1918 and I am not Irish lol but I was able to use context clues to get the idea. Despite this, I loved every second of The Pull of the Stars, and I read it every chance I got. I was sad when it ended, and I will likely reread it in the near future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Medical content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Forced institutionalization and War

wreathedinviolets's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I love that Emma Donoghue books always feel fully immersed in a setting and time. Honestly reading about a novel set during a different pandemic is oddly comforting. I wish the events were spread across more than just a few days but boy are those days completely packed with plot! 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse and Forced institutionalization

ladysanctuary's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism

Minor: War

atrkula's review against another edition

inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Sexism, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Grief

kathleencoughlin's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-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

3.5

A bit close for comfort at the moment. I liked the story overall, but I'm a bit tired of

reading queer love interests die.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

Minor: Pedophilia, Suicide, Excrement, and War

katie_biggs7's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, and Blood

Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization

carlybellesbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Religious bigotry

eniatea's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent