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nikkilerae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
By Emma Donoghue
4.5 ⭐️
No Spoilers
This book is written from the perspective of a 30 year old unmarried catholic nurse in Ireland during the Spanish Flu epidemic. She worked in the makeshift fever ward for expecting mothers. Her story tells of the hard work to try and keep the people she nursed alive when the flu was taking many souls daily. The stress of being understaffed was insurmountable but she trudges on. She also has to deal with the Protestant/catholic rift in an unbiased manner, which is pretty hard to do when you were raised from birth to believe certain things. This story takes place over just a few days and really gives you a strong idea of what it would’ve been like to work along side Nurse Powers.
Tissues will be needed - This story was so well written and I loved it, but there are several scenes that triggered strong emotions. The only reason I gave this book 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because I felt like the end was a bit rushed. The ending was still amazing, but there was potential there to extend the story a bit.
If you love strong women and historical fiction this book is for you! Even if you just love strong women characters. This book is excellent and I highly recommend it. Please read the Trigger Warnings.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
amber2020's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Medical trauma
booksandteatime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse
isaaah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, War, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, and Abandonment
lee_s's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Lesbophobia
bessadams's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Vomit, Death of parent, and War
leontyna's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Sexual violence, Violence, and Vomit
stargirlmolly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence and War
sarahflanders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
avisreadsandreads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse and Mental illness
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, and War