Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

29 reviews

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: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, 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: 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

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

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, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and War

Minor: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Trafficking, and Abortion

libraryghost's review against another edition

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

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

Minor: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

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

ekmoore11's review against another edition

reflective sad tense medium-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: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Rape

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