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katiewhocanread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
Graphic: Death, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death
ginabyeg'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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
brdgtc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bookscatteandme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
a_26_l'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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
ccornejo's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Child death and Pregnancy
writingcaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A maternity nurse sees herself in a position of more power managing a ward for pregnant women suspected of having the grippe — what they initially called the Spanish Influenza.
The whole story takes place in 3 days but however slow and dark the start much happens after, and in a way showcases a lot of the spirit and morale of Dublin in 1918 with the WWI and the division between the Irish that supported the King and Country, and those who did not, who felt they should care for their own and not be taken as cattle to a war they had no part in. There are also the losses, people dying in the streets, families being found all dead at home — a disease that was unseen and affected mostly the poor who shared small quarters and were forced to work to feed their numerous families. Last, the cruelty of the church is in much focus as well. The indentured children and young women, the abuse and cruelty, the disregard for life, the false morality.
And, of course, our nurse! Oh, what a character! What surprises she unveils about herself. What insight in her caring for her muted-by-shell-shock in the war brother, in her relationship with an orphan, kin to learn, bright and older than her years girl that comes to help the ward, and with the orderlies and the female doctor (a real life personality), a rebel and a progressive.
Also, pregnancy! The horror and the miracle. Death, a curse and a final rest.
What a book!
Don’t hesitate if you like historical novels with focus on character.
‼️And, with the added - SPOILER ALERT ‼️
LGBTQIA+ representation
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse
LGBTQIA+ representationswhitzel's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
2.5
Generally, this was a beautiful story, but it also seemed quite abrupt (in its ending) and felt as though it had little resolution. Based on the synopsis, I expected more of a relationship to develop between the three main women, and yet the connections felt superficial and forced. They go nowhere, but they also had so much potential!
Also, the depictions of birth and the medical situations were quite graphic. I often found myself sick to my stomach at some of the descriptions, especially early on.
Now that I'm writing this, I think I enjoyed the potential of this story more than the actual story itself.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Death of parent, War, and Classism
Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt