A review by beebeereads
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.75

 I will not recommend this book to a sensitive reader.  The detailed descriptions of a maternity ward during the 1918 Influenza pandemic were very tough.  Poverty, war and illness were overwhelming, and the author portrayed that in her style and her words.  Pacing played a huge role in this novel.  Donoghue takes the reader through harrowing days and restless nights describing the duties of one nurse in minute detail. I appreciated the glimpse into the medical world of 1918 Dublin sometimes highlighting almost barbaric procedures, but also the inventiveness of a war-like environment. She includes commentary on political conflict and describes the way post war stress (now PTSD) played out in different ways.    I did feel that the ending was rushed.  I would have preferred to spend more time with the characters, but I understand the author’s intent and appreciated that she stayed true to that design. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy