The Pull of the Stars: A Novel

In Dublin, 1918, a maternity ward at the height of the Great Flu is a small world of work, risk, death, and unlooked-for love, in "Donoghue's best novel since Room" (Kirkus Reviews)

In an Ireland doubly ravaged by war and disease, Nurse Julia Power works at an understaffed hospital in the city center, where expectant mothers who have come down with the terrible new Flu are quarantined together. Into Julia's regimented world step two outsiders -- Doctor Kathleen Lynn, a rumoured Rebel on the run from the police, and a young volunteer helper, Bridie Sweeney.

In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over three days, these women change each other's lives in unexpected ways. They lose patients to this baffling pandemic, but they also shepherd new life into a fearful world. With tireless tenderness and humanity, carers and mothers alike somehow do their impossible work.

In The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue once again finds the light in the darkness in this new classic of hope and survival against all odds.

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304 pages

Average rating: 7.6

10 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Anonymous
Mar 26, 2025
8/10 stars
Very heavy on maternity ward minutia. Half of the book gave play by play descriptions of labor and what the nurses can and can't do you help the process.
empressrashida
Jan 23, 2025
6/10 stars
I couldn't get past the lack of indicator who was speaking.
stackedlibrarian
Dec 11, 2024
6/10 stars
2.5 Not my favorite Donoghue novel by a long shot. Interesting plot that just fell flat for me. The story takes place over 3 days, but it felt like 3 years.
Scmay
Jul 29, 2024
8/10 stars
Such a relatable book for our current pandemic. Donoghue did a tremendous job capturing different perspectives, struggles and backgrounds in this novel.

Its a short read and very interesting to listen to. I'm glad that this novel carries facts which have been woven into the fictitious characters.

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