Pull of the Stars
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.
BUY THE BOOK
These clubs recently read this book...
Community Reviews
MISCARRIAGE TRIGGER ALERT - But a story of heroism, love and kindness on the front lines
I really had a hard time following the majority of this book. For some reason I kept trying to figure out the books purpose. I'm a person who doesn't read or explore anything about a book before I read it as I tend to apply judgements before getting into it. But perhaps reading a little about this book before diving into it for book club would have prevented some of my frustrations... but this also set me up for an emotional roller coaster. The care and tenderness from nurses definitely is taken for granted and this novel covers different aspects how and why. This is not a job for someone who needs to be thanked or put on a pedestal, undoubtedly deserved and should be, but it won't happen regularly. The story follows one nurse who is so emotionally numb and hung up on her job, she gets caught completely off guard when another nurse crosses her path and flips her World upside down. A person who came into her life, even for as short as they did, and forever changed her going forward. The stars aligned in such a pattern there was no way Julia could go back to any life she knew before. She will forever be changed by that one person who touched a part of her soul and set her free all while trying to save other lives.
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 steady pace until that point. Despite the ending I still greatly enjoyed this book!
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.