In the midst of our own modern day pandemic, Emma Donoghue delivers The Pull of the Stars, a historical fiction novel that follows Julia, a nurse holding down the fort in a maternity ward in Ireland during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. Donoghue, who is best known for her award-winning novel Room, wrote The Pull of the Stars before the coronavirus ever made headlines, and her manuscript was rushed into production when the virus took over life as we know it. The result is a timely novel that nearly feels like a mirror, albeit one from earlier times, to our lives today. Julia Power is devoted to her work as a nurse, tending to expectant mothers who have come down with the "new flu" and helping deliver their babies into a world torn apart by war and illness. Although the loss of life is significant, there is still joy in Julia's ward as life is ushered in and families grow and change. Add to the mix, Bridie Sweeney, a bright-eyed hospital volunteer in her 20s, and Dr. Kathleen Lynn, a knowledgeable, yet purported rebellious doctor, and the maternity ward at Julia's hospital is a bustling, yet often harrowing, place. Over the course of three days, these women will bring forth new life, while also helping others cross over as they pass away from the deadly flu that is overtaking the world. The Pull of the Stars is incredibly appealing at this time due to our nascent experience with our own pandemic. This realistic portrayal of life during a pandemic 100 years ago is fascinating to read and compare to our lives today. Surprisingly, there are many similarities between illness-ravaged 1918 and 2020, showing that oftentimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Modern medicine is one thing that has changed, however, and squeamish readers may find themselves a bit queasy after reading some of Donoghue's passages about childbirth without the aid of today's advancements and technology. This should not detract readers though, as this is an absorbing and thoughtful read. My only complaint is that a love interest storyline near the end of the book felt rushed and quite out of place, distracting me from the compelling tale at hand. The Pull of the Stars reminded me greatly of the Call the Midwife memoirs and BBC TV series, and will be enjoyed by any lovers of those titles. It is also an amazing read for anyone interested in pandemics, or those who enjoy historical fiction in general.
Availability: Book; Large Print Book; eBook & eAudiobook in cloudLibrary Rating: **** Stars (I really liked it) Reviewer: Brooke, Public Relations Librarian
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GENRE: Historical Fiction; Literary Fiction
TONE: Atmospheric; Moving
STORYLINE: Character-Driven
WRITING STYLE: Engaging; Richly Detailed; Spare; Well-Researched
CHARACTER: Complex
LOCATION: Dublin, Ireland
TIME PERIOD: First World War Era (1914 - 1918)
SUBJECT: Childbirth; Female Friendship; Hospitals; Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919; Loss; Nurses; Pregnant Women
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