The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
The year is 1918. The place, a cramped and stifling
maternity/fever ward in Dublin, Ireland where Julia Power,
a weary nurse, cares almost single-handedly, for pregnant
women quarantined with the Great Flu and the effects
of a debilitating war.
On Halloween night, Julia trudges to work as usual, leaving her
mute brother at home, only to find one patient has succumbed
overnight to the deadly virus, while three others are in the
throes of fever and the misery of difficult labors. Overwhelmed
with responsibility, Julia welcomes the presence of capable
Dr. Kathleen Lynn, a rebel wanted by the police, and Bridie Sweeney,
an inquisitive redhead, whose naivety brightens the gloomy days
and nights.
This is their story, three unlikely comrades doing all they can to
bring new life into a world of chaos and despair. The strong
and remarkable characters face adversity and preconceived
notions with dignity and grace, daring to dream of a brighter
future.
The author's historical research is flawless, her details extraordinary.
She writes of shunned children, like Bridie, born out-of-wedlock, and
sent to Catholic convents where they are subjected to hard labor, ridicule, and
pity. She speaks of the shame and rejection disgraced mothers endure
in society, the sins of the past never forgotten.
I suggest reading the author's notes at the end, which tell of the
real Dr. Lynn and her contributions to the cause. Emma Donoghue
couldn't know how eerily close this haunting, complex story, brimming
with emotion, would mirror the global pandemic of 2020.
The year is 1918. The place, a cramped and stifling
maternity/fever ward in Dublin, Ireland where Julia Power,
a weary nurse, cares almost single-handedly, for pregnant
women quarantined with the Great Flu and the effects
of a debilitating war.
On Halloween night, Julia trudges to work as usual, leaving her
mute brother at home, only to find one patient has succumbed
overnight to the deadly virus, while three others are in the
throes of fever and the misery of difficult labors. Overwhelmed
with responsibility, Julia welcomes the presence of capable
Dr. Kathleen Lynn, a rebel wanted by the police, and Bridie Sweeney,
an inquisitive redhead, whose naivety brightens the gloomy days
and nights.
This is their story, three unlikely comrades doing all they can to
bring new life into a world of chaos and despair. The strong
and remarkable characters face adversity and preconceived
notions with dignity and grace, daring to dream of a brighter
future.
The author's historical research is flawless, her details extraordinary.
She writes of shunned children, like Bridie, born out-of-wedlock, and
sent to Catholic convents where they are subjected to hard labor, ridicule, and
pity. She speaks of the shame and rejection disgraced mothers endure
in society, the sins of the past never forgotten.
I suggest reading the author's notes at the end, which tell of the
real Dr. Lynn and her contributions to the cause. Emma Donoghue
couldn't know how eerily close this haunting, complex story, brimming
with emotion, would mirror the global pandemic of 2020.
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