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The Pull of the Stars

Published on 14 February 2022

This both appealed and intrigued me due to the current pandemic, but I am glad to say it is so much more, a gripping story reminding us the importance of love and compassion.


The pull of the stars book cover

The blurb

Set in a war ravaged Ireland in 1918 in the midst of a flu pandemic, nurse Julia Power works in an understaffed hospital where expectant mothers are quarantined.

Into a former well organised and regimented world, Julia encounters 2 intruders, Doctor Lynn (a rumoured rebel on the run from the police) and Birdie a young helper and volunteer.

Over the next 3 days, in this tiny hospital ward, these women change each others lives in unexpected ways. The juxtaposition of the loss of life to a baffling pandemic is set against the joy of welcoming new life into an unknown and fearful word. With tenderness and humility, carers and mothers alike show their strength in doing the impossible.

Finding light in the darkness and survival against the odds, The Pull of the Stars, is an interesting read, resonating with the recent experience of many throughout the past 2 years.

Find out more about Emma Donoghue.

Reviewer's thoughts

I was initially nervous about reading a novel about a pandemic, whilst still amid the aftereffects of our current one. However, the pandemic is just the background of the novel, the influenza makes the pregnancies more difficult, but it doesn’t invade and overtake the rest of the story.

There were graphic descriptions of childbirth in all its glory and was a little gory at times and was a little difficult to read. I found this was balanced when Julia became the focus towards the end of the novel, giving the writer the opportunity to develop her character. I would have liked more of this, to me I love a gripping story even more when I feel I have an insight to the character.

I would recommend this book to reader groups, especially as a comparison to recent events, but if you have a delicate constitution, perhaps try Emma's other books!

Discussion questions

  1. How has the recent pandemic changed the way you approach the book?
  2. What similarities do you see between the pandemic in the novel and the COVID-19 pandemic, and what is different?
  3. How does the lack of normalcy (war, political turmoil, and pandemic) affect Julia and the other characters?
  4. What do you make of Dr Lynn’s assertion that ‘everything’s politics’?
  5. What thoughts do you have over Julia's disinclination towards birth?
  6. Discuss the relationship between Julia and Birdie, do you think their relationship would have been possible in other circumstances?

Order your copy from the library catalogue.


This blog post has been assigned the following categories:

Category iconDeath Category iconFamily Category iconHistorical Category iconRomance

Comments (1)

I loved and detested this book at the same time! I really would have loved more character development. I read this during COVID 19, in a strange way...the fact we have prevailed before reassured me.

Posted by Jane on 15 March 2022


Reply to comment 1 by Jane

Aniliese avatar

Hi Jane, I understand what you mean, however towards the end of the book I really felt I got to know more about Julie. The focus was clearly on the historical detail of the epidemic in Dublin and I was absorbed by the level of detail, so I 'forgave' the late character development.

Reply by Aniliese on 1 January 0001