The Pull of the Stars in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jan 02, 2021 Rusty rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

Julia is an Irish nurse who cares for pregnant women with influenza. In addition, she cares for a brother who returned from war with PTSD (shellshock). There is so much parallel with today’s Covid19 pandemic that it’s uncanny. Posters and phrases such as “coughs and sneezes spread diseases" are similar as are the shortages, quarantines, overflowing and understaffed hospitals.

This tale actually begins in a Dublin hospital where a tiny ward is dedicated for pregnant woman ill with the flu. As the Julia is an Irish nurse who cares for pregnant women with influenza. In addition, she cares for a brother who returned from war with PTSD (shellshock). There is so much parallel with today’s Covid19 pandemic that it’s uncanny. Posters and phrases such as “coughs and sneezes spread diseases" are similar as are the shortages, quarantines, overflowing and understaffed hospitals.

This tale actually begins in a Dublin hospital where a tiny ward is dedicated for pregnant woman ill with the flu. As the reader walks with Julia, one learns about the state of the art in birth delivery of early 20th century and empathizes with her as she tries to keep death away from her patients. Some die all too quickly.

Nearly thirty years of age, Julia is single and lives with a brother who does not talk. As she struggles with her workload she is given an untrained helper, Bridie. Bridie lives with other orphans in an orphanage manned by nuns who have little time for them. Julia finds and loses patients, friends and love. Bridie finds fulfillment assisting Julia.

As the story unfolds the reader meets Dr. Kathleen Lynn who helps fill the hospital’s doctor shortage. This doctor is dedicated to serving patients, exhibits compassion and understanding yet she is hiding from police who seek her for taking part in protests. Dr. Lynn, a member of a rebel group, is based on a real woman who lived during this period. Julia does not understand how such a caring person can be an activist but the doctor explains why she stands up for what she believes. And, yes, she says some will die during those protests. Julia loses her friend Dr. Lynn, too, when she is at last arrested.

This is an outstanding read with accurate research. The reader is immersed in a desperate time where dedicated individuals are doing the best they can under the most trying circumstances. It was interesting that while the author began the book in 2018, for the 100 year anniversary of the flu epidemic, she delivered the manuscript to the publisher when our own pandemic was beginning. ...more

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Jul 20, 2021 Erin rated it liked it

Shelves: library, historical

This book had several good things going for it that I enjoyed. I really enjoyed the development of Julia and Bridie's relationship. And I loved Bridie as a character, especially as the story goes on and you see what kind of hard life she had grown up in and yet her personality was so upbeat and like a little bit of light in the dreary hospital. I was also impressed with how meticulously researched this book felt. I'm certainly no expert, so maybe I'm off base there, but I thought Donoghue really ...more

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Aug 16, 2020 Tara rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2020, wheelathon-5

It was eye opening to read this book in the midst of a pandemic. It was a little slow to start for me but then once I got a little bit into it I could hardly put it down. I had no idea how this book was going to end and the ending was heartbreaking but also heartwarming. I really enjoyed this one, highly recommended!

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