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  • The Pull of the Stars

  • By: Emma Donoghue
  • Narrated by: Emma Lowe
  • Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (166 ratings)

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The Pull of the Stars

By: Emma Donoghue
Narrated by: Emma Lowe
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Publisher's Summary

Three days in a maternity ward at the height of the Great Flu. The Pull of the Stars is the Sunday Times best seller from the acclaimed author of The Wonder and Room.

The old world dying on its feet, a new one struggling to be born....

Dublin, 1918. In a country doubly ravaged by war and disease, Nurse Julia Power works at an understaffed hospital in the city centre, where expectant mothers who have come down with an unfamiliar flu are quarantined together. Into Julia's regimented world step two outsiders: Doctor Kathleen Lynn, on the run from the police, and a young volunteer helper, Bridie Sweeney.

In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over the course of 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 tells an unforgettable and deeply moving story of love and loss.

 Shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards - Eason Novel of the Year

The Telegraph's 'Best Novels of 2020'

Guardian's 'Brilliant Books to Transport You This summer', 'Best Books of 2020'

Cosmopolitan's 'Best Books to Read this summer'

Stylist's 'Best summer Reads

©2020 Emma Donoghue (P)2020 Macmillan Publishers International Limited

Critic Reviews

"Stunning." (Emily St. John Mandel)

"Narrator Emma Lowe's layered characterizations include distinct Irish accents and diction that illuminate the backgrounds of the protagonists and hospital staff. The pregnant women in their care are depicted with particular sensitivity; their pain, joy, and loss are all keenly felt. As circumstances around the women intensify, so will listeners' investment in the outcomes of their stories. (AudioFile)

"An immersive, unforgettable fever-dream of a novel." (The Times)

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What listeners say about The Pull of the Stars

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  • Overall
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Absolutely heart wrenching

Fantastically written, beautiful yet tragic story. As a midwife myself in this day and age I can still draw so many parallels to 100 years ago. Thank you, I will be recommending to all.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

intriguing but predictable

brought to life the problems of the time.
The narration was perfect.
It's a shame the ending could be guessed.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

So timely, uplifting and unsettling .

Fabulous narration, unsettling, challenging story.
Great characters, love that it is based on a true inspiring person.

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  • LVR
  • 21-10-2020

A story of hard times that will pull you in!

Excellent narration of a story set 100 years ago but which resonates with the trials of 2020. The detailed midwifery practices, the strong hold of the church over the psyche of the general populace and the brief touching upon of the brutality of the church- run orphanages make for a riverting story. Highly recommended.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Every Nurse should read

This book clearly articulates what we as Nurses do daily especially Midwives but every Nurse will understand exactly what is written here - past generations have done the hard yards but still our patients are our strong stoic peoples of all walks of life- to experience our patients at their most vulnerable is truly humbling. RIP to all those we could not save 🙏💜

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Content of story could be distressing for some

As I listened to this book unfold - I felt keenly, that the descriptions of childbirth and labor in this awful time could be very distressing to some.
Having said that - it was a timely and prescient book given our own time of pandemic. Set in 1919 just weeks away from Armistice, during the Spanish/Khaki Flu epidemic, the story and narrator did a cracking job.
I did enjoy the audio book - but be warned - the descriptions in it of childbirth are pretty clinical and pull no punches.

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Recommended

Beautifully written and read. A joy to listen to. The timing of this book and the current pandemic made all the more interesting.

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Remarkably Moving and Engrossing

I adored this book, and rationed the time I listened to it for I did not want it to end. The parallels between the Spanish flu and the Covid pandemic are chilling. As a midwife myself, I appreciated all of the excellently researched details of this gripping story. Wonderfully narrated I cannot recommend this book more highly .

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

timely, painful and thought-provoking

some books have made me cry, some made me laugh out loud. a lot of books made me just stop sometimes and ruminate on what I've just read, but this book added a whole new set of reactions and emotions. It made me squeeze my legs together and scream out loud with vicarious pain at the vivid descriptions of the maddening options that turn-of-the-century childbirth amidst a world-crushung pandemic incurred.
Relief came only occasionally, but when it came it was palpable and appreciated.
Brilliantly read and wonderfully written. I would read it again with more or less physical responses so I could concentrate more on each woman's story.
Not for the squeamish!!

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Great book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and events were so well drawn. It drew me in and kept me intrigued the whole way. Lovely to have strong female characters and definitely a timely insight into facing widespread illness with no idea of how to conquer it.

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