The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

Relentless is the first word that comes to mind when I describe the most recent book by Emma Donoghue, The Pull of the Stars, the second is harrowing. These words are not meant as criticism, but rather as praise. I usually make notes when I read – but not with this book – I did not want to stop reading for even a moment.

The Pull of the Stars is set in a hospital in Dublin in 1918. When this novel was published, last July, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read a novel about a pandemic – and a when a customer described it as “good, but gruesome” I was even less sure. But – floundering around for something to read recently I thought I’d give it a try – and I am so glad I did!

The action takes place in a hospital treating fever patients, and the department we spend our time in is the fever/maternity ward – with women who are about to give birth and are under the care of a nurse midwife, Julia Power.

The novel is not only the story of Julia Power, but of her young assistant, Bridie Sweeney, and of Dr. Lynn, who is a skilled obstetrician. Their days are more than full – there is never a moment when one patient or another does not have urgent needs. With few resources these women treat their patients with compassion and bravery. There is success, and happy outcomes, for some – but there is also death and sadness for others.

The treatments are sometimes – often – very detailed, and sometimes quite brutal. Yet, the scene of an autopsy performed by Dr. Lynn and Nurse Power, in their attempt to learn about the disease by examining the organs of a woman before releasing her body to the family, is done so sensitively and with such respect I found it far less disturbing than the same sort of scene in many a murder mystery novel.

What I also found so interesting is that Emma Donoghue did not intentionally decide to write a book about pandemic while the world is the midst of another. She became interested in the story of Dr. Kathleen Lynn who treated patients during the influenza epidemic in Ireland, and in October 2018 “the centenary of the great flu” she began to write The Pull of the Stars, and submitted the last draft to her publisher in March 2020. 

I was struck by how similar that time was to our own – the lack of supplies and expertise and the lack of capacity to treat patients – the wearing of masks – the disinfecting – the fear. It was relentless, as was the work performed by the medical staff and those assisting them. All the while the patients are always seen as people with needs and desires, wives, daughters, and beloved friends who have every right to compassionate treatment. 

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue – a great book.