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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 (745 ratings)
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The Pull of the Stars cover art

The Pull of the Stars

By: Emma Donoghue
Narrated by: Emma Lowe
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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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really powerful. beautiful and moving

I loved this book. it was powerfully written and so human. I loved every character and although difficult to hear at times, it is a book I'd recommend to my friends.

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Beautiful story, dreadful narrator.

The story is beautifully written. Unfortunately I struggled to listen to the stunted narration by Emma Lowe. There was no flow, it was difficult to fall into the story as she read like she'd never seen it before. There was no emphasis or emotion.

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Brilliant

Great read. Really enjoyed it. Couldn't put it down. Such a lovely story. Highly recommend.

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bloody brilliant

wow, what a moving and very relevant book for these covid times. loved all the characters. don't hesitate to download this. fantastic narration.

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Enjoyable & interesting

I was fascinated by all the medical accounts of the characters in the novel; of the troubles they had delivering babies at that time, the issues that came up in childbirth. Also, what fascinated me was how they touched on the effects of the war on society, how society functioned in those days socially , and the influence of the Catholic Church on the thinking & a actions of Irish people at that time.
A really glimpse into history.
Worth a read.

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Definitely a story for now.

Gripping, moving and harrowing, very much for out time as explained in the epilogue.

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Wow! What a book

What an incredible book and beautifully wrtten, a very powerful story with strong female charachters, based on fact which makes it all the more poignant. I had never heard of Dr Kathleen Lynn and have since read a little about her, I just love that this book has enlightened me to a bit more Irish history, my mother was brought up in Ireland in the 30's and absolutely loathed nuns, and this, although using fictional characters, is based on actual events which details some of the absolute cruelty meted out in the name of religion, however its not dull or preachy, and the characters are all so well written and brought to life by the perfect narration.

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So well read

A great story and so topical, so well read.. great author & an excellent narrator. I’d definitely recommend it.

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Brilliant audible book!

I loved listening to this book. The narrative is fantastic. The story flows and keeps you gripped. Different emotions surfaced as I listened ; sadness, joy, sorrow. And I could visualise how it might have been for this nurse living in Ireland at the time of the pandemic. Don't hesitate to purchase.

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What a fabulous interesting book

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and it really made you think. Throughly recommend it and beautifully read.

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