The Pull of the Stars

An unbelievably timely book for today. Emma Donoghue tells the story of a terrible epidemic that struck Europe in the 20th century. In Ireland, drained by war, the “Spanish flu” shows no signs of slowing down—the hospital in the center of Dublin lacks doctors and nurses, and the sick keep arriving. Those who are hardest to handle also get hit: future mothers in late stages of pregnancy. Nurse Power does everything within her power to save the women giving birth and to help bring new life into the world. On the eve of All Saints’ Day, two more extraordinary women enter her small kingdom: a young volunteer Brady Sweeney and Dr. Kaitlyn Lynn, a suffragist who, as the rumor goes, is hiding from the police because of her involvement in an uprising. In just three days, their fates will intertwine—tied together by love, death, and the hope that continues to shine even in utter darkness. Nominated for the prestigious Giller Prize. “A deep, heartbreaking, and revealing panorama of life, death, and love during a pandemic. This is an incredible novel.” —