R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on + 1443 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
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 âcoughs 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 flue. 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.
This tale actually begins in a Dublin hospital where a tiny ward is dedicated for pregnant woman ill with the flue. 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.
