It’s the height of the Great Flu and the tail end of WWI, and seasoned nurse Julia Power finds herself in charge of her Dublin maternity ward, where each patient has the Flu. Over the course of three fraught days, she helps three women deliver with the help of new volunteer Bridie and revolutionary Dr. Lynn, two women destined to change her entire life. It’s always a big deal when Donoghue publishes a new book, and this is no exception. It’s a beautiful, often challenging slice of life in pandemic times that sometimes uncomfortably mirrors what we’re experiencing today.
Content warning: this novel contains child loss and detailed descriptions of medical procedures.
Try it if you liked: My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira.
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