Wonderful writing, mysterious, funny and disturbing, but in a good way. I was a bit nervous to read this as it is not my usual genre, but I loved every haunting, disturbing second of reading it.
The Priory of the Orange Tree: ⭐⭐⭐⭐. 5
Magical, royal and an unforgettable story. I was told that this book was incredibly boring, but it was only the first fifty pages that were so. The worldbuilding was beautifully detailed. Another thing I loved about the book was how strongly Samantha Shannon wrote cultures as well as religions.
Babel: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Historical, dark and thought-provoking. This book spoke a great deal on issues such as racism and collonialism. R. F Kuang's writing is absolutely phenomenal and I love how the book spoke about the struggles of being a White-passing poc as well as a non-White-passing poc.
The Pull of the Stars: ⭐⭐⭐. 5
Haunting, eerie, historical and tragic. This book was interesting especially from someone interested in medical-related-stuff. I love how the book talked about the struggles of being a nurse during a pandemic as well as how much the main character was willing to sacfirice for her work. The only thing I did not like was the lack of quotation marks.
Six Crimson Cranes: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mystical, mythological and romantic. The book immediately hooked me from the first page with the captivating storyline, wonderful storytelling as well as interesting characters. I am so excited to read the sequel.
The Cruel Prince: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magical, entertaining and unique. I was extremely nervous to start this series because of a bunch of negative reviews - and because I bought the whole series at the same time. But it ended up being one of my favorites. The beginning of the book was a bit slow-paced, but otherwise I loved it.
The Wicked King: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fast, enchanting and mystical. This book made me forget I was reading. The story was beautiful, immersive and full of plot-twists. The characters were written amazingly and there was almost no one whom I could hate.
The Queen of Nothing:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Immersive, twisted and romantic. The final book in this series is definitely a favorite. From the plot-twists to Jude and Cardan's relationship, everything was absolutely perfect. The ending left me both happy and sad, wanting for more.
I finished The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue.
The story is written from the pov of a midwife in Ireland at the end of the 1914-18 war. The deadly influenza epidemic is raging and she is working in an isolation ward for pregnant women. She's joined by a volunteer from the local mother and baby home (Bridie) and a female doctor attends the ward when she can, which is not always when she's needed because the Gardai are looking for her in connection with her role in the Easter Rising. At home her brother is back from the war and, unable to work, mutely tends an injured bird.
The first half of the novel is a little like reading Jennifer Worth (which I recommend you do instead of watching that travesty on the telly). It's about things that happened. It focuses on the women and whether they and their babies will survive, and of course often the answer is "no". Then, almost without you realising it, you're in quite a different story and there's a very Donoghuian ending.
I very much enjoyed this. I find her style very easy to read, and her stories gruesomely compelling and oddly comforting in equal measure. God forbid you find yourself a woman in a novel by this author, because they suffer and find the world largely indifferent, but if you have to, at least there's a silver lining: you're going to find a good woman to hold your hand while it happens.
I would have liked far more of the relationship with Bridie, which is lovely, and the ending, well ... that's Emma Donoghue all over, I think.
Today's sapphic book of the day is The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue!
Summary: "In an Ireland doubly ravaged by war and disease, Nurse Julia Power works at an understaffed hospital in the city center, where expectant mothers who have come down with the terrible new Flu are quarantined together. Into Julia's regimented world step two outsiders—Doctor Kathleen Lynn, a rumoured Rebel on the run from the police, and a young volunteer helper, Bridie Sweeney.
In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over 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 the tenderness and humanity, carers and mothers alike somehow do their impossible work.
In The Pull of the Stars, Emma Donoghue once again finds the light in the darkness in this new classic of hope and survival against all odds."
because obviously the doctor is about to blame donna for spilling the coffee, but he catches himself, backs off and apologizes. and it's not him catching himself in a "this is a pointless argument because i'm right and you aren't getting that so i give up" sorta way- because in that beat after, he isn't irritated, he doesn't start trying to figure out a way to reiterate his point. it's him catching himself in a "that was the wrong thing to say and i regret that" sorta way.
it's him catching himself becoming another one of the voices in donna's head calling her a screw up.