Welcome to Litsy!

It‘s 1918 and we‘re on the maternity ward of a hospital in Ireland, right in the middle of the flu epidemic. We spend three days with Nurse Julia Powell, Dr Kathleen Lynn, and Bridie, an orphan who comes to volunteer. Nurse Powell narrates a very detailed story of births and deaths, hope and despair. I love nurses as much as the next person, but I might be a little tired of them after the nurses in The Women.

It‘s not often that I wish a book were longer, but the author‘s decision to limit this to three days meant that there were great gaping holes in some storylines. But Donoghue did an excellent job immersing the reader in a hospital ward for pregnant women with the flu. She captures the beauty the chaos the joy and the pain. Ready for book club and wondering how the discussion will go.

This book was ok but didn't love it. The characters were well written although some of their story lines were ended very quickly and with not much thought. Most of the book read a bit too slow for my liking and while parts picked up the majority was on the slower end. I did enjoy reading about the Spanish flu and how alike it was to the pandemic we just had. No rhyme or reason as to why some only got a bit sick and it took others lives.

I don't think I'm going to hit my goal of finishing the book. But I'm heading into part two now. It took a bit but by the end of part one I was starting to get into the book. Hopefully it continues to pick up.

#JoysOfJune #Readathon #MorningReading

Couldn't decide what to read next so I asked our little guy to pick which cover he liked out of four books. He chose this one - so the tagged book it is then. Another stunning day here so I'm going to start this book with a cold drink while the kids run around with their friends. Not sure how much reading I'll actually get done, but I can always dream.

#BeerAndABook #OutsideReading #Starting #SunnyDay #Pandemic

I stayed up reading way too late a few nights because I could not put this down. It was like the direst of cases from Call The Midwife all happening in one room at the same time. Highly recommend it!

Not my pic but wish it was. 😊

• TBR since June 26, 2020

Dublin, 1918: three days in a maternity ward at the height of the Great Flu. A small world of work, risk, death and unlooked-for love, by the bestselling author of The Wonder and ROOM.

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.

My first five star read of the year. I absolutely loved this historical fiction set in Dublin‘s Maternity/Fever ward during the worst days of the Spanish flu. It was written in 2019, but so much of it rang true given our recent experiences since then.

#JoyousJanuary
#Booked2023 about a pandemic 😷

I got up for a walk, and some chores. Now Daisy and I are back under the blankets reading. My last book wasn‘t holding my attention so I‘m trying this one now.

I didn‘t think we‘d get much more winter this year, but this weekend is giving us perfect Readathon weather. Cold and howling wind with just a few flurries every so often. #JoyousJanuary

In the midst of chaotic 2020 I‘m not sure I could have read this book about the 3 days inside the 1918 pandemic - written prior-to, but released during, the current pandemic. I was loving this book and Birdie, but my thoughts were negatively impacted by her love story because it seemed implausible in an otherwise tragically believable story.

This is story about the 1918 Pandemic that takes place in Ireland, but ultimately a story about women. The reader is right there in the small hospital room with the pregnant women as they deliver their babies. The patients‘ back stories are as intense as what is taking place in the room. We learn about the real life woman,Doctor Lynn, who is wanted by the police for political activism. A book about women‘s rights and their strength.

My IRL Book Club choice, and I think I will finish in time for the meeting!

A maternity ward in the midst of a pandemic, overwhelmed staff and the fear of a nation. 2020? No, this is historical fiction based on the Spanish flu of 1918. I really enjoyed it; a short beautifully written book set over just 3 days entirely within the “maternity fever” ward; it perfectly captures the fear and claustrophobia of the situation, with a touch of Republicanism and suffrage, and a truly heartbreaking/heartwarming story.

I truly always try to finish a book when I start it and as a #LMPBC book I never intended this one to be a DNF. I tried to power through but I just could not get into it and could not get past some of the graphic scenes. I am so sorry I could not read this one with you @Jerdencon and @Christyco125 Interestingly enough, I have started one other by this author and also had to DNF it.

The final #LMPBC book arrived today! (We only have 3 in our group) Excited for this one and love the cover 😍 I am going to finish up the book I have this weekend and hope to mail out Tuesday (sorry it will be a little late!!) @Jerdencon @Christyco125

I finished up this month‘s #LMPBC book. It was interesting and I learned a lot of medical stuff. Still not quite getting the hang of the notes in the margin stuff but maybe it‘ll be better with the next one. I‘ll be sending this one on soon.

Digging into this one for #LMPBC

I‘m about 3/4 of the way done with this and it will be in the mail by Friday hopefully! @kstadt929 @Christyco125 #lmpbc

It‘s hard to believe that this was actually written before the pandemic started. This book is so very relevant to what we have been through in the last few years having gone through life in a pandemic. This is about the influenza outbreak in Ireland and how it effected the nurses and specifically women in the maternity ward. This is a very hard boon to read but incredibly well written and researched and so very relatable.

🏨 Seemed a fitting topic after the week I‘ve had. 😂

1. Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? Only if you aim well enough.
2. ❤️❤️❤️
3. Tagged and stacked! Although it‘s a pandemic book, so I‘ll probably wait a while before getting to it.

#SundayFunday Hope you all have a good weekend!

Novel that takes place in Dublin in 1918 over 3 days in a maternity ward during the great flu. After reading this I want to learn more about the rebel doctor, Kathleen Lynn. The ending felt a little rushed but I'm not sure if it was meant to be that way because of how quickly things can change during that time period. I think I would have enjoyed this more if we weren't currently going through our own pandemic.

Gripping historical fiction set in a Dublin maternity ward during the 1918 flu pandemic. So good!

#Hospital #SavvySettings
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I listened to the audiobook of this from my library and I found it very interesting to listen to albeit gory at times. Read #ReadHarderChallenge2022 and #52BookClubReadingChallenge2022 4/5

Book 3 from my #NYWD22 #newyearwhodis reading list. I maybe should have waited a bit to tackle this one. It takes place over 3 days in a maternity ward at a Dublin hospital during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Given that I‘ve been working in a hospital for the past 2 years of this current pandemic, I‘m feeling some PTSD with this read. And that first chapter of 98 straight pages without a break? OOF. But still a pick. Glad I read it. I think.

Thanks for the tag @BeeMagical
1) reading goals - I have two read at least two books off my TBR shelf each time before I go buy a new book

2) progress

3) I am enjoying the tagged booked. I am not wowed by it but it is a good read.

@DebbieGrillo @ShelleyBooksie

#thoughtfulthursday @MoonWitch94

The kid is having a long play with bath-bombs kinda bath and I am trying to get one last read in for 2021. Borrowed this from @ShelleyBooksie after it went through some others at our bookclub, now it is my turn. They all loved it so hopefully I will as well.

#wondrouswednesday. @Eggs 1. Making it through the year without being committed. 2. The one tagged was really good. 3. A change in job or job related circumstances. Thanks for the tag @Crazeedi @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @BookNAround

This is the book that started me back on a bit of a reading run in may. #12booksin2021 a touching story of war, illness and love.

This is an excellent book. Reading a novel set in the 1918 flu pandemic might not be what everyone needs right now, but I found the resonance of it strangely reassuring. It also explores the brutal injustice of the Church-run mother and baby homes, the impact of World War One and the aftermath of the Easter Rising.

Well, quite.

Omg I just opened the surprise gift from @Kaylamburson and wow, a book very high on my tbr list!! Thank you so much! No I haven‘t read it so it‘s going on my tbr stack, but I will definitely pass on the #litsylove! @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Up next. I‘m a sucker for an Irish accent.

#ReadHarder challenge 21: a historical fiction with a POC or LGBTQ+ protagonist

This was so good. Being a nurse is difficult enough in ordinary circumstances but being a nurse in 1918 during a pandemic and a world war and helping expectant mothers who are under quarantine when you are understaffed and overextended requires the strength and grace of an extraordinary heroine. Memorable characters and vivid descriptions made this a book I won‘t be forgetting anytime soon.

I had my hair cut earlier: my stylist has her first baby due at Christmas. I won't be recommending this to her! Set in a makeshift maternity ward in Dublin during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic this is, in a word, relentless. I'm all wrung out now. Totally worth it, though!

A historical fiction novel about a maternity ward during the 1918 flu pandemic, following an Irish nurse put in charge of the ward. I adored this book three-fourths of the way through but then a (SPOILER WARNING) sudden and underdeveloped queer romance devolved into the bury your gays trope. I was initially appalled but after learning the author is a lesbian have more mixed feelings.

TW: still birth, childbirth death, LGBTQ+ character death

As someone in the nursing profession it was great to read about how things were done in 1918 and what they learnt from the flu pandemic. A bit slow to start but a great read

This book was amazing! It‘s loosely about the 1918 flu pandemic, but really it‘s about a maternity nurse assigned to help expectant mothers at a London hospital. Beautiful and intense story of some extraordinary women.

Ohhh I‘ve been wanting to read this! 😀 99p 👍 #kindledailydeals #99ponkondle

I loved this book. Imagine being a nurse during a flu pandemic, in the middle of a world war, in a country that's a colony of England and assigned to a makeshift Maternity/Flu ward. It only covers about 3 days but there is so much going on. This writer is amazing. I love all of her books.

#BookSpinBingo free space
@TheAromaofBooks

This was a brilliant read for me! Set in 1918 in Dublin maternity ward, but the patients also have symptoms of the flu. Nurse Julia battles to save her patients with the help from Bridie, a young volunteer helper and Doctor Kathleen Lynn, a rumoured Rebel on the run from the police. I became quite invested with the three women and also the patients. Just hoping they stay alive, during this pandemic.

I have yard work to do but I just want to read this book!!! It‘s such a compelling story

Reading this for a book club and I‘m immediately engrossed. But I had to look this ‘white leg‘ up, I could visualize it but had no idea why it happened

Set in a Dublin maternity ward, this is a timely novel that takes place during the Spanish flu epidemic.

The only thing I‘m not sure of is how I feel about the lack of quotation marks.

THE PULL OF THE STARS is an atmospheric, heartbreaking story full of tragedy, compassion and hope. The read is intense and captivating, particularly as it relates to our current unbelievable pandemic. https://www.bluestockingreviews.com/post/the-pull-of-the-stars

Still hours of dark to go when I left the hpuse that morning.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Ok so maybe my #awesomeapril readathon goals were a little too modest? I finished both of these today, and while they were very, very different from each other - I absolutely loved them both!
@Andrew65

I've got my earbuds in and I'm starting a new audiobook while my husband and father-in-law cut up a dead tree in the back yard. I'm on bonfire duty 😉

3 star