Edition Read: Audible audiobook edition
Started: January 3, 2021
Finished: January 10, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★
Started: January 3, 2021
Finished: January 10, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★
This was, admittedly, not my first choice of novel for a reading challenge task I was looking at, but I'd decided at the last minute to change my choice and this one piqued my interest due to its coincidental topical nature.
And I am so glad that I decided to read this one instead!
Due to the aforementioned topical nature, there were points in the book where I had to remind myself that it was historical fiction and not contemporary fiction (mentions of people on the street in masks, a word of warning that one should quarantine for two weeks at the onset of symptoms, etc.) but then something else would pull me back into the fact this takes place in 1918 (whiskey being prescribed to patients, Nurse Julia using a horn to listen to fetal heartbeats instead of the monitors in place today). However, that contrast of "some things change, but others stay the same" was one of the things that made this book so interesting.
I was also pulled into the building relationship between Nurse Julia and Bridie (and here's the reason for the review being spoiler hidden). I had figured out relatively early on that Julia and Bridie were going to be the characters that gave this book its "LGBTQ+ historical fiction" title, and I had a strong sense of satisfaction when the narrative confirmed my guess. But then, because this isn't historical romance and there isn't an HEA in the end, the book immediately has Birdie succumb to the flu and Julia is alone. Again. After she had just achieved some semblance of happiness. It wasn't fair, but in reality life isn't fair (and it was especially unfair 103 years ago).
But, I didn't want to ever stop listening (I have the audiobook edition, which I highly recommend since it pretty much eliminates the issues that may pull you out of the story contained in the print edition). I felt for these characters, Julia and Bridie, and all the mothers and infants alike. And Julia taking on baby Barnibus at the end was very reminiscent of the end of another of my favorite books, The Giver (I must be drawn to these types of endings!), with the main character rescuing an infant from a life that would have otherwise killed them most likely.
In short, please give this book a shot. Even if you don't like historical fiction (it's not one I find myself gravitating to), it'll keep you intrigued and entertained.
(I do recommend waiting on it if the current Covid pandemic hits a little close to home, however.)
And I am so glad that I decided to read this one instead!
Due to the aforementioned topical nature, there were points in the book where I had to remind myself that it was historical fiction and not contemporary fiction (mentions of people on the street in masks, a word of warning that one should quarantine for two weeks at the onset of symptoms, etc.) but then something else would pull me back into the fact this takes place in 1918 (whiskey being prescribed to patients, Nurse Julia using a horn to listen to fetal heartbeats instead of the monitors in place today). However, that contrast of "some things change, but others stay the same" was one of the things that made this book so interesting.
I was also pulled into the building relationship between Nurse Julia and Bridie (and here's the reason for the review being spoiler hidden). I had figured out relatively early on that Julia and Bridie were going to be the characters that gave this book its "LGBTQ+ historical fiction" title, and I had a strong sense of satisfaction when the narrative confirmed my guess. But then, because this isn't historical romance and there isn't an HEA in the end, the book immediately has Birdie succumb to the flu and Julia is alone. Again. After she had just achieved some semblance of happiness. It wasn't fair, but in reality life isn't fair (and it was especially unfair 103 years ago).
But, I didn't want to ever stop listening (I have the audiobook edition, which I highly recommend since it pretty much eliminates the issues that may pull you out of the story contained in the print edition). I felt for these characters, Julia and Bridie, and all the mothers and infants alike. And Julia taking on baby Barnibus at the end was very reminiscent of the end of another of my favorite books, The Giver (I must be drawn to these types of endings!), with the main character rescuing an infant from a life that would have otherwise killed them most likely.
In short, please give this book a shot. Even if you don't like historical fiction (it's not one I find myself gravitating to), it'll keep you intrigued and entertained.
(I do recommend waiting on it if the current Covid pandemic hits a little close to home, however.)