“Influenza delle stelle” – explains Dr. Lynn to Julia Power meaning “the heavens were governing (…) fates”.
I think about the secret language and the subtle manipulations of female nurses towards male doctors who knew nothing of the birthing women and all with the purpose to protect, to spare their flesh of more suffering.
I think about how Julia Power doesn’t appreciate dark humor.
I think about silent Tim, Julia’s brother, and his broken bond with his friend, about Julia taking her brother for granted.
I think about this enclosed book set in a claustrophobic room, the medical aspects, the enduring and broken women, the suffering without respite and I marvel at how this terse-written book took to me. In doing so, it spares no sensibilities, it doesn’t tiptoe around the subject, we get a glimpse of hospital life during a pandemic, we get to see these selfless people do their job or whatever they can to help. It doesn’t let us forget that they are people too.
All in all, I liked this book so much!