Pandemic
The pandemic genre encapsulates stories focused on widespread outbreak of disease or infection impacting society, often exploring themes of survival, humanity, and societal collapse.
The Pull of the Stars
In 'The Pull of the Stars' by Emma Donoghue, set in the midst of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, nurse Julia Power works in a Dublin hospital maternity ward for expectant mothers infected with the deadly flu. Amidst the chaos, she forms unexpected bonds with two women - a young volunteer and a laboring teenage girl, unraveling stories of resilience, love, and sacrifice during a time of profound uncertainty and loss. Donoghue skillfully weaves together themes of friendship, motherhood, and societal expectations against the backdrop of a harrowing historical moment, offering a poignant exploration of the human spirit in the face of adversity.