All About Books discussion

Please discuss our winner here...

I loved this book, it was honest and emotional

Just bought my copy.

Just bought my copy.

Yay.... this book has been on my shelf for ages! awesome

Had a flip through some of the pages, not what I was expecting but in a good way.

I'm really enjoying this book, very easy to get through. You don't need medical knowledge because the author provides it and there are some funny stories. My sister (who is a nurse) is dying to read it, I wonder how she will feel towards the author.

Alannah wrote: "I'm really enjoying this book, very easy to get through. You don't need medical knowledge because the author provides it and there are some funny stories. My sister (who is a nurse) is dying to rea..."

Hummmm... that makes me think maybe I should change my mind and try to get a copy!

Just a few days before this was chosen as the group read, I got a copy on Audible and 'read' the audio version. It was....absolutely fantastic.

The way that it was written was frank, brutally honest, scathing and yet quite humorous at the same time. The narration was excellent and draws readers in completely. At times, this book could be regarded almost as a collection of short stories; with some individual patients getting their entire saga told in a mini-story within the overall book, (almost like vignettes), and are used to illustrate a point, evoke emotion, or for just being an exceptional case treated by the author-doctor.

Mainly though, this book is about just how OVERWORKED doctors are, and all hospital staff in general. This book takes place in the UK, but these problems (imo) are universal. I recognized SO many of the issues brought up by the author within the health care system here in Canada, as well.

I have had a chronic illness since the age of 14, have had 2 major surgeries, and am awaiting another one atm. (put off indefinately due to COVID19) SO, because of my health history, I was extra excited to read this one, and had (perhaps) more interest than other people to read this tale. I am glad that I did. I breezed through it and would honestly even read it again in the future. I'm VERY glad that this book was picked, and I got to discover it! --Jen from Quebec :0)

I have this on hold through Overdrive and hopefully will get it before the month is over !

I read this--it was 3 stars for me, but I did laugh out loud at times. To me it was like a tragicomedy in some ways.

Karin wrote: "I read this--it was 3 stars for me, but I did laugh out loud at times. To me it was like a tragicomedy in some ways."

I thought that as well. To me, he is one of those people who looks for comedy in every situation.

I gave the book to my sister once I finished, I don't think she has touched it. I wanted her opinion but I got the impression very quickly that Adam wasn't that interested in becoming a doctor. It was something that felt forced upon him because he came from a family of doctors.

Alannah wrote: "I gave the book to my sister once I finished, I don't think she has touched it. I wanted her opinion but I got the impression very quickly that Adam wasn't that interested in becoming a doctor. It ..."

Yes, he writes about that and about how it is too much to expect 16 year olds to really know what they want. He'd made his peace with it though, until that one tragedy where he knew it would change how he practised forever. Every doctor in that type of practise gets those and they are horrible.

Karin wrote: "Alannah wrote: "I gave the book to my sister once I finished, I don't think she has touched it. I wanted her opinion but I got the impression very quickly that Adam wasn't that interested in becomi..."

The situation was horrifying and quite frankly I don't blame him for giving up. Although I would say that I think it's not only doctors but nurses in any practice, My sister had always wanted to be a children's nurse. But when she was about to start her training, she was advised to study adult nursing, there weren't any jobs in our province so adult nursing would give her a better chance at getting a job because there were more wards, a lot more vacancies than there would be with children's. Throughout her training, she'd only dealt with the deaths of elderly people but yet each time someone had died, she continued to come home in tears. I'm not sure what type of wards they were, but I know they were rarely busy so often dealt with elderly people coming in. I think it was her third year when she was placed on a much more busier ward with more critical cases. She had seen a young 21 year old who had so much going for her, just finished university, landed her dream job and was about to move out until she was in car accident that left her completely paralysed. She also worked with a women who had severe lung issues, she was planning her wedding and had hoped to get married a week before she died. That placement really broke my sister and I think she was considering whether or not nursing was right for her. In the end, she decided to continue on with adult nursing and is hoping to specialise in dementia care.

I thought he was great and loved his book and can’t wait to see what else he writes.

He has another book like this, I think it’s Christmas themed. Hang on, I will check the name.

It’s called Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas

Just seen the author Adam Kay announce on television that this book is being made into a movie. Ben Wishaw is starring in it,