This book hurts in one way or another.
According to the hype, ‘Award Winning Million Copy Best Seller’, this book seems to be the book of the moment. Everyone we ask claiming to have read it or has it on their shelf ready to read next. The book was specially chosen for the Christmas period to be a light-hearted pick up/ put down read. The brief was fulfilled. It certainly didn’t fit our book club criteria. Was it a page turner? No! Was there a well developed plot? No. Was there any character development? No. Was it well written? Well, yes. Sort of ...
On the surface this book was a quirky, quick witted, light hearted read formulated in a dairy fashion in bite sized pieces. The book follows Adam Kay’s 10 year career as he progressed from Junior Doctor to SHO in Gynaecology. Yes it was well written. That’s the one thing where we were all in agreement. There really was some LOL moments dotted between the cringeworthy stories. The book gives a very good insight to the incredulous incidents in dealing with the general public. The short chapters were good enabling you to pick it up and put it down without having to backtrack. Some of the stories stay with you but just as many are quickly forgotten. You don’t get the feeling you need to pick it up to find out what’s happening next. The only end goal which keeps you reading is the sad story about his career change. So, worth a read but easily forgotten.. Adam Kay is now a stand up comedian and we can’t help thinking that will be a short lived career once his hospital stories are exhausted. And those poor anonymous people watching. You will know who you are!! He has also found his niche writing and checking hospital drama scripts.
On closer inspection Adam adequately covers the more serious issues of the NHS. The long hours, the low pay, the inconsistencies from hospital to hospital, the life and death decisions and the many things no amount of training can prepare you for until you are thrown in at the deep end. A lot of issues are called in to question. Some people may call in to question Mr Adam Kay himself. Sometimes you felt he really cared. Sometimes you felt he was going through the motions. Ultimately you realise he probably was in the wrong career and was, at times, a bit arrogant.
There’s one thing we can all agree on. There is no quick fix for our beloved NHS but we are still grateful we’ve got it.
Our book discussion this month took place at a totally new venue - The Swan at Heldon-on-the-Wall. A totally unexpected pub in a small village not far from Newcastle. Although, a quiet January, the staff were attentive and the food, which we all enjoyed, can be described as good pub food at a reasonable price. I’m sure it will be on our list for a return visit in the not too distant future.
Back to the serious subject of our next read. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark. We are expecting great things from this renowned author.
Join us very soon to review our thoughts.
Friday, 31st January 2020.
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