1 May 2011

Review: In Stitches by Dr Nick Edwards

In Stitches: The highs and lows of life as an A&E doctor  by Nick Edwards is an autobiographical account of a doctor's life in a busy A&E department. The hospital is representative of any number of A&E's up and down the country and Dr Edwards uses a journal style to deliver a series of humorous snapshots of what life is like. It is full of tongue-in-cheek humour and sarcasm, especially directed at the ever increasing bureaucracy, as well as touching moments such as allowing a elderly patient to die with dignity. It came across as a believable portral of life as an A&E doctor.

From the NHS Support Foundation

It's a gripping read which I got through within a few hours and often whilst laughing out loud. My only criticism is that the frequent rants about the bureaucracy and future of the NHS becomes wearing over time, and depending on your politics could become annoying by the end of the book. The humour does little to soften the political message in parts.

Overall a very funny and engrossing read.

In Stitches is available from Amazon UK priced at £2.99

Review: On the Edge by Charlie Carroll

I have an embarrassing secret, I absolutely love 'reality TV' books, you know the ones, following the life of people doing everyday jobs. They are often trashy and written by cynics disenchanted with their careers but they are the perfect book when you don't want a long detailed plot, just something to read. Monday Books seems to be the preferred publisher of this genre, and I have read most of their books in one form or another.

From Monday Books
On The Edge: One teacher, a camper van, Britain's toughest schools appealed to me right from the start, having taught in secondary schools myself and follows the journey of Charlie Carroll, a supply teacher, through a journal style look at his year travelling around teaching in the countries 'toughest' schools. The narrative is well written and you soon feel that your there in the author's freezing cold camper van or in the classroom where the pupils simply don't care. However it lacked the humour of previous books in the genre and only briefly confronted the reasons behind poor behaviour and under achievement in schools. The events recalled in the book are not as shocking as the title might first suggest, and generally it just shows how life really is for supply teachers in comprehensive schools up and down the country. There are some wonderful moments when Mr Carroll connects with the pupils which is heartening to read. It is a must for anyone considering either teaching or supply teaching in the UK to get away from the 'rose tinted' view given during recruitment. 

Overall, not what I was expected but a great read and true to life.


On the Edge is available from Amazon UK for £2.99

Discounted e-book - Life Games by Trine Daely (Only 99 cents!)

New author Trine Daely has released a collection of poetry called Life Games and is offering it for just 99 cents (59p in the UK) at Smashwords (usually $2.99).

From Smashwords
Here is what the author has to say about the collection:

"A collection of poetry written over a span of dark years in my life, sometimes with hope for the future, sometimes without. I wrote about the images in my dreams, my daydreams, my nightmares - think of it as a verbal expression of a painting in my brain, with all the variations you would expect from colorful to minimalist, strict verse to free verse."


Even if poetry is not generally your thing, give it a try, I know I will and a review will be coming soon. 


To take advantage of this amazing offer click here and enter coupon code EX45P at the checkout. This code will work until 24th May 2012.


Thanks goes to Trine Daely for allowing me to list this offer.

Win an e-book offer - L.J. Sellers's The Baby Thief

L.J. Sellers' mystery novel The Baby Thief was recommended to me by a poster on Mobile Read as a medical thriller. Whilst on the author's site I came across a promotion to win a copy of the book by e-mailing the author. I duly send the e-mail and quickly received a .mobi copy. I am very grateful to the author and will be reviewing the book once I have read it.
Cover from Fantastic Fiction.co.uk
The details of the promotion can be found here. If you do not receive a copy, the author kindly provides extracts so you can try before you buy. The e-book is available from Amazon UK for £2.08.
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