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Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Devil You Know: Stories of Human Cruelty and Compassion in Books
Jul 16, 2021
This book is a fantastic read into the real life work of a psychiatrist and the struggles that she faces with both the system and her clients.
Throughout, Dr Adshead tells us of different cases she has dealt with throughout her career but also intersperses it with facts and makes sure that they are backed up with sources too.
We follow her as she deals with murderers, arsonists, sex offenders and stalkers, and we get a rare insight into why they committed these offences. We also are able to read her own thoughts into the offenders and the difference that extra funding into health care would make.
This is definitely a book that anyone with an interest into mental health and those currently working in mental health would benefit from, even if it’s just for the reason that someone agrees that mental health services in the UK are completely underfunded and at crisis point, and have been that way for years.
Thank you so much to Dr Gwen Adshead and Eileen Horne for writing this insightful look into the world of psychiatry and mental health and to the team at Pigeonhole for allowing me to read it.
Throughout, Dr Adshead tells us of different cases she has dealt with throughout her career but also intersperses it with facts and makes sure that they are backed up with sources too.
We follow her as she deals with murderers, arsonists, sex offenders and stalkers, and we get a rare insight into why they committed these offences. We also are able to read her own thoughts into the offenders and the difference that extra funding into health care would make.
This is definitely a book that anyone with an interest into mental health and those currently working in mental health would benefit from, even if it’s just for the reason that someone agrees that mental health services in the UK are completely underfunded and at crisis point, and have been that way for years.
Thank you so much to Dr Gwen Adshead and Eileen Horne for writing this insightful look into the world of psychiatry and mental health and to the team at Pigeonhole for allowing me to read it.
ClareR (5874 KP) rated Back to Nature: How to love life - and save it. in Books
Jul 20, 2021
Back to Nature was written during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it illustrates how much many people relied on the natural world at a time when we were confined to our own living spaces during the first lockdown in the UK. Those with gardens discovered a space filled with nature, and if they didn’t they avidly watched the Self-Isolating Bird Club on social media every morning to discover tips on how to invite nature into their lives. Those without gardens were able to find little pockets of nature on their daily walks.
This book talks about how we can preserve nature, and how important it is to do so. It talks about how it’s not just up to the individual to put a stop to Climate Change, but it’s also the responsibility of big business and governments globally. It shows the mistakes that have been made, and how local groups are trying to do their bit to save nature.
Chris’ sections look at the big picture, and Megans look at more detailed aspects of nature - which are linked to the wider considerations.
It’s a really interesting, well-written and accessible book.
This book talks about how we can preserve nature, and how important it is to do so. It talks about how it’s not just up to the individual to put a stop to Climate Change, but it’s also the responsibility of big business and governments globally. It shows the mistakes that have been made, and how local groups are trying to do their bit to save nature.
Chris’ sections look at the big picture, and Megans look at more detailed aspects of nature - which are linked to the wider considerations.
It’s a really interesting, well-written and accessible book.
Having previously read and enjoyed "Stalker" by Lisa Stone, I certainly wasn't going to pass the opportunity to read this one and I wasn't disappointed.
What we have in "Taken" is a complex and gripping story of the abduction of 8 year Leila whose life is far from perfect being the daughter of a mother (Kelsey) prostituting herself and fighting addiction who has already had her older children taken from her.
Told from multiple points of view, we get a real insight into all the main characters which is not as confusing as it sounds believe me ... it works really well and, I believe, it makes the characters more believable and memorable.
The pace is perfect, the plot is absorbing, despite it being a little unrealistic in parts, and I did get the twist fairly early on but it was such that I continued to question myself until it was revealed.
Overall, a thought-provoking and enjoyable read which deals with some difficult subjects that, sadly, are prevalent within today's society but without the usual gratuitous violence which made a refreshing change.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK / HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
What we have in "Taken" is a complex and gripping story of the abduction of 8 year Leila whose life is far from perfect being the daughter of a mother (Kelsey) prostituting herself and fighting addiction who has already had her older children taken from her.
Told from multiple points of view, we get a real insight into all the main characters which is not as confusing as it sounds believe me ... it works really well and, I believe, it makes the characters more believable and memorable.
The pace is perfect, the plot is absorbing, despite it being a little unrealistic in parts, and I did get the twist fairly early on but it was such that I continued to question myself until it was revealed.
Overall, a thought-provoking and enjoyable read which deals with some difficult subjects that, sadly, are prevalent within today's society but without the usual gratuitous violence which made a refreshing change.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK / HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Lingus in Books
Jan 12, 2021
4.5 stars.
I'll start by saying that the only reason I read this was because of this reading list on BookLikes: http://booklikes.com/apps/reading-lists/146/books-to-fall-in-love-with
And I'm really glad that I did because despite the cover, which I'll admit put me off quite a bit, I really enjoyed this story. I totally get the cover now too after reading it.
To put it bluntly one of the main characters is a porn star and our lead female meets him at a porn convention (I didn't even know these existed! Maybe it's more of an American thing since I've never heard of them in the UK). And they meet and get along famously. From there it's a series of meetings and get-togethers with other friends that eventually leads to something more and I LOVED IT!
I'm a sucker for a good romance with an interesting plot and this certainly had that. I loved Triston. And Kat. And the rest of the gang, including the dog!
If you like a funny read with sex toys, romance and crazy friends then this would be the perfect read for you.
I'll start by saying that the only reason I read this was because of this reading list on BookLikes: http://booklikes.com/apps/reading-lists/146/books-to-fall-in-love-with
And I'm really glad that I did because despite the cover, which I'll admit put me off quite a bit, I really enjoyed this story. I totally get the cover now too after reading it.
To put it bluntly one of the main characters is a porn star and our lead female meets him at a porn convention (I didn't even know these existed! Maybe it's more of an American thing since I've never heard of them in the UK). And they meet and get along famously. From there it's a series of meetings and get-togethers with other friends that eventually leads to something more and I LOVED IT!
I'm a sucker for a good romance with an interesting plot and this certainly had that. I loved Triston. And Kat. And the rest of the gang, including the dog!
If you like a funny read with sex toys, romance and crazy friends then this would be the perfect read for you.
Adele recommended Colour It In by The Maccabees in Music (curated)
Awix (3310 KP) rated The World in Winter in Books
Sep 5, 2019
Christopher's tale of the onset of a new ice age and its consequences is told with his usual clarity and strength of characterisation. The sun dims slightly; northern Europe vanishes under ice and snow, and the wealthy and powerful relocate to closer to the equator.
What makes the book a bit problematic for a modern reader is that some of the attitudes in it feel uncomfortably close to outright racism - it almost feels like a cautionary parable about what would happen if the traditional colonial roles were reversed and Africans were in a position of power over Europeans. That the book is a product of the era when the British Empire was dissolving is obvious, and the racial attitudes do impact on the story - protagonist and antagonist form an alliance at the end, despite a long history of bitter conflict between them, simply because they are both white men and the alternative is to allow Africans to dominate the UK. While the book should be considered in the context of its time, it still leaves a very sour taste in the mouth, quite unlike any of the author's other books.
What makes the book a bit problematic for a modern reader is that some of the attitudes in it feel uncomfortably close to outright racism - it almost feels like a cautionary parable about what would happen if the traditional colonial roles were reversed and Africans were in a position of power over Europeans. That the book is a product of the era when the British Empire was dissolving is obvious, and the racial attitudes do impact on the story - protagonist and antagonist form an alliance at the end, despite a long history of bitter conflict between them, simply because they are both white men and the alternative is to allow Africans to dominate the UK. While the book should be considered in the context of its time, it still leaves a very sour taste in the mouth, quite unlike any of the author's other books.
ClareR (5874 KP) rated The Perseverence in Books
Sep 23, 2019
I’m not quite sure how to review a collection of poetry, so I think I’ll start by saying that I really enjoyed it. The themes centre around feelings of duality, I thought: being deaf in a hearing world, being mixed race, the poet feeling that he doesn’t belong in Jamaica with his relatives telling him just that, a feeling that he doesn’t belong in the UK either.
It made me really think about what it is to have an invisible disability too. In ‘Miami Airport’, the official says:
“You don’t look deaf?
can you prove it?”
This reminded me of the times when I would have to pull up my sons trouser leg to show his splints when challenged about queuing for the disabled toilet (please don’t do this, it’s not cool) - something he rightly wont let me do anymore, I should add!
It was really good to read this on The Pigeonhole, too, and to have some discussion about the poems. I do hope they repeat this soon. Oh, and I bought the book as well, because I really like to read poetry again (and again!). I’m a bit of a ‘poetry dipper’ 😉
It made me really think about what it is to have an invisible disability too. In ‘Miami Airport’, the official says:
“You don’t look deaf?
can you prove it?”
This reminded me of the times when I would have to pull up my sons trouser leg to show his splints when challenged about queuing for the disabled toilet (please don’t do this, it’s not cool) - something he rightly wont let me do anymore, I should add!
It was really good to read this on The Pigeonhole, too, and to have some discussion about the poems. I do hope they repeat this soon. Oh, and I bought the book as well, because I really like to read poetry again (and again!). I’m a bit of a ‘poetry dipper’ 😉
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