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The Sweeney Sisters
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"This is a big-hearted belly-laugh of a book, told with wit and poignancy. Family secrets, laughter...
VITALY: The Misadventures of a Ukrainian Orphan
10.0
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Be Inspired with This True Story About a Ukrainian Orphan That Did Whatever He Could to Chase His...
memoir Ukraine
Mayhawke (97 KP) rated This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor in Books
Feb 13, 2018
A Trip tThrough the NHS in Easy, Accessible Anecdotes
On the surface of it this is an engaging and often hilarious collection of anecdotes from someone who worked as a doctor in the NHS for several years. There is an abundance of stories for those who love to hear about the quirks and peculiarities of humanity. Dark and funny things that will make you laugh out loud whilst simultaneously making your toes curl. The de-gloved penis. The dehydrated cocaine users. The homeless man who preferred to go back out on the streets rather than run the risk of MRSA.
Referring to the diaries he was obliged to keep during his years as an obstetrician, Kay has pulled together a raft of stories and thoughts ranging from simple one line 'notes-to-self' to more lengthy tales of patients he cared for. The happy, the funny and the occasional simply uplifting make for an easy and read that clips along nicely. I had this in audio book form and it was a little over six hours long. It is easy to pick up, slightly less easy to put down.
You may also have seen this book referred to as 'heart-breaking'.
And it is. Because in writing a highly entertaining memoir Kay has found the perfect vehicle to deliver some brutal truths about the state of our NHS these days. To highlight the lies being pedalled by the Secretary of State for Health and the government.This is not a treatise on the issues facing the National Health Service and the people who work there-in delivering health care, there is no lengthy analysis - he simply punctuates the usually funny, sometimes tragic stories with brutal realities he has experienced first-hand:
- being told that he would have to come back for a weekend halfway through a two-week holiday abroad because the cover he had had to arrange himself fell through.
- falling asleep in his car in the hospital car park before he even managed to start it and waking up the next morning only to find he'd slept so long he was still late for work. On Christmas Eve.
- working out that with the unpaid overtime he was expected to put in his actual wage was £6.60ph - less than if he'd worked in McDonalds.
This is far more important book than it is really given credit for. It should be mandatory reading for anyone who has ever nodded their head when Jeremy Hunt's lips have been flapping.
Referring to the diaries he was obliged to keep during his years as an obstetrician, Kay has pulled together a raft of stories and thoughts ranging from simple one line 'notes-to-self' to more lengthy tales of patients he cared for. The happy, the funny and the occasional simply uplifting make for an easy and read that clips along nicely. I had this in audio book form and it was a little over six hours long. It is easy to pick up, slightly less easy to put down.
You may also have seen this book referred to as 'heart-breaking'.
And it is. Because in writing a highly entertaining memoir Kay has found the perfect vehicle to deliver some brutal truths about the state of our NHS these days. To highlight the lies being pedalled by the Secretary of State for Health and the government.This is not a treatise on the issues facing the National Health Service and the people who work there-in delivering health care, there is no lengthy analysis - he simply punctuates the usually funny, sometimes tragic stories with brutal realities he has experienced first-hand:
- being told that he would have to come back for a weekend halfway through a two-week holiday abroad because the cover he had had to arrange himself fell through.
- falling asleep in his car in the hospital car park before he even managed to start it and waking up the next morning only to find he'd slept so long he was still late for work. On Christmas Eve.
- working out that with the unpaid overtime he was expected to put in his actual wage was £6.60ph - less than if he'd worked in McDonalds.
This is far more important book than it is really given credit for. It should be mandatory reading for anyone who has ever nodded their head when Jeremy Hunt's lips have been flapping.
Gareth von Kallenbach (965 KP) rated The End Of The Tour (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The End of the Tour tells the story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter and novelist David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace (Jason Segel), which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace’s groundbreaking epic novel, Infinite Jest. The film is based on Lipsky’s critically acclaimed memoir about this unforgettable encounter, written following Wallace’s 2008 suicide.
So there is the summary. And it tells you what this movie is about. However what that summary does not tell you is the depth of emotion to which both Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg deliver in their performances.
Jesse Eisenberg gives a performance that we come to expect from the Oscar nominated actor. Not only can you feel, but you can also and understand his curiosity and jealousy towards Segel’s success. A less successful writer, he wants the notoriety that Segel has. So much so, that he is constantly trying to find the holes in Segel’s persona under the guise of an interview and yet is forced to ponder the things that Segel is saying to him.
Jason Segel’s portrayal of David Foster Wallace is not understated by the word phenomenal. I was skeptical that Segel would not be able to deliver a dramatic performance of this caliber, but I am glad to say I was wrong. He steals every scene he is in and his performance is so deep and thoughtful that Jason Segel himself disappears and we are instead left with a performance of what I will always believe David Foster Wallace was like in real life. This performance is one of the best I have seen this year and I believe he will receive an Oscar nomination for this role. I was fascinated with Segel’s performance that I actually downloaded David Foster Wallace’s book Infinite Jest on my drive home.
Performances aside, this movie is not for everyone. If you are looking for an inactive cinematic experience then this film is not for you. This film makes you think. It is like being a part of a deep conversation with friends trying to make sense of the world. It brings perspective to the society we live in and the loneliness we find ourselves trying to avoid while clinging to meaningless things that bring us simple pleasure. A simple way of living where we go from A to B to C to find meaning, only to obtain those things and then not knowing what we do next. But for those who are looking to escape the mundane summer blockbusters and want to see stellar performances, be sure to check this one out.
So there is the summary. And it tells you what this movie is about. However what that summary does not tell you is the depth of emotion to which both Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg deliver in their performances.
Jesse Eisenberg gives a performance that we come to expect from the Oscar nominated actor. Not only can you feel, but you can also and understand his curiosity and jealousy towards Segel’s success. A less successful writer, he wants the notoriety that Segel has. So much so, that he is constantly trying to find the holes in Segel’s persona under the guise of an interview and yet is forced to ponder the things that Segel is saying to him.
Jason Segel’s portrayal of David Foster Wallace is not understated by the word phenomenal. I was skeptical that Segel would not be able to deliver a dramatic performance of this caliber, but I am glad to say I was wrong. He steals every scene he is in and his performance is so deep and thoughtful that Jason Segel himself disappears and we are instead left with a performance of what I will always believe David Foster Wallace was like in real life. This performance is one of the best I have seen this year and I believe he will receive an Oscar nomination for this role. I was fascinated with Segel’s performance that I actually downloaded David Foster Wallace’s book Infinite Jest on my drive home.
Performances aside, this movie is not for everyone. If you are looking for an inactive cinematic experience then this film is not for you. This film makes you think. It is like being a part of a deep conversation with friends trying to make sense of the world. It brings perspective to the society we live in and the loneliness we find ourselves trying to avoid while clinging to meaningless things that bring us simple pleasure. A simple way of living where we go from A to B to C to find meaning, only to obtain those things and then not knowing what we do next. But for those who are looking to escape the mundane summer blockbusters and want to see stellar performances, be sure to check this one out.
Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated The Complete Persepolis in Books
Apr 20, 2020
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<b><i>The Complete Persepolis is a graphic novel written by Marjane Satrapi that covers her life. This is a memoir of growing up as a girl in revolutionary Iran.</i></b>
This is a story of Satrap's childhood; growing up in a loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution. We also follow Marjane in her high school years in Vienna. It is an interesting journey of a young girl becoming an independent woman.
<b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b>
I enjoyed the graphic novel style. It is an interesting concept of telling a story and I really liked it. It was easy to read and quick to engage with.
Even though I liked Marjane’s story, I didn’t like Marjane as a character. She seems a bit too arrogant. She seemed to always need to prove to the world who she is and what she is about. I have met a few people like that in my life and found them annoying.
It was really interesting to read about the culture and history of Iran and I loved the places in the book where they showed us the major differences in culture and beliefs. Growing up in Macedonia, I am no stranger to this culture, nor the beliefs, as Macedonia is a country with many different nationalities and religions living together. I have seen things, and I have heard things.
The writing was very humorous and the story plot was quite interesting. I didn't really feel any emotions during the book, but the sad ending really got me. What a way to finish a book.
<b><i>In conclusion, I have mixed feelings about The Complete Persepolis, only due to the way the character was set up and her attributes. However, I loved the representation of Iran, the way we are thrown into the culture and mindset, and how this book made me think twice.</i></b>
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<a href="https://diaryofdifference.com/">Blog</a>; | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diaryofdifference/">Facebook</a>; | <a href="https://twitter.com/DiaryDifference">Twitter</a>; | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diaryofdifference/">Instagram</a>; | <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/diaryofdifference/pins/">Pinterest</a>;
<img src="https://diaryofdifference.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Book-Review-Banner-25.png"/>;
<b><i>The Complete Persepolis is a graphic novel written by Marjane Satrapi that covers her life. This is a memoir of growing up as a girl in revolutionary Iran.</i></b>
This is a story of Satrap's childhood; growing up in a loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution. We also follow Marjane in her high school years in Vienna. It is an interesting journey of a young girl becoming an independent woman.
<b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b>
I enjoyed the graphic novel style. It is an interesting concept of telling a story and I really liked it. It was easy to read and quick to engage with.
Even though I liked Marjane’s story, I didn’t like Marjane as a character. She seems a bit too arrogant. She seemed to always need to prove to the world who she is and what she is about. I have met a few people like that in my life and found them annoying.
It was really interesting to read about the culture and history of Iran and I loved the places in the book where they showed us the major differences in culture and beliefs. Growing up in Macedonia, I am no stranger to this culture, nor the beliefs, as Macedonia is a country with many different nationalities and religions living together. I have seen things, and I have heard things.
The writing was very humorous and the story plot was quite interesting. I didn't really feel any emotions during the book, but the sad ending really got me. What a way to finish a book.
<b><i>In conclusion, I have mixed feelings about The Complete Persepolis, only due to the way the character was set up and her attributes. However, I loved the representation of Iran, the way we are thrown into the culture and mindset, and how this book made me think twice.</i></b>
<a href="https://amzn.to/2Wi7amb">Wishlist</a>; | <a
<a href="https://diaryofdifference.com/">Blog</a>; | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diaryofdifference/">Facebook</a>; | <a href="https://twitter.com/DiaryDifference">Twitter</a>; | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diaryofdifference/">Instagram</a>; | <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/diaryofdifference/pins/">Pinterest</a>;
Draw Your Weapons
6.0
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A single book might not change the world. But this utterly original meditation on art and war might...
philosophy social sciences
A Fish Supper and a Chippy Smile: Love, Hardship and Laughter in a South East London Fish-and-Chip Shop
Book
'Oi, Hilda, the sign outside says you're frying today but I ain't seeing nothing done in ere!' The...
If the Corncrake Calls
Ian Niall, Sheila Pehrson and Barbara Greg (Illustrator)
Book
When the Scottish writer John McNeillie died on the 24th June 2002 aged 85, he left behind a legacy...
ClareR (5542 KP) rated The Tin Can Crucible in Books
Dec 29, 2020
It’s thanks to The Pigeonhole that I read this book - it’s not something that I would have normally considered. I’ll be honest, it was the cover that attracted me. The photo of the mountain with the tops of the trees peeking through the cloud: it’s a beautiful picture. And the tag line across the front of the front: ‘A firsthand account of modern day sorcery violence’. Well. I had to know what this was about. It had immediately intrigued me. I had had the impression that the Peace Corps was a religious organisation, and this book put that little piece of misinformation to rights (it’s not).
Even with all the detailed descriptions, I still felt it was difficult to imagine what life must have been like, living in one of these villages. It’s so far beyond my own experiences, that even with Christophers detailed explanations of village life, I couldn’t comprehend how these people lived. Huts with dirt on the floor, men and women aged before their time, no running water or, I assume, sewage systems. I’m a bit of a details person, and I’ve come to believe over the last 40 years or so, that toilets and running water are up there in my list of top priorities.
The real crux of this novel though, is the death of the elder - a man that Christopher gets along with very well, and had spoken to frequently. Then he dies. Whilst Christopher is sleeping, two women are imprisoned and accused of killing the elder using witchcraft. They are shut away together until one or the other turns the other woman in. If they don’t, then they both die. This was clearly a situation where someone was going to lose out. And by ‘lose out’, I mean ‘die’. Christopher is understandably upset by this - who can blame him? But at the same time, there’s nothing he can do. He’s in another country where this kind of behaviour, whilst not frequent, is accepted. You can feel his disappointment in his foster family radiating off the page, and also his helplessness. I couldn’t understand how he could stay with them though.
I think the real lesson for both the author and the reader, was that these were not people who could be changed. They were firmly entrenched in their own culture and beliefs.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Christopher Davenport for serialising this informative and emotional memoir. This is what reading is about: learning something new, completely out of your own sphere of knowledge. This book certainly delivers on that.
Even with all the detailed descriptions, I still felt it was difficult to imagine what life must have been like, living in one of these villages. It’s so far beyond my own experiences, that even with Christophers detailed explanations of village life, I couldn’t comprehend how these people lived. Huts with dirt on the floor, men and women aged before their time, no running water or, I assume, sewage systems. I’m a bit of a details person, and I’ve come to believe over the last 40 years or so, that toilets and running water are up there in my list of top priorities.
The real crux of this novel though, is the death of the elder - a man that Christopher gets along with very well, and had spoken to frequently. Then he dies. Whilst Christopher is sleeping, two women are imprisoned and accused of killing the elder using witchcraft. They are shut away together until one or the other turns the other woman in. If they don’t, then they both die. This was clearly a situation where someone was going to lose out. And by ‘lose out’, I mean ‘die’. Christopher is understandably upset by this - who can blame him? But at the same time, there’s nothing he can do. He’s in another country where this kind of behaviour, whilst not frequent, is accepted. You can feel his disappointment in his foster family radiating off the page, and also his helplessness. I couldn’t understand how he could stay with them though.
I think the real lesson for both the author and the reader, was that these were not people who could be changed. They were firmly entrenched in their own culture and beliefs.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and Christopher Davenport for serialising this informative and emotional memoir. This is what reading is about: learning something new, completely out of your own sphere of knowledge. This book certainly delivers on that.
The Most Important Thing Illuminated
Book
Howard Marks's The Most Important Thing distilled the investing insight of his celebrated client...