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cleg11's review
5.0
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
This book appealed to me as a nurse working through the coronavirus pandemic and being redeployed. It made me realise the impact it has had on both myself, colleagues and family. A brilliant memoir of one nurses experience.
This book appealed to me as a nurse working through the coronavirus pandemic and being redeployed. It made me realise the impact it has had on both myself, colleagues and family. A brilliant memoir of one nurses experience.
readingthruthewards22's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
lucyluelovesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
kath61's review
3.0
Whilst so grateful to all the Keyworkers who continued providing services throughout the pandemic I don't think this quite works as a book. There are too many repetitions and worthy remarks. That, I think is the fault of the editors rather than the author as this is a collection of emails.
frantically's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
4.25
A bit repetitive at times but such a tender and real insight into a nurse's life during Covid. I especially appreciated how many different parts of live Allen touched upon, like how old people or young teenagers were struggling in their own ways during Covid. As someone who spends way too much time in hospitals or doctor's offices, she also made me feel much more comfortable with the moments there, that are embarrassing for me but just normal for the nurses. They really hold the whole medical world together. I feel like this is a book that I could show to my kids in the future to make them understand the weird world we lived in during the height of the pandemic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Medical content
Moderate: Animal death, Self harm, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent
salreads's review
4.0
I love medical accounts and I have read several books which focus on the medical experience of Covid.
Life, Death and Biscuits is the account of an intensive care nurse based on diaries and email updates she wrote throughout the Pandemic.
This is a sobering account - it has to be. The author provides an incredible narrative of the expert work of the nurses and an intuitive and empathetic insight into the patients she treated. At one point she had put out a request for biscuits to help sustain stamina and spirits and the biscuits come, and the cake came and kept on coming…
There are several things which set this account apart - firstly I found the author included a lot of technical detail - for example about the ventilators - which really added to my understanding. The technical detail was expertly explained so that anyone could understand the function of the machinery or the aspects of the care. I also loved the thread about biscuits and cakes which worked through the story highlighting the humanity of the community outside the hospital which literally fed the nurses’ spirits, and contrasted to the lack of supplies and support from government.
Throughout this is an incredible testament to care, empathy and compassion and to a unique time in social and medical history which put the medical profession and humanity to the test as never before. What shines out is the absolutely amazing staff of the NHS.
I cannot give this less than 5 stars for what it offers as a depiction of a particular time and for the writing of such an account when the author was busy being a parent and an Intensive Care Nurse.
With thanks to Netgalley and for a digital copy of this b
Life, Death and Biscuits is the account of an intensive care nurse based on diaries and email updates she wrote throughout the Pandemic.
This is a sobering account - it has to be. The author provides an incredible narrative of the expert work of the nurses and an intuitive and empathetic insight into the patients she treated. At one point she had put out a request for biscuits to help sustain stamina and spirits and the biscuits come, and the cake came and kept on coming…
There are several things which set this account apart - firstly I found the author included a lot of technical detail - for example about the ventilators - which really added to my understanding. The technical detail was expertly explained so that anyone could understand the function of the machinery or the aspects of the care. I also loved the thread about biscuits and cakes which worked through the story highlighting the humanity of the community outside the hospital which literally fed the nurses’ spirits, and contrasted to the lack of supplies and support from government.
Throughout this is an incredible testament to care, empathy and compassion and to a unique time in social and medical history which put the medical profession and humanity to the test as never before. What shines out is the absolutely amazing staff of the NHS.
I cannot give this less than 5 stars for what it offers as a depiction of a particular time and for the writing of such an account when the author was busy being a parent and an Intensive Care Nurse.
With thanks to Netgalley and for a digital copy of this b
nickynak3's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
An interesting look at St George's hospital during the first year or so of the pandemic through emails written at the time. Rather 'live laugh love' at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death