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knitswithbeer's review against another edition
5.0
I felt very humbled by this book.
Whilst hospitals and their staff get the most check ins, there were enough GP surgery stories to make me feel the "awww, shucks" moments.
Covid 19 has utterly changed the way I work and bringing a human touch to tge madness is something I've tried very hard to do for my patients.
Getting spontaneous emails of thanks is lovely but the slightly unnerving bit is non-patient thanks; a cold caller telling me thanks for being part of the Service that saved his little girl's life. The arrival of some very nice beer from an anonymous well-wisher.
It's my job. Yes, I will do my very best every single time. I'll be there.
And so will every single NHS worker; long after Covid19 as we have been since the Service's inception.
You don't need to clap. Just don't vote Tory next time ok?
Whilst hospitals and their staff get the most check ins, there were enough GP surgery stories to make me feel the "awww, shucks" moments.
Covid 19 has utterly changed the way I work and bringing a human touch to tge madness is something I've tried very hard to do for my patients.
Getting spontaneous emails of thanks is lovely but the slightly unnerving bit is non-patient thanks; a cold caller telling me thanks for being part of the Service that saved his little girl's life. The arrival of some very nice beer from an anonymous well-wisher.
It's my job. Yes, I will do my very best every single time. I'll be there.
And so will every single NHS worker; long after Covid19 as we have been since the Service's inception.
You don't need to clap. Just don't vote Tory next time ok?
sophieroseobooks's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting compilation of stories from Celebrities about the NHS unfortunately it just didn’t hit the mark for me I found some of the stories interesting but many super boring and struggling to get through despite them only being a couple pages long. Saying that I’m not a huge fan of short stories to start with due to the start stop feel to them.
ruthlemon08's review against another edition
5.0
No words, just love. The NHS is and always will (should) be the institution Britain is proudest of.
robbie779's review against another edition
3.0
I've been meaning to read this one for over a year now but couldn't justify the £10.99 kindle price. And you know how they say something was worth the wait? Well this book definitely was NOT. I'm also probably being a bit generous with three stars but what the heck, it's for a worthy cause. There were a few funny stories, one or two tearjerkers, but the rest were a forgettable compilation of NHS experiences. No clap needed here.
btpbookclub's review against another edition
5.0
This was amazing and it raises money for the NHS too so double win. It is a new release to tie in with the pandemic we have all and are currently experiencing. Inside contains 100 short stories from our favourite authors, celebs, musicians, chefs and comedians. These range from hilarious out of this world stories, heart breaking stories, deaths, births and honest everyday stories. We get a full range and all contain a thank you message within. There are also some beautiful poems within too. It really is a beautiful read put together by Adam Kay.
The thing that stood out to me and was mentioned a lot of time in this book is the amazement of the NHS staff and how it is all free. Just makes you go wow doesn't it? The heart of the UK. The NHS. Highly recommend. A well deserved five stars from me I'd give more if I could and a huge thank you to everyone working in our NHS. Keep going soldiers.
The thing that stood out to me and was mentioned a lot of time in this book is the amazement of the NHS staff and how it is all free. Just makes you go wow doesn't it? The heart of the UK. The NHS. Highly recommend. A well deserved five stars from me I'd give more if I could and a huge thank you to everyone working in our NHS. Keep going soldiers.
darleebriar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
poppyjessica's review against another edition
5.0
Adam Kay has compiled this celebration of the NHS, a wonderful collection of letters, poems and stories about how this national institution has touched the lives of everyone in this country. The ultimate message of this book is joy, love and hope; I finished it feeling uplifted and proud of all the workers within the NHS who are striving to keep us safe in these awful times. Many entries are hilarious but counterbalanced with some quite hard-hitting stories. When you read about Graham Norton being stabbed as a student, Greg James almost dying as a baby, as told by his mum, and the multiple families ripped apart by cancer, the book really packs a punch. However, it makes some entries look a bit weak (here's looking at you Joanna Lumley). Regardless, the stories which engage the reader far outweigh the less convincing entries, making this book well worth a read.
Whether you take this book in all at once, or dip in and out of the different stories, depends on your capacity to handle the grief of the book's darkest moments. Some of the stories of ailing grandparents hit too close to home for me, particularly the descriptions of those at the end of their lives. Many entries repeatedly remind the reader of their own mortality, quite a heavy burden to ponder for too long at such a draining time. Kay has done a good job of sequencing the stories to bring light and new life to some of the more harrowing contributions.
All in all, this book is 109 chapters of admiration and celebration. Who knew you needed so many stories about childbirth, appendicitis and fingers being cut off in one place! If you love the NHS, read this book and enjoy sharing in the joy and grief it brings, remembering those amazing people who work tirelessly to keep us well. Thank you Adam Kay for such a lovely project.
Whether you take this book in all at once, or dip in and out of the different stories, depends on your capacity to handle the grief of the book's darkest moments. Some of the stories of ailing grandparents hit too close to home for me, particularly the descriptions of those at the end of their lives. Many entries repeatedly remind the reader of their own mortality, quite a heavy burden to ponder for too long at such a draining time. Kay has done a good job of sequencing the stories to bring light and new life to some of the more harrowing contributions.
All in all, this book is 109 chapters of admiration and celebration. Who knew you needed so many stories about childbirth, appendicitis and fingers being cut off in one place! If you love the NHS, read this book and enjoy sharing in the joy and grief it brings, remembering those amazing people who work tirelessly to keep us well. Thank you Adam Kay for such a lovely project.
billyk26's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most moving publications of this year, in a time when we’ve needed the NHS more than ever. This had me laughing (Chris O’Dowd, Jack Whitehall) and crying (Dawn French, Benjamin Zephaniah). We are so lucky to have such a wonderful healthcare system that - even with its flaws - is one of the most invaluable services we can ever have in the UK. It’s something that has sometimes been taken for granted or sometimes under-appreciated but we should feel immensely proud of all of those who work in the NHS. One I’ll be reading again and again.