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idksian's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I picked this book up yesterday for the sole reason that one of the characters had my name (a real rarity) but I did not put the book down until I finished it. At points I wasn't even sure if this book was fiction or non-fiction. It read like a work of Adam Kay's, balancing case study style patients with the art of story telling. It handled mental health and the mental health care system with such accuracy and delicacy and honesty. If I could give the authors of this book a hug for how well they portrayed something that books get wrong so often, I really would. I could not reccomend this book more. This book was a true delight.
ahd5's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ellen1's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
kathrynjonesreads's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Glass House is a book about a trainee psychiatrist, the difficulties and challenges, but also how huge the wins can be. The book also shows how important the work is for the patient, for everyone who knows them, and for the community.
More importantly, it's a book about people and their mental health. That's the people who are working on it professionally, personally, or both. It's a good book with realistic characters and (given the authors' backgrounds) realistic settings and situations. And this is what makes it an important book.
I can't say it was a fun read, but it was enjoyable as medical fiction, and I did like reading it. I found the depiction of acute mental health services, and the different professions that can be found, quite interesting. It would certainly be useful for someone considering working in the area, and also for those directly or indirectly dealing with mental health issues.
Many thanks to Hachette ANZ and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
More importantly, it's a book about people and their mental health. That's the people who are working on it professionally, personally, or both. It's a good book with realistic characters and (given the authors' backgrounds) realistic settings and situations. And this is what makes it an important book.
I can't say it was a fun read, but it was enjoyable as medical fiction, and I did like reading it. I found the depiction of acute mental health services, and the different professions that can be found, quite interesting. It would certainly be useful for someone considering working in the area, and also for those directly or indirectly dealing with mental health issues.
Many thanks to Hachette ANZ and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
leemac027's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such a thought-provoking and insightful book.
There is a lot of coverage on emergency medicine on TV, social media, newspapers and magazines - all of the stuff that goes on in Resus, the stress, the decisions that can change a person's life.
What we don't hear about is the emergency or Acute side of mental health care. The same stress, the same decisions that impact people's lives, the devastation when a decision goes wrong - all there. Also, in facilities that need more funding, resources and staff (not unlike the public hospital system especially ED).
The cases covered in this book are all fictional but show the diversity of issues that these health professionals need to deal with daily and quickly. It brings the humanity of this profession to the fore. It is beautifully and respectfully written and conveys the daily struggles that many people have to face each day and how the system they have to navigate is not always straight forward. It also shows the huge workload of the registrars, their supervisors, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists and others that hold everything together.
There is a lot of coverage on emergency medicine on TV, social media, newspapers and magazines - all of the stuff that goes on in Resus, the stress, the decisions that can change a person's life.
What we don't hear about is the emergency or Acute side of mental health care. The same stress, the same decisions that impact people's lives, the devastation when a decision goes wrong - all there. Also, in facilities that need more funding, resources and staff (not unlike the public hospital system especially ED).
The cases covered in this book are all fictional but show the diversity of issues that these health professionals need to deal with daily and quickly. It brings the humanity of this profession to the fore. It is beautifully and respectfully written and conveys the daily struggles that many people have to face each day and how the system they have to navigate is not always straight forward. It also shows the huge workload of the registrars, their supervisors, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists and others that hold everything together.
laurajayne74's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
katie_liz's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The Glass House follows Hannah, a psychiatry registrar working on an acute care ward, as she navigates and reflects upon the experiences of patients, and staff within the hospital.
The story is rich with characters and captures the experience of patients, family and health workers with a frank honesty. At times the number of threads felt almost too much to follow, reflecting the very real experience of navigating mental health care within Australia.
Individual case stories at the start of each chapter appear standalone but gradually weave together, highlighting that psychiatry and psychology is a challenging, necessary and often unknown endeavour. The story highlights the enduring impact of trauma, relationships, loss and suicide, as well as the role of personal choice, and experiences within and beyond therapy and treatment.
The narrative was reflective, and left space for the reader to draw their own conclusions as they followed Hannah. The fictional cases and the behaviour of the various characters felt authentic and genuine. Whilst the subject matter was at times heavy, it was handled with sensitivity and did not feel gratuitous. The authors note summarises significant consultation and collaboration with health professionals and people with lived experience in the development of the book.
Thank you Hachette and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
kyouwa_today's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0