Book Review: Critical: Science and stories from the brink of human life by Dr Matt Morgan

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

After the runaway success of [book:This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor|35235302] there seems to have been a glut of medical memoirs released, so what makes ‘Critical’ so different? This is centred around the role of an ICU, or critical care, consultant and is part memoir, part science as were taken on a journey through life within the most intense and life changing department in the hospital. 

It’s set out in a really nice way, divided into chapters reflecting on specific organs of the body (ie the brain, the lungs, the heart etc.) and goes on to explain some of the many reasons a person may be in the ICU because of that particular body part. It sets out the biology behind the conditions in such a way that most people would be able to get their head around them, and builds on knowledge gained in previous chapters to further explain certain ailments. It’s almost like a really good lecturer, who knows what he’s talking about, taking you through a medical class. 

Matt Morgan is also incredibly passionate about what he does, and his love and compassion for his patients jumps from the page. He explains what it is to feel failure, remorse and regret, and the issues surrounding mental health in doctors was particularly poignant. The most touching aspects were often centered around individual patients who really seemed to touch Matt personally. As medical professionals, we become so desensitised to health that we become at risk of losing a part of ourselves and our compassion. But Matt shows, in the care he takes when talking to bereaved relatives, when asking about a lost loved ones past, that he really does care. 

The section on brain stem death and organ donation was particularly hard for me to read for personal reasons. It’s a mirror image of my own past, and I thought it was touched upon in an extremely empathetic and endearing way - and I don’t think I could ever give a book any higher praise than that. This doesn’t play for laughs or attempt to trivialise what is to be a doctor, but rather bring to the attention of the wider audience what it is to work in the NHS in a high pressure and incredibly important job. 

A great read.

Book Review: So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

A fascinating read, still highly relevant today in our digital world. This covers the evolving issue of ‘public shaming’ and it’s growing significance in the online community via social media. We see people ruined, professionally and personally, over one photo, one comment or one ‘tweet’. 

It certainly made me think about my own online presence, and how I already actively hold a lot of my life back from overexposure online. That pack mentality can destroy everything, without any kind of barrier or behaviour to hold it back. Human nature can be very cruel, and overly zealous, especially when there are no sensors or rules in place. I was particularly struck with Lindsey Stone, who posted a distasteful picture of herself holding up the middle finger outside a war memorial. One silly action from a young, foolhardy girl led to her being fired from her job as a carer, and hundreds of thousands of death threats and vitriol from strangers online who knew nothing about her. Now she will be forever remembered for that picture, that mistake, and constantly haunted by the image online. It will effect her future, and we see her struggle with accepting this and trying to move on. The use of so called ‘reputation rebuilders’ was also really interesting, as they try and hide this negative outpouring by manipulating Google. 

I did find some sections a little ‘out there’, and not entirely relevant to what Robson’s was trying to get across (ie the group therapy stuff, which just came across as odd and out of place), however the overall message is clear. I liked the small section on prisoner rehabilitation particularly interesting (both through therapy, and alternative sentencing). 

A decent read on an insightful topic.

Book Review: My Life with Murderers: Behind Bars with the World's Most Violent Men by David Wilson

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

My Life with Murderers is a reflection by renound professor of criminology David Wilson on his time as governor and assistant governor at a number of British prisons and the numerous encounters with murders he has had along the way. However, it’s also more than that, as it follows Wilson’s musings on  what it is to be a murderer and the various types of murderers there are, from spree and hitmen to serial and beyond. 

It’s clear that Wilson knows his stuff. Without having read any of his previous novels, it’s clear that he has years of experience dealing with various psychopaths and murderers and knows their personalities inside and out. He takes a more scientific approach compared to his American contemporaries too, relying more heavily of the psychology of victims and evidence based practice compared to ‘one off interviews’ and showman ship. It’s a refreshing and more reliable approach to others I’ve read (ie John Douglas, who gets a sound dressing down here). 

I liked the mix of murder types described here, and felt the book did a good overall job at addressing various types of murderers and how they came to commit them, with a mixture of individual and social circumstances. In particular, I liked Wilson’s account of a documentary he made interviewing Bert Spencer, the man accused of murdering Carl Bridgewater. During the course of making the documentary, Wilson came to the conclusion that Spencer was a classic psychopath and goes into great depth to explain why he thinks this, and why and how he thinks Bert came to murder Carl. I’m now desperate to watch the documentary to see the final confrontation between the two. 

I also thoroughly enjoyed the little titbits into prison life with Charles Manson (I laughed out loud at the, in all honestly, bizarre scenario of Manson threatening to stab the prison guards with his mustache while stark naked and covered in shoe polish) and a ‘Furries’ convention that Wilson inadvertently ended up getting in the mix with. I would have enjoyed some more of these personal insights, as they added some much needed light relief to a heavy topic. 

This was a great addition to the true crime genre, and takes a true academic approach to the general audience. A refreshingly British read, and I’ll certainly look to this author for further reading.

Book Review: Brutally Honest by Melanie Brown

Mel B, Scary Spice, her of the leopard print catsuit and loud mouth, has certainly had a tough few years. I’d heard a lot of the rumours surrounding her infamous marriage breakdown to then husband Stephen Belafonte, and the rift with her family, but quite honestly I didn’t expect her to be quite so upfront about what really went on behind those closed doors for ten years. This really is brutally honest, and I admire the courage and strength that it must have taken for her to put this all to paper. The emotional abuse she had to deal with (and her children had to deal with) is awful, and you can feel that pain written in every word. At her worst she was a shell of her former self, locked in a battle with drugs and alcohol to try and block out her life.

This is a book primarily about Mel’s relationships with men. If you’re looking for memories of her time with the Spice Girls, this isn’t the book for you (although they are mentioned, and it’s a joy to read when they are). It’s squarely focused on all the men who’ve made an impact on her life, starting with her father, through to Jimmy her first husband, Eddie Murphy (the supposed ‘love of her life’) and, of course, Stephen. She discusses what she feels caused her to pick the worst kind of man imaginable, and also offers up that grain of hope that even if you are stuck in an abhsive relationship there’s always a way out. It might take time - it took Mel an additional three years and the death of her father to finally leave Stephen for good, but it can be done. 

At times I found the writing a little all over the place, and some sentences or paragraphs were repeated several times throughout the book (such as Mel reminiscing about when she bought her parents a house, which she explains no less than three times). There’s also no clear structure or timeline, going from that fateful night before the X Factor show when she tries to commit suicide, back to her childhood, Eddie, Stephen again, back to Jimmy etc. It feels chaotic, and this is a big reflection of Mel B herself who comes across as quite the whirlwind. Some focus would have helped however, as at times I struggled to get to grips with the time frames. 

A raw, sometimes difficult read, that I hope helps Mel deal with a truely traumatic time in her life. I hope she can finally accept herself, and find the peace she certainly deserves.

Book Review: A Better Me by Gary Barlow

I was always a bit too ‘young’ for Take That the first time round. The band split when I was in primary school, and I was much more interested in making up imaginary games than crying over a boyband. However, when they returned following a documentary in 2005, their music had evolved, I’d grown up, and it was the right side of pop for me to enjoy. 

Gary has always struck me as quite a private person. The driving force behind the original band in terms of musical direction and creativity, but not really someone who enjoys the fame - and indeed this really comes across here. Although we get snippets of deeply harrowing parts of Gary’s life from recent years, such as his obsession with food, his depression following the band’s initial breakdown and the deeply harrowing time in 2012 when he lost his baby Poppy to stillbirth, sometimes I still felt he was holding back. He doesn’t really give anything away that we, the public, don’t already know about and I think this is because he’s become wary over the years of giving too much of himself. Years of ridicule over your weight, your unsuccessful solo career when your band mate has become a global phenomenon, and just generally being seen as a laughing stock in the music industry for a while would be enough to make anyone quite closed off.

I particularly liked the stories about the various tours that Take That have done in recent years (from a personal perspective I went to see the Progress tour and it was nice to get an ‘inside look’ at what went into making such an enormous and enjoyable stadium production), and Gary’s side of the story with regards to mending bridges with Robbie. Again, I felt like a lot of this aspect is heavily edited. Gary mentions that this is just his ‘side’ of the story, but I felt there was a lot more to that little reunion than is mentioned, and Gary remains quite guarded about the subject throughout. 

There is hardly any mention of Take That from the 90’s other than a brief run down of how Gary joined the band, which was a little disappointing. Gary, again, mentions that it’s all be told before - but a part of me felt like this was a bit of a cop out to tell some really interesting stories about what went in back in the original haydays of the band. 

An interesting read if you like Gary and Take That, with some really emotional sections on stillbirth and the hopelessness and despair that brings. But it’s rather heavily edited by Gary himself.

Book Review: When the Dog's Don't Bark: A Forensic Scientist's Search for the Truth by Angela Gallop

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

When the Dogs Don’t Bark follows forensic scientist Angela Gallop as she discusses her 40 year career within the profession. What follows is an outline of a number of her most memorable cases interspersed with the history and development of forensic sciences within the UK and it’s importance in the conviction, and defense, of individuals accused of a variety of crimes. 

What immediately comes across while reading this is just how complicated and varied forensic science is. Far from standing in ditches collecting evidence from a crime scene, forensic scientists are wide reaching and branch into different specialties, from chemical, entomology, and one of the fastest growing - digital forensics. Often they must possess a thought process a little ‘outside the box’ too by taking the extra step of recreating scenarios in labs to determine the most probably outcome and unlock the truth about what happened at the crime scene. Two instances that stand out are when she mentions recreating the action of pushing a mop around a kitchen floor to exonerate a man accused of murder, and shooting a suspended pig carcass with a shotgun to discover where a specific shot went. 

Other than a few glimmers of interesting cases and scenarios, this was a rather dry book to get through unfortunately. A lot of time is spent describing the different kinds of forensic scientists there are, and the various techniques which are used. It’s very science based, and talks in great detail about methodologies. There’s also a lot of detail regarding Gallop’s professional career and various businesses, however I found this could have been condensed, as it really took away from the more interesting cases. I think the book was approached very much like a scientific report, using cases to back up Gallop’s explanations of various techniques instead of letting the cases speak for themselves. It feels almost clinical at times, and there’s just no heart to the stories. A lot of the cases she mentions, she states she doesn’t know the outcome, and this got very frustrating at times as it came across as feeling unfinished and a little emotionless. Perhaps some more of her own personal background may have helped here, as we learnt a lot about her professional life but hardly anything personal.

I do find the synopsis a little misleading, as there’s no real depth to any of the memorable cases, sometimes they consisting of only a few paragraphs, and they are rather few and far between. The bulk of the book is centered around Gallop’s career and her explanations of what forensic scientists do. In this regard it’s meticulous in its presentation, but it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. 

Interesting if you want to expand your knowledge of what forensic science is, but don’t go into it expecting lots of true crime stories or cases.

Book Review: Under the Wig: A Lawyer's Stories of Murder, Guilt and Innocence by William Clegg, QC

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I’ve always been interested in the law. Not to the extent that I’ve wanted to be involved career wise (I’m firmly in team health professional), but I think it’s more an interest in the unknown and archaic world of the British justice system. It’s riddled with traditions that make it distinctly unique (mentioned here are the ‘nosegays’ given to judges at the Old Bailey, and the displaying of one of the great swords of the City of London in the court of the most senior judge) and I just find that fascinating. Under the Wig helps lift that lid into this rather closeted world, and really brought to life a world I, respectfully, hope never to be deeply involved in. 

This read like a memoir in part, as we follow William Clegg QC he starts his career in law, eventually leading to him ‘taking the silk’ and becoming a barrister and head of chambers. Interspersed between this are the stories of some of his most memorable cases in the world of murder, fraud and war criminals. I liked this method of writing, because it broke up would could have been an otherwise ‘dry’ subject with injections of humour, compassion and humility. Law is so complicated, and the book needed this touch of ‘down to earth’ to appeal to a wider audience. 

There were a number of topics that I had no idea about, especially Legal Aid, that I found really interesting. There was a distinct amount of passion for the subject of ‘pro bono’ cases, and the reduction in government funding that has a massive knock on effect in the profession that I had no idea about. Everything in law seems to have a cause and effect that influences everyone from the secretaries and clerks to the solicitors and barristers. It’s stressed a number of times that it’s seen as a family, and this was very endearing to me. 

It was also really interesting to read a book from ‘the other side’, from a defence perspective rather than prosecution. This was particularly true in the Miss Yeates murder trial, where he was on the defence team. I found myself on a couple of occasions comparing it to a number of FBI heavy novels I’ve read (Mindhunter springs to mind), and seeing the various methods employed by both, and the differences they have. It was fascinating. William Clegg QC is very much anti capital punishment because of possible miscarriages of justice, and I thought he did a good job of putting his reasons for this across. 

I did find at times that the author comes across as quite reserved, as if he’s holding something back. I think this is a downfall to his profession, where the poker face is key, but I really wanted a bit ‘more’ emotion. He readily admits at one point that he’s not sentimental or emotional, rapidly moving on from case to case (a decent coping mechanism with such a heavy workload) but I think I could have connected better with him if he’d shown a bit more vulnerability. 

An excellent read into a world that before now has been largely hidden from me. Highly recommended for lovers of the law and true crime to gain a truely unique perspective from the defence side.

Book Review: Listening to the Animals: Becoming the Supervet by Noel Fitzpatrick

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Noel Fitzpatrick is perhaps best known in the UK for his tv programme ‘The Supervet’, which centres around his small animal practice treating exceptionally difficult cases with a certain degree of innovation and passion. His book looks deeper into this passion for his work, as well as expanding on Noel’s life growing up in rural Ireland, and his difficult route to the so called ‘field of dreams’.

I have so much respect of Noel. He has a wonderful work, and life, ethic - believing that you can achieve anything if you work hard enough for it. And he has shown that himself from the large amount of time and effort he’s put into his profession, advancing veterinary medicine to the benefit of thousands of animals.

Reading about Noel’s upbringing on a rural Irish farm, there’s a vulnerability to his writing that makes him instantly endearing. It really feels like he’s writing from the heart and you can feel his passion and warmth. He writes honestly about his struggles with bullies and the isolation he felt, and growing up with the beloved farm dog Pirate, who was his only confidante. At times I was truely brought close to tears.

I particularly enjoyed the later chapters, as we join Noel on his quest to secure his own practice and improve the veterinary medicine specialisms of orthopaedics and neurosurgery. I have a dachshund myself, and I know that in the future we may have back problems in Monty that 10 years ago would have meant he would have been put down. Now, thanks to Noel, there’s a hope within the field that he could undergo procedures that could lead to a long and healthy life. That’s all down to Noel and his absolute belief in what he does. Thank you Noel. If only more people had the compassion you show for our four legged family members.

If anything, I would have liked to have read more tales from the various practices he ‘locumed’ for, as I think he spent a greater amount of time describing his experiences on farm animal cases (which I still really enjoyed - especially the story about the drunk lads and the cow ceasarean!). But, honestly, I really enjoyed this. A must read for any animal lover, told with no end of enthusiasm and love.

 - 4 stars

Book Review: The Secret Teacher: Dispatches From the Classroom by Anon

The Secret Tracher follows an anonymous NQT during his first tumultuous years at an inner city school. We see the changing nature of the job, the politics and harsh working environments but most importantly we see the children he teaches and how he learns to adapt and learn from them to become a better teacher.

This was an ok read, perfect for this time of year as we gear up for ‘back to school’. The setting was explored well, and there’s the full range of characters from various background you would expect from an inner city school - from the overachieving or troubled pupil to the ‘perfect’ teacher. At times I found the author skimmed the surface of these characters, going into very brief detail about them before moving on to someone or something else. This meant I didn’t really get any kind of emotional attachment to anyone.

I also found the author a bit standoffish and condescending at times, meaning I struggled to connect with him too. He could come across as quite abrasive, making fun of some of the children he teaches and his colleagues in a way that was quite mean and unnecessary. It felt like he was laughing at the pupils and his colleagues rather than with them, which I didn’t like. I think that if we perhaps knew more about the author he would have appeared more ‘human’.

The writing also jumps from being quite engaging in places to just being a bit dull. I’m not a teacher myself, and have no interest to be, so the sections on the work aspect of the job as opposed to the more emotional side involving the children I just didn’t find interesting. It also doesn’t flow particularly well, with only a rough timeline of events over the course of a few years meaning it was hard for me to read.

I think I’ll stick to my preferred medical biographies, but this might appeal to those within the teaching profession who can perhaps relate to the highs and lows of teaching.

 - 3 stars

Book Review: Unnatural Causes by Richard Shepherd

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this on Netgalley, I was intrigued. I was already reading a book on the concept of death and what comes after for bodies (The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers) so I was fascinated to read about the work of a pathologist in a world that still feels very inaccessible to the general public. The book encompasses many famous cases that Richard Shepherd has been directly involved with during what could be called the ‘golden age’ of pathology,  as well as examining the personal troubles pathologists may face in the course of their career.

My first thought while reading was just how ‘human’ Richard Shepherd came across in his writing. He treats his patients with obvious care, and has a great passion for the profession and with passing that knowledge on. It was lovely to read about an individual who actively seeks to improve their profession, not only for their own benefit, but for the greater good. His writing certainly made the concept of post mortem more acceptable and less ‘scary’ or morbid.

I found the content itself rather mixed. I think this is a result of the fact it was written over a long period of time, and is full of information, but unfortunately not all of it is that compelling. I loved the chapters based around his work and cases, which ranged from mass disasters like the Marchioness sinking to famous cases such as the Stephen Lawrence murder and Princess Diana. These cases are often described quite clinically, with a detached scientific approach, of how the autopsies are carried out and the processes and agencies involved. It’s empathetic and to the point but without getting too personal. The earlier sections also include some almost ‘Sherlock Holmes’ style deductions to cases that helped determine what happened to the deceased, which I really enjoyed. However, these become less frequent as the book progresses due to the changing nature of pathology as a profession and the introduction of DNA evidence.

There are also some truly heartbreaking chapters dedicated to the difficult, and often controversial, subject of child autopsies. The subject is dealt with delicately, with a range of cases explored, while still managing to convey the emotional difficulties encountered by all involved.

I would say that the book does tend to jump from case to case quite rapidly, sometimes disrupting the overall flow of the book. As it progresses these examples of cases also become less frequent, which was a shame as I found them so interesting. However, the latter half is compelling on a more personal level, as we see the harsher realities of experiencing so much death, as well as the often unnerving cross examinations in court which can lead to self doubt and PTSD. I personally would have preferred less focus on the author’s private life as I was less interested in it, however it does make him feel more approachable.

A thoughtful insight into a closeted world that’s told with obvious passion and extensive knowledge of the subject.

 - 4 stars

Book Review: It'll Be OK, It's Just A Hole In My Head by Mimi Hayes

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

‘I’ll be OK...’ are the memoirs of Mimi Hayes, focusing on the initial diagnosis and her subsequent recovery after a brain haemorrhage caused by a cavernous hemangioma (which she calls an angioma). It covers the difficulties she faces getting her initial diagnosis and the rocky road to resuming a normal life after surgery.

I have a personal history with regards to brain injuries like this, and I work everyday within a busy Neuroradiology department. As such, I feel a certain affinity towards stories involving anything neurological and was initially drawn to these memoirs because of this. The author is endearing as she takes us through her story, and I instantly warmed to her as she recounts her ‘back story’ of sorts in the build up to her haemorrhage. Her story is easy to follow, and I found the writing style matched well with the author’s obvious quirky personality - although I admit that at times I found the endless movie references a little grating. It felt almost as though she was using humour, along with the movie references that often ended up going off on a tangent, to deflect from digging deeper into her emotional state at the time. This often took away from the more serious points that she was trying to get across. 

I would perhaps have liked some explanations in terms of how the American health care system works in comparison to my own beloved NHS. Beyond knowing that you need health insurance, I have no idea how Americans access healthcare, and I think a small paragraph outlining how this system works may have allowed me a greater degree of understanding with regards to the difficulties Mimi encounters when initially trying to gain a diagnosis from her doctor. Perhaps a more detailed outline of what a cerebral hemangioma is also would be helpful to readers who perhaps don’t know what they are (and their tendency to bleed).

I liked the photos that we’re scattered throughout. They added a more personal touch that allowed me to connect with Mimi and put faces to names. I also loved the interactions between Mimi’s family, especially with regards to the Halloween costume ‘incident’. They were written about with an obvious amount of love that just jumped off the page and was wonderful to read about.

Granted this isn’t The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, but I enjoyed this, and with a bit of tighter editing to decrease the amount of times this went a bit off topic, it would make a good account of one individual’s recovery following brain injury.

 - 3 stars

Book Review: However Fights Monsters by Robert Ressler

I’ve read a few of these FBI non fiction murder books now, most noticeably Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, which I found more interesting than this. Unfortunately I found Robert Ressler not as charismatic as Douglas in his examination and explanation of various cases - although his knowledge is undeniable. He’s just a bit more sedate and academically inclined compared to Douglas’ more sensationalist approach. I will say his personality is slightly less irritating than Douglas though, as he tends not to self congratulate as much (it does happen though). I would have preferred more talk about the various cases rather than Ressler’s personal background too, but understand that it might have been necessary to include it to gain an insight into Ressler’s way of thinking etc.

The book is also obviously dated, with no new chapters referencing anything past the early 1990s. I really need to find more modern texts, but so far nothing is quite as superior as these for definitive facts and information relating to violent crimes etc.

Overall, this was good but historical, and covers a fair few crimes I hadn’t heard of and examined them in a clean analytical way. Any recommendations for something more recent would be appreciated!

 - 3 stars

Book Review: A Tudor Christmas by Alison Weir

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Feeling Christmassy? This is a great book to get you into the spirit of the season, while taking you on a journey through the Tudor period and all the festivities involved. It’s well structured, divided into chapters based on the 12 days of Christmas, and the various activities the rich and poor participated in. There’s plenty of little facts scattered throughout which highlight many aspects of Tudor and Christmas life I never knew about, and also brings to life this concept that through the ages, will always knew how to throw a party.

In the chapters there are various carols, pictures, recipes and poems to bring to life the stories told of Christmas time. I thought this was a nice touch, as it lent itself an air of authenticity and really added to the Christmas feeling. I felt more immersed in the stories, and at times I could almost imagine myself in a great hall alongside Henry VIII eating my roasted goose. I did find a few of the poems a little long, which distracted from the text itself, however this was few and far between.

This was a lovely little read about one of my favourite times of year, and I love that I can now see the history behind a lot of the traditions which I originally thought were Victorian. In particular I enjoyed the chapter on Boxing (or St. Stephen’s) day and it’s links to the rich giving alms to the poor, as well an annual hunt for a Wren. It was these little touches that are only going to enhance my enjoyment of the season. Some chapters I wasn’t as interested in as others, which does tend to happen for me in this style of book, as I found I was less taken with the chapter on games etc. enjoyed during the festive period. However, the chapters I did enjoy balanced these lulls out well.

Recommend to the Tudor history buffs and lovers of Christmas. I just wish it had been longer.

 - 3 stars

Book Review: In Search of Mary Shelley: The Woman Who Wrote Frankenstein by Fiona Sampson

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To coincide with the 200th anniversary of the release of Frankenstein, Fiona Sampson examines the inner influences and background of writer Mary Shelley.

I admit I know very little about Mary Shelley other than the fact that she married the famous poet Percy Shelley as a teenager and was widowed at a young age. I have also never read Frankenstein, but nevertheless I was intrigued to see what could possess a woman of this time to write something that is now considered a classic, in an era where women simply weren't encouraged to write 'this kind' of novel.

I found this well researched and thorough. Sampson manages to open up a notoriously private woman's life and fascinating past, where she was surrounded by some great intellectual thinkers of the time. It was great to see who or what influenced Mary to write her story. She manages to bring life to a woman tormented by her many pregnancies and infant deaths, and how her outpouring of grief and redemption comes in th form of writing. At times, these reads almost like a novel, and that's what makes it so engaging. It also flows well. Most chapters set up a scene before dissecting the chapter with various facts and interesting discussions. It's structured in such a way that it doesn't divert from the facts or diverge into various distracting sidestories, which I appreciated.

I do think I would have benefitted from reading Frankenstein before reading this. I think that's the main intention here, and although I gained a lot of insight into Mary Shelley, I would have gained more having read her novel first. I think I would have perhaps been more 'into' this as well having done that, as although I found the overall premise interesting I've found I'm maybe just not as interested in this time period as I am other periods of history. This is purely a personal preference however.

That said, this is a great introduction to Mary Shelley, a character full of intrigue with a fascinating past.

In Search of Mary Shelley is available to purchase now from: Amazon

 - 3 stars

Book Review: The World Of Lore: Wicked Mortals by Aaron Mahnke

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the last instalment in this series, The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures, so was really pleased when I received an ARC for the second chapter which explores the more ‘human’ aspects of folklore and myth. Here, we delve into the murky world of infamous mass murderers, changlings, witches, spontaneous human combustion and more. 

It’s a large, comprehensive list of various stories that essentially outline that humans are often more monster than the creatures we create. Often, it’s fear of the unknown that drives an individual to turn to stories to rationalise their behaviour. This idea is demonstrated best in the chapters relating to changelings, possessions and witches. Of course your wife isn’t suffering from a mental illness, she’s clearly been swapped for a fairy. A ‘changeling’. That lonely woman who seems a bit odd? Witch. This is told in a laid back conversational way, is very easy to read and told with an obvious passion for the subject matter. I would often find myself eager to get back to this book over others I was reading, and could easily dip in and out of the text. 

Sometimes I did find some of the stories slightly repetitive however. We read about H. H. Holmes several times, to the point where I can probably relate his whole life history, and I found the section on witches slightly less interesting compared to the more unusual or unexplainable tales. However, the other stories made up for this, and covered a broad enough area that I came away feeling like I knew a lot more about humans and the development of folklore tales and stories than I did before. I especially enjoyed the chapter on doppelgängers, as it felt the most ‘otherworldly’ and atmospheric. And, perhaps weirdly, also the most believable (other than the true serial killer stories obviously). 

Just like the previous novels, the book is scattered with wonderful illustrations throughout that reminded me of old Horrible History books. They compliment the stories well, and help to add that little bit extra to the overall presentation of the text. 

I look forward to the next book.

 - 4 stars

Book Review: A River in Darkness: One Man’s Escape from North Korea

It's been a while since I read anything in one sitting, but this was utterly heartbreaking and compelling.

Masaji Ishikawa and his family moved to North Korea during the great migration of Japanese/Korean immigrants to the communist state in the 1960s. Promises of a paradise and jobs for all duped many a family at the time, but the reality was far from what was expected.

This is by far one of the best first hand accounts I've read of life in North Korea, and in some respects it completely overwhelmed me. The outpouring of grief, bitter regret and disappointment Masaji feels for himself and his family is palpable on every page. It's his passion to tell his story, and shame both the Korean and Japanese governments for their failings, that make this so readable - but never enjoyable. It follows Masaji from that fateful journey across the sea to North Korea, to his life as a tractor driver and endless search for a happy life with his growing family, to the famine of the late 1980s and early 90s which ultimately leads to his desperate escape.

The desperation of a whole nation is described so eloquently here, it's hard to read at times. But it should be read. The cruelty of human nature is all too evident, and shouldn't be ignored. I admire Masaji Ishikawa for the courage it must have taken to recall his past, and defy a nation in doing so. I can only hope that by doing so he's finally found some peace.

A River in Darkness is available to purchase now from: Amazon

 - 4 stars

Book Review: In Order To Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park

I’ve read a few books from North Korea defectors. Most noticeably A River in Darkness:  One Man's Escape from North Korea and Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, but I hadn’t really read anything from a purely female perspective until now.

Yeonmi Park grew up in North Korea, near the border with China, with her entrepreneurial father, mother and sister. Although they may not have initially had the worst upbringing due to her father’s ingenuity, this changed when he was sent to prison, leaving Yeonmi and her sister alone without food while their mother travelled for work. What follows is the now typical, and harrowing, tale of starvation and desperation to survive in a country that doesn’t care for their own outside of the elite. Yeonmi talks openly of a childhood spent searching for food and constantly living in fear that they could follow in their father’s footsteps.

Desperation turns to flight, as Yeonmi and her mother are smuggled into China, and to perhaps an even worse fate than starvation as they soon become embroiled in the trafficking and raping of North Korean women to impoverished Chinese farmers. Throughout her story, Yeonmi is honest and open about her experiences to the point where it almost feels cathartic. By sharing her story it feels like Yeonmi is expressing not only her disappointment in her home country, but also her grief and resilience to thrive. And it also gives hope to those still struggling.

The book also really highlights just how different the experience of defecting is for North Korean women compared to men. Often the men do this alone, and are exposed to harsh and violent endings. The women endure their own unique horrors that seem to revolve around this feeling of powerlessness and reliance on their captors, but often it’s alongside other women who share their plight. For Yeonmi, she had her mother.

The most surprising aspect for me were the later chapters centering around South Korea. I’d read previously of the struggles first encountered by North Koreans during their assimilation into South Korean life, however I wasn’t fully aware of the prejudices, and also the lack of understanding, that Yeonmi faces on encountering native South Koreans. This seems to be no fault on the governments side, as they provide education and money to help ease the pressures, but rather just a general ignorance to the plight of defectors. It would seem, from Yeonmi’s perspective, that they choose to bury their heads in the sand to the real suffering across their borders. I found it especially sad that Yeonmi felt the need to bury all aspects of her North Korean heritage - from her accent, to studying ‘celebrities’ just in order to fit in and be accepted.

The real sentiment I’ll take away from this however, is just how strong the familial bond can be. Yeonmi and her mother face so much adversity through their lives, and continue to look for their missing sister and daughter long after their arrival in South Korea. Their bond never waivers, and the love they have for each other is unending.

In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom is available to purchase now from: Amazon

 - 4 stars

Book Review: You Can Stop Humming Now by Daniela Lamas

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You Can Stop Humming Now is a non fiction memoir of sorts that takes us through the wonders of modern medicine by examining various patients past and patient under the care of Daniela Lamas. Rather than baffle you with science and facts, Lamas takes us on a journey through the emotional and physical side effects of people suffering from long term or chronic illnesses that 5, even 10, years ago they might not have survived due to the amazing advances in medicine. It's a very human approach to an often aseptic topic.

As a student I was always taught the importance of evidence based practice. We can only continue to improve and grow as a profession within medicine if we have the means and foresight to continually expand our knowledge and abilities. This book is a perfect example of that. Lamas speaks with passion and empathy as she relays the stories of several patients who've directly benefitted from such treatment, and what it knw means to survive past an expected 'expiration date'.

Patients include a kidney transplant recipient who found his donor through Facebook, a woman with cystic fibrosis nearing her 40th birthday when she wasn't expected to live past 30, and a number of patients suffering from chronic pulmonary or cardiac diseases who fought through time in ITU with the help of various ingenius machines or devices to reach a purgatory existence on the other side. Lamas has a history in ITU care, and as such most of the patients discussed have some form of background spent here. This was a refreshing side to understanding medical care which I haven't read before, and it was also nice to hear from a medical professional across the pond. As a stoic advocate for the NHS, the American 'care' system baffles me greatly, and this resonates throughout the book with some mentions of limited insurance payouts for rehabilitation centres and endless cycles of paperwork for pharmaceuticals. Thank goodness we don't that kind of health system.

Getting back to the stories themselves, it's clear that Lamas has a passion for healthcare and a high regard for all the patients and colleagues she speaks of. There's some lovely little snippets of stories that show levels of dedication that go above and beyond the duty of care and endless warmth for patient care that shines through.

An interesting read, and one I would highly recommend for people interested in the amazing advances in medicine that are greatly changing the face of modern medicine as we know it.

You Can Stop Humming Now is available to purchase now from: Amazon

 - 3 stars

Book Review: All That Remains by Sue Black

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m (yet again) finding it difficult to organise my thoughts surrounding this book. It’s an intense, sometimes clinical, portrayal of death in a very pragmatic and scientific way. It’s equal parts cold and without feeling in its descriptions of death as if from a textbook or courtroom, yet also simultaneously deeply emotive and always fascinating. I found that at times I had to step away from it, because although fascinating, I found myself becoming too attached to the cases. I’m also deeply in awe of the author’s knowledge, enthusiasm and respect for the subject she teaches.

This is a very personal look at the many faces of death as described by one of Britain’s leading forensic anthropologists, and covers everything from the various ways a body can be buried or preserved, what happens to a body after death, and how forensic anthropologists can establish any number of things about an individual from their remains. It also goes into detail about various interesting cases the author has been directly involved with, and how forensics have helped to build a case or resolve a mystery surrounding an individual’s death or that of a major disaster. It was these chapters I found the most interesting, as it builds on knowledge the reader takes from earlier chapters. I do think it helped that I have an anthropological/medical background however, as some of the terms used are quite medical in nature.

The book also documents the author’s time spent in Kosovo and some of the atrocities witnessed there. I think it was these chapters that effected me the most deeply, as the descriptions of some of the scenes Sue Black is involved with are, simply, horrendous. However, it again highlights the invaluable work undertaken within the profession.

I suppose I was less taken with the small sections near the beginning of the book that seemed to be more like a familial memoir or history rather than delivering facts and experiences. Although there was always a reason for them, such as a device to further expand the readers understanding of various biological processes etc., I just wasn’t that taken with them in comparison to the later chapters.

That said, I really enjoyed this. It was informative, well written and interesting. As Sue Black herself states, ‘humans cannot fail to be affected by the stories of other humans’, and when you’ve lead a life as full as this, it’s hard not to agree. Read it. You won’t be disappointed.

 - 4 stars

Book Review: Off The Deep End: A History of Madness at Sea by Nic Compton

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the premise for this; Off The Deep End scrutinises the effects of the sea on mental health- whether that be to seamen, navigators, or modern day sailors. Nic Compton manages to include a vast number of conditions that could negatively impact mental health, as well as covering a broad timescale from the dawn of ships, to the explorations of 'uncharted waters' and beyond.

The early chapters are easily the best. I loved the explanations on the optical illusions known as 'Fata Morgana' and how this may have led sailors to interpret the phenomenon as The Flying Dutchman - leading to superstitions and religious fervor. From this point we are then introduced to Darwin, and his doomed captain and navigator aboard the Beagle, with suicide and madness. Then we jump to shipwrecks, whales with grudges, and cannibalism. It was certainly interesting - and after reading I can certainly see why seamen have such a high proportion of mental illness rates. It would seem everything is set against them - including even the rations and living quarters!

Everything is well researched and goes into some detail about various voyages and navigational terms. I appreciated this to some respect, as it's clear the author has spent a great deal of time carefully getting all the facts to help construct his arguments, but it also made the text heavy going at some points. It wasn't a light read, and I found myself dipping in and out of it in between other books. The text, as you might imagine, is also quite dark at times. There don't seem to be many happy endings for sailors.

I didn't enjoy the more contemporary chapters as interesting. I'm a history nerd at heart, and these just didn't hold my attention as much. Because of this, I found myself wishing there were more chapters on British naval history, and the stigmas attached to sailors of this time rather than now. However, I do understand that it's an important subject to broach, as the struggle against mental illness continues. I'm all for raising awareness.

An interesting topic.

 - 3 stars