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Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas
by
A short gift book of festive hospital diaries from the author of million-copy bestseller This is Going to Hurt
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat . . . but 1.4 million NHS staff are heading off to work. In this perfect present for anyone who has ever set foot in a hospital, Adam Kay delves back into his diaries for a hilarious, horrifying and sometimes heartb
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Start your review of Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas
It didn't live up to it's initial promise by never developing. It remained a selection of anecdotes taken from the Christmas shift every year from 2004 (afair) to the present. Occasionally it is laugh-out-loud funny or a broad smile, as in: "Full marks to the anaesthetist wearing a badge that says, "He sees you when you are sleeping, he knows when you are awake," but mostly it's just mildly amusing. Or not.
It doesn't compare to the clever, percipient This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Ju ...more
It doesn't compare to the clever, percipient This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Ju ...more
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Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
★ I read the author’s debut while I was studying for my final tests in med school and now I read this while I am officially a doctor! I received the license test results on the same day I received this book so that was definitel ...more
“Would you believe there’s a medical term specifically and exclusively for a mass of undigested sharon fruit in an intestine? No wonder medical school takes so long, learning all this shit.”
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
★ I read the author’s debut while I was studying for my final tests in med school and now I read this while I am officially a doctor! I received the license test results on the same day I received this book so that was definitel ...more
Quite simply hilarious.
The only complaint I have about this book is that it wasn’t long enough! I love Adam Kay’s writing and I love reading about his time as a doctor. I felt every emotion whilst reading this book - and I loved it! It was hilarious but also heartbreaking at times. It also makes me angry for the way NHS staff are treated, and it really shows what amazing people they are. I really wish that this book was longer as I was really enjoying reading it. It took me only 2 hours! I recommend this one to everyo
...more
“Full marks to the anaesthetist wearing a badge that says, “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake.””
Having listened to the audiobook for Kay’s amazing account of life as a junior doctor, This Is Going To Hurt, earlier in the year, I was very much excited to read this little festive book in the run-up to Christmas.
Kay is simply hilarious. He perfectly combines his sense of humour with his compassionate side as he recounts the different Christmasses he has spent working in h ...more
Having listened to the audiobook for Kay’s amazing account of life as a junior doctor, This Is Going To Hurt, earlier in the year, I was very much excited to read this little festive book in the run-up to Christmas.
Kay is simply hilarious. He perfectly combines his sense of humour with his compassionate side as he recounts the different Christmasses he has spent working in h ...more
Following up from the brilliant This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor with this festive treat, Kay helps explain the exact day to day life of the healthcare profession and the pitfalls of working over the Christmas period.
Just like the previous book, their were plenty of squeamish and odd antidotes explained in a brilliant humours way.
But more importantly it yet again highlights the amazing jobs those working in our NHS do and such never be taken for granted. ...more
Just like the previous book, their were plenty of squeamish and odd antidotes explained in a brilliant humours way.
But more importantly it yet again highlights the amazing jobs those working in our NHS do and such never be taken for granted. ...more
A festive diary style look into working in the NHS, this has all the wit, heart and humour of Adam’s previous book, This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor with added tinsel and fairy lights. As before, some of the entries are hard hitting and difficult to read about, mixed with some other, more light hearted entries, that had me laughing out loud. I can see a lot of myself and my colleagues in Adam’s writing style, with an almost stoic approach to life with certain patients and
...more
Funny
Short
Stories of six christmases spent in the ER or the labour ward
Totally season appropriate
Short
Stories of six christmases spent in the ER or the labour ward
Totally season appropriate
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
You know when a music artist has a really successful album and the producers decide it is a great idea to re-release it at Christmas time, except with a few extra tracks added in? And, being a massive fan, you feel obliged to purchase it because you like the artist’s music and you have that small doubt that maybe, just maybe, it won’t appear on the next full album? Well, this is the same thing, just in literary format. You f ...more
You know when a music artist has a really successful album and the producers decide it is a great idea to re-release it at Christmas time, except with a few extra tracks added in? And, being a massive fan, you feel obliged to purchase it because you like the artist’s music and you have that small doubt that maybe, just maybe, it won’t appear on the next full album? Well, this is the same thing, just in literary format. You f ...more
Dec 04, 2019
Alice (Married To Books)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2019,
alice-reads-adult-fiction
I’m on the fence about this one. On one hand, it was fun to dive back into more real-life stories from the NHS frontline, however, it was short in length and some T/W for miscarriage and abortion. Some of the entries I enjoyed, some not so much. For now, I’ve rated this one 3.5 stars but may edit in the future!
Re-read Dec 2020 - Still love this!
I was super excited to pick this up as I absolutely loved its predecessor This is Going to Hurt
Thankfully this festive spin off was just as good/heart-warming/heart-breaking and kept me thoroughly entertained.
5*s ...more
I was super excited to pick this up as I absolutely loved its predecessor This is Going to Hurt
Thankfully this festive spin off was just as good/heart-warming/heart-breaking and kept me thoroughly entertained.
5*s ...more
I absolutely LOVED This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor but if you have not read it then THIS collection of stories won’t really make sense. It also feels a little like the stories in this one were the rejects that did not make the cut for the first book.
As the author himself states:
”In my first book, This is Going to Hurt, the most common reasons for entries being omitted included ‘too disgusting’ or ‘too Christmassy’. Here I make amends for both.
And because this was just a ...more
As the author himself states:
”In my first book, This is Going to Hurt, the most common reasons for entries being omitted included ‘too disgusting’ or ‘too Christmassy’. Here I make amends for both.
And because this was just a ...more
a short enjoyable read about working in hospitals being a junior doctor at Christmas time it was funny in parts as most people forget NHS is 24/7 365/366 days a year thing
I was lucky enough to go to a performance by Adam Kay at the Birmingham Literature Festival (if he is ever performing near you I strongly urge you to go and see him, he was hilarious, honest and insightful) and whilst I adored his first book This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, how nice he was at the book signing really sealed him as one of my favourite authors.
So when I found out that he was releasing another book this year, I immediately pre-ordered it and have been looki ...more
So when I found out that he was releasing another book this year, I immediately pre-ordered it and have been looki ...more
This was a really good book. I’ve read the first Adam Kay book which was great and this one was just as good. It was absolutely hilarious in a lot of parts and a few sad pages but the hilarious pages more than made up for it. I really hope Adam Kay writes another book. This was short but very sweet and I definitely recommend both books to everyone.
3.5 stars
A quick, enjoyable read, and even more relatable now that I've started working as a doctor myself. Adam Kay is definitely a talented writer and I'm looking forward to reading more of his books, whether about medicine or anything else. Also, could someone please stop slashing the health care budget?? ...more
A quick, enjoyable read, and even more relatable now that I've started working as a doctor myself. Adam Kay is definitely a talented writer and I'm looking forward to reading more of his books, whether about medicine or anything else. Also, could someone please stop slashing the health care budget?? ...more
I'm so glad this was my first read of the year - funny but melancholy at times, it was a wild ride and I'm all for it. Just as good as his first book This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor this very much lives up to the hype. I was excited to be learning more about working in a hospital and dealing with serious (and some not so much!) issues. How do some of these things happen???
Adam Kay narrating makes this hilariously entertaining and think it's worth listening to it on audio ...more
Adam Kay narrating makes this hilariously entertaining and think it's worth listening to it on audio ...more
Okay, this was legit funny.
Felt so different from what i have read so far! Such a nice way to end the year!
Like many people i really loved 'This is going to hurt', it was hilarious, gross and had plenty of heart to it, and was certainly eye opening!. So when i saw that he was bringing out a second book, again , like many i was really looking forward to more!.
When this came through the door, firstly i was so let down by how small it was!, it's more of a 'gift book' and something you would just buy for someones stocking or something like that, it is nowhere near the size of the first book, i read this ...more
When this came through the door, firstly i was so let down by how small it was!, it's more of a 'gift book' and something you would just buy for someones stocking or something like that, it is nowhere near the size of the first book, i read this ...more
With absolutely no surprise, this book is hilarious, heart-wrenching and thought provoking. And as I thought, the perfect Christmas read.
I highly recommend this to everyone (as long as you have a strong stomach), especially to those in the medical industry.
My mum doesn't laugh much (she's one of those stereotypical, incredibly stern Matrons), but after reciting some of Adams stories from the book, she was laughing so hard she was on the verge of tears! That alone was enough to give this gem of a ...more
I highly recommend this to everyone (as long as you have a strong stomach), especially to those in the medical industry.
My mum doesn't laugh much (she's one of those stereotypical, incredibly stern Matrons), but after reciting some of Adams stories from the book, she was laughing so hard she was on the verge of tears! That alone was enough to give this gem of a ...more
Well, you can tell how productive my studying has been based on the fact that this is the fourth book I've finished this week and it's only Monday.
Review to come, once I finish this horrible essay. Seriously, no one tells you that once you get a good grade, you have to work twice as hard to make sure your work will be up to the standard you've set. Also Ethics, I have to find the energy to study for Ethics.
Although, let's be real, failing Ethics would be hilarious and would hurt my ego just th ...more
Review to come, once I finish this horrible essay. Seriously, no one tells you that once you get a good grade, you have to work twice as hard to make sure your work will be up to the standard you've set. Also Ethics, I have to find the energy to study for Ethics.
Although, let's be real, failing Ethics would be hilarious and would hurt my ego just th ...more
Fucking fantastic. I’d give this ten stars were it possible. Here’s a lovely message from the end: actually, no. Read it, you’ll thank me for it!
Just wonderful.
Just wonderful.
Oct 24, 2020
Elisa Glendenning
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
comedy,
non-fiction
“I hang up my stocking. I lay down to sleep
Then shout ‘fucking hell’ at the sound of my bleep”
Loved this festive account of Adam Kay’s time working as a junior doctor over the Christmas period. It was hilarious and at times, heartbreaking. Overworked, underpaid and unappreciated by management, politicians and patients alike, I am in awe of our NHS frontline workforce.
It never ceases to amaze me, what patients get up to behind closed doors, often with mortifying consequences. From pea ...more
Exactly what I needed! Now I´m both excited and a bit stressed about my future working in a hospital. I loved it anyway, Adam Kays humor is my favorite and I enjoyed every single page.
Dec 25, 2020
Andrea
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
audio
Come Dancer, come Prancer, come Rudolph, come Comet,
Come rescue me now 'cos I'm covered in vomit.
If you enjoyed Kay's memoir This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, then you'll enjoy this short, Christmas-themed follow-up, offering more of the same but with a festive twist. Reckon there's any chance that a single, Jewish registrar is going to score days off for the Christmas rota? Not a chance! And lucky for us, otherwise we wouldn't get to see the silly season through Kay's ey ...more
Come rescue me now 'cos I'm covered in vomit.
If you enjoyed Kay's memoir This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, then you'll enjoy this short, Christmas-themed follow-up, offering more of the same but with a festive twist. Reckon there's any chance that a single, Jewish registrar is going to score days off for the Christmas rota? Not a chance! And lucky for us, otherwise we wouldn't get to see the silly season through Kay's ey ...more
This is a very short book so it'll be a quite short review.
I absolutely loved the first book. It gave a glimpse into the unbelievable lives of the NHS staff in England and Adam Kay obviously has a gift for humor and writing.
Both books are a little bittersweet. There is a lot of dark humor in there but also some heartbreaking events.
I absolutely recommend that everyone reads the first book. It gives a whole new perspective on what hospital personnel deal with day in and day out.
I almost never ...more
I absolutely loved the first book. It gave a glimpse into the unbelievable lives of the NHS staff in England and Adam Kay obviously has a gift for humor and writing.
Both books are a little bittersweet. There is a lot of dark humor in there but also some heartbreaking events.
I absolutely recommend that everyone reads the first book. It gives a whole new perspective on what hospital personnel deal with day in and day out.
I almost never ...more
Dec 24, 2019
Melania 🍒
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction
3.75|5
This book was funny and sad, informative and telling you stories it’s not sure you ever wanted to know. It comes from such an interesting and unique perspective, it’s hard not to listen what Kay has to say.
I’m definitely picking up his first book.
This book was funny and sad, informative and telling you stories it’s not sure you ever wanted to know. It comes from such an interesting and unique perspective, it’s hard not to listen what Kay has to say.
I’m definitely picking up his first book.
Dec 10, 2019
Katie.dorny
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
2019
Hilarious, heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure.
I loved this little novella.
I loved this little novella.
I honestly would read anything that Adam Kay writes, a bus timetable, a menu for a 1* restaurant, a parking ticket... you name it, I'll read it.
Just like this is going to hurt, it was an absolutely Brilliant eye opening look at working in the NHS at Christmas.
From heartbreaking to painfully funny stories, this masterpiece is a perfect stocking filler for everyone and anyone this Christmas
Although, maybe not for the faint hearted given the strong language and graphic descriptions of birth and th ...more
Just like this is going to hurt, it was an absolutely Brilliant eye opening look at working in the NHS at Christmas.
From heartbreaking to painfully funny stories, this masterpiece is a perfect stocking filler for everyone and anyone this Christmas
Although, maybe not for the faint hearted given the strong language and graphic descriptions of birth and th ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ReadWithRach: ‘Twas the Nightshift before Xmas’ First Impressions | 1 | 1 | May 03, 2020 01:59PM | |
| ReadWithRach: April/May book! | 1 | 2 | Apr 26, 2020 03:01AM | |
| Play Book Tag: (Flurry) Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay - 3 stars | 1 | 16 | Dec 06, 2019 09:14AM |
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Adam Kay is an award-winning comedian and writer. He previously worked for many years as a junior doctor. His first book "This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor" was a Sunday Times number one bestseller for over a year and has sold over two million copies. It has been translated into 37 languages and is winner of four National Book Awards, including Book of the Year, and will be
...more
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“Full marks to the anaesthetist wearing a badge that says; 'He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake'.”
—
7 likes
“Would you believe there’s a medical term specifically and exclusively for a mass of undigested sharon fruit in an intestine? No wonder medical school takes so long, learning all this shit.”
—
5 likes
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