Library Corner

was one of those books that I believe would have been more interesting to follow had it been presented as a series of short, seperate essays, rather than a book.  Our group generally agreed that when we read a book we enjoy the flow, the drama and the continuity.  While we thought it provided an alternative way of looking at cheating for example, there was no story as such.  To be fair, this is what the authors intended so to that end, it has satisfied those types of readers.  I on the other hand, came away a little confused and indifferent to the whole book.

This is a blog-turned-book, the writer telling of his trials and tribulations as an ambulance driver in London.  The style of writing is very much typical diary entries and I was hopeful that it would make for interesting reading, revealing the inner secrets of people’s everyday lives. I was sadly disappointed.  The book includes details of his HIV testing because of an incident while ‘on the job’ and though there are some interesting cases he encounters during his work, I had hoped for more from this read.  The detail was missing and most of the book, for me, read like a big moan.  Yes the ambulance crew work hard, but so do many of the other professions.  And they are hardly undervalued.  Most of us appreciate their work and do regard them as vital.  So for me, the complaining aspect of the book, along with the constant reminders of all the filth that his black boots carried during the course of the day, made it a distasteful read I’m afraid.