This is the first in a series of three books from the Costa Book Award 2014 category shortlist that will feature in the Reading Room. Elizabeth is Missing was yesterday announced as the First Novel category winner. Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey Reviewed by Andrea Capstick, Division of Dementia Studies, University of Bradford One […]
Category: Book Reviews
The Reading Room: A review of Matilda Tristram’s ‘Probably Nothing’
Probably Nothing: A diary of not-your-average nine months Matilda Tristram Reviewed by Nicola Streeten Aged 31 and four months pregnant, Matilda Tristram was presented with an agonising dilemma following a diagnosis of stage three bowel cancer. In May 2013, The Guardian newspaper featured an interview with Matilda Tristram (Williams, 2014). It included an […]
The Reading Room
The Bad Doctor A graphic novel by Ian Williams Reviewed by Dr Ian Fussell The Bad Doctor is the debut graphic novel by Ian Williams, himself a pretty good doctor, I reckon, by the insight and humanity shown throughout this book. It was published in June 2014 by Myriad Editions and is a […]
Poetry, Science and Medicine
Through the Door is a collaborative project involving Archives for London and Poet in the City. Six poets have been commissioned to create new works based on archives that include those of St Paul’s Cathedral and The British Library. This week I attended a reading from the selection of poems – The Bone Ship […]
Book Review: Final Chapters: Writings About the End of Life
‘Final Chapters’ is the product of a creative writing competition organised through the Dying Matters Coalition, which was established in 2009 by the National Council for Palliative Care. The book invites 30 contributors to describe their reflections on dying. […]
Review: “Contested Spaces: Abortion Clinics, Women’s Shelters and Hospitals.”
We have another great review today, of Lori A Brown’s book “Contested Spaces: Abortion Clinics, Women’s Shelters and Hospitals.” It’s by Sophie Jones of Birkbeck College, University of London, and considers aspects of architecture, landscape & design, and wider ideas about feminism and attitudes to women’s health in the USA. Looks like a fascinating area […]
“The One-Sex Body on Trial: the Classical and Early Modern Evidence” – a new review by Brandy Schillace
We are thrilled to be able to publish here a wonderful review by Brandy Schillace, of Helen King’s book “The One-Sex Body on Trial: the Early and Modern Evidence.” (Surrey: Ashgate Press 2014.) Thank you so much to Brandy for her contribution to the blog – I will very much look forward to other pieces from her […]
Ayesha Ahmad: Review of ‘Able-Bodied – Scenes from a curious life’ by Professor Leslie Swartz
Having had the privilege to meet with Professor Swartz, I read his most recent book publication, ‘Able-Bodied – Scenes from a curious life’ with the jovial sounds of his uncanny ability to reflect on human nature and experiences in the background. I certainly found Professor Swartz’ presence evident in the somewhat apologetic way […]
Ayesha Ahmad: Introducing ‘The Sublime Object of Psychiatry: Schizophrenia in Clinical and Cultural Theory’ by Dr Angela Woods
‘The Sublime Object of Psychiatry’ studies representations of schizophrenia, and acknowledges a wide range of disciplines, including biological and phenomenological psychiatry, psychoanalysis, critical psychology, anti-psychiatry, and postmodern philosophy. Such an analysis permits a privileged view of the way in which schizophrenia has been framed within different discourses. […]
Ayesha Ahmad: Review of ‘Doing Clinical Ethics’ by Dr Daniel Sokol
Since Hippocrates in early 5 B.C., Medicine has carried an ‘angel on its shoulder’; a reflexive gaze on the skill, and phenomenologies of healing between the doctor and his patient. Ethics is a code, a practice, and a guide amid the terrain of the hands that tend to the body using instruments of medicine’s enterprise. […]