BOOK A WEEK

The author portrays perfectly the devastating effect of a child who grows up with an alcoholic mother who puts keeping up with appearances above love.

The author takes a unique approach in her writing on the universal experience of growing up and coming into adulthood - this book I loved.

I don't mean to keep reading books by doctors, honestly but one leads to another.

This one ends abruptly as the author is writing it as he battles terminal cancer.

I was in floods of tears the entire epilogue which was written by his wife after his death.

A moving account of how to accept your fate and negotiate the time you have left on the earth.

Of course I wanted to read more by the author of Being Mortal. This book I think I enjoyed even more as it made me consider aspects of medicine that I hadn't before. Enlightening and again fascinating case studies.

2007 Man Booker Prize winner.

Another Irish novel, this one is about a woman coming to terms with the death of her brother.

Difficult subject matter but the author catches all the nuances and complexities of families and bereavement.

Recommended by a colleague.

A thought provoking and significant book about the importance of not shying from talking about death and what matters to us as the end comes near.

Beautifully written.

A subject I know very well and yet this book was jam packed with new things to consider. Such as, studies show damp conditions and overcrowding leads to less allergies in children.

The biggest take away is we are all different, one diet doesn't fit all but variety is the spice of life (as long as it is unprocessed!).

And how funny that you lose doctor in your title if you become a professor (that was not in the book!).

Interesting and informative, does what it says on the tin.

The story of an unnamed girl who is half English, half Brazilian trying to figure out how she fits in the world.

Beautifully written, very poetic.

I could do with a second reading though to solidify the storyline/characters as the timeline jumps around and there are lots of Portuguese words.

It doesn't quite do what it says on the tin, rather it's a love story interspersed with snippets of non-fiction about romantic relationships.

Apparently I have an avoidant attachment style.

Very relatable and thought provoking.

A children's book about two Mongolian boys that turn up at a primary school (with polaroid type photos interspersed.)

Well written and funny.