By pure coincidence, I read the Language of Kindness during the height of COVID-19 hospitalisations in the UK, which has stretched the NHS to breaking point. This book made me feel so much sympathy for and gratitude toward the hundreds of thousands of nurses working on the frontlines of the pandemic.

This account was a window into a world that I know very little about. Christie Watson does a brilliant job of describing the immense physical and emotional exhaustion that this profession entails. I listened on audiobook with Watson narrating. The narrative takes you through Watson's career in an engaging way, with just the right amount of detail.

More than anything else, this book was truly heartbreaking. The amount of death, stress and devastation that nurses have to deal with really struck me deeply. I found the sadness weighing on me whilst listening, so I can only imagine the toil that this must take when faced with such a huge burden on a daily basis.

In my opinion, it's a 4 star book. The anecdotes are poignant and interesting, but it misses out on the 5th star simply as I can't help but compare it to some of the books I have read that have left me speechless and/or wanting to read the whole thing all over again the second I have finished.

To make sure I end on a positive note... I would highly recommend this book in an instant. It's definitely worth a read to understand more about the lives of society's unsung heroes.

This is the first nursing related memoir I’ve read since starting nursing school myself and it really touched me. It’s incredibly well written. Definitely a work memoir with very little personal elements but it still feels warm and engaging. I love that it spans her whole 20 year career and includes her student experiences as they particularly gave me perspective and put words to my own experiences. There are so many specialties and wards mentioned it gave me practical knowledge as well as personal insight.

Eye opening and also heart-wrenching at times. Definitely worth reading if you’re interested in this sort of thing.

Read this book.

In The Language of Kindness by Christie Waston, I expect to experience her nursing career with her, to develop a deeper understanding of the dedication it takes, and to be moved by the experiences she shares. I am, to an extent. However, the use of a lot of specific medical terminology and the lack of chronological structure in the book keeps me from completely sharing in her journey.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/07/the-language-of-kindness.html

Reviewed for Penguin First to Read program.

Story is a bit all over the place. No linear story telling.
Would only recommend if you have some kind of back ground in medicine or care. I feel I wouldn't have enjoyed it if I didn't know a bit of what was happening at tissues.

I didn’t know much about nursing before I read this book. Except for my fairly limited (and mostly good) experiences in the hospitals I’ve been too they’ve just... been there. Ultimately this book is about just that; being there, being kind. Horrifying in parts, Watson manages to make the harrowing feel a little lighter, the nature of a great nurse. Not just an account of her experiences, she notes the observations of other nurses throughout history, medicine practices around the world, and the incredible timeline of the discovery of healing. This book made me want to thank each and every nurse (and other medical personnel) personally for all they give up, to give us something instead. I know in theory it’s a “job”, but Watson shows that it is so much more than that. She can’t force you to sit up and listen, but she doesn’t need to. She gently talks you through her experiences while not making you feel guilty or stupid for not knowing what she, and countless others do.

Lort, that was a long one!

I am SOOOO happy to be done!

The author has a very stirring story to tell of her many years nursing in England.

But the way she tells it almost drove me to drink.