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Breaking and Mending

A junior doctor's stories of compassion and burnout

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Breaking and Mending

By: Joanna Cannon
Narrated by: Joanna Cannon
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The unforgettable memoir from the bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep and Three Things About Elsie

A few years ago, I found myself in A&E. I had never felt so ill. I was mentally and physically broken. So fractured, I hadn't eaten properly or slept well, or even changed my expression for months. I sat in a cubicle, behind paper-thin curtains and I shook with the effort of not crying. I was an inch away from defeat... but I knew I had to carry on. Because I wasn't the patient. I was the doctor.

No sleep, skeleton support, a head full of anatomy lectures and idealism: this is life for our junior doctors in their first few years on the wards. Here, Joanna Cannon tells her own story in visceral, heart-rending snapshots.

We walk with her, facing extraordinary and daunting moments and meeting her patients: from attending her first post-mortem, learning the overwhelming power of a well or badly chosen word, sitting with a young woman in her final hours, to small sustaining acts of kindness and connection. These moments teach her that emotional care can be just as critical as restoring a heartbeat - and eventually lead her to her true home in
psychiatry.

Deeply moving, warm, compassionate and beautifully written, Breaking & Mending shows us why we need to better care for mental health - and for those who care for us. Physical Illness & Disease Science Sociology Inspiring Heartfelt Health
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A heartfelt, authentic memoir from a former doctor sharing the highs and lows of working in the NHS told with insight and compassion.

Moving

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This book details the author's journey through embarking on medical training as an older student, through to her experiences on the ward and flourishing in psychiatry. It is a wonderful human look at all the people in a hospital and the stories and emotions they hold. Beautifully read by the author.

A Wonderful Memoir

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Funnily enough, didn't find the author brought it to life! But I suppose it's obviously how she felt it should be read. Lots of touching stories, some heartwarming, but overall didn't really feel it got anywhere, needed more of her "mending" as I was left feeling most was the issues and struggles and very little on the positives.

Interesting but depressing!

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Firstly I have to say that I love love love Joanna Cannons other books, but I’m afraid, for me, her voice is too monotone and soporific , especially given the somewhat depressing nature of the story. Interesting to find out her back story but I would have liked it to conclude with why she became an author.

Let down by narration

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Could definitely relate with parts of this book.
Interesting ,the thoughts about death from depression/mental illness.

Relatable

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