Where Does it Hurt?: What the Junior Doctor did next Paperback – 18 February 2010

Well written, insightful yet humourous. Don't lend to someone about to have a baby!

Very interesting and human insight into a world I've always been curious to explore as a professional. Way to go Max!

I find they have such an easy flow, easy to read, not contrived. I hope he has a few more to read!

Outreachというコトバをご存じだろうか？医療や福祉の関係の人が施設の中にとどまるのみ成らず、地域へと直接出向いていって手を差し伸べることだそうだ。本書は"Trust Me, I'm a (Junior) Doctor" の続編。Junior Doctorはインターンにあたるイギリス英語。インターン期間を終えたマックスが次に選んだのは、スラム街で住所も名前も定まらない人々の生活の中に飛び込んでいくことだった。私がマックス・ペンバートンの文章が好きで、今回も出たと知るや買ってしまったし、また出たら買おうと思う理由は、友達や仲間は言うに及ばず、患者や自分自身を含めた、人を見る目の温かさだ。多くの人が抱えている問題は薬物中毒で、今度こそ辞めようと決意堅くやってきてもどうしても続かない者。実刑を免れるためにプログラムを受けろと裁判所命令を受けたというだけの理由でやってきている若者。何とか売春を辞めたい女性。また、車いすが無料支給されてもスケボーを改造した乗り物で路上生活を続けるおじいちゃんからはなにか崇高ともいえそうなプライドが感じられた。もちろんこれはマックスにとってたった一年の取り組みだし、路上生活者は自分のことを語りたがらない。けれども、本書は彼らが断片的に語る内容のきれはしをつなぎあわせて１人１人描写していくとともに、outreachの現状を教えてくれる。中でも、その冬一番の寒波が襲うと予想される日の晩、地域の路上生活者たち全員がその日の晩に屋根のあるところで泊まれるように１人１人捜していくところはぐっと来た。住所も名前もないけれども、福祉センターは彼らの特徴やニックネームなどで全員を把握し、あと誰それの所在が確認されていないとなったら、その人が行きそうな場所を一軒一軒訪ねていくのだ。抱腹絶倒とまではいかないけれど、本書にはユーモアという人を温かく見守る優しさがあふれていると思う。

If you've read any of my other recent book reviews, you'll know that you can safely skip this first paragraph 'cos I start 'em all off in the same way and that is by saying that every book starts off with the full wardful of stars and that I'm always hopeful that they will still be stuck firmly in place by the time I close the back cover. You'll also know that I'm not shy about removing stars, but that I always give my reasons for doing so - stars don't just magically disappear for no reason. The usual reason for me removing a star from a should-be-5-star book is the use of copyrighted or trademarked things within the book which is what happened to this author's previous book. I've thankfully been able to replace a star on one book thanks to a little sentence right at the back of the book and I'm always hopeful that it'll happen again.Let's get on with the review shall we?Eeewwww! That first page was gross, but not in a hospital or things spewing out of every orifice on a ward kinda gross!The first chapter threw me straight into the thick of things and was pretty gross, so I'm thinking I won't be reading it around mealtimes otherwise I may revisit meals lolThe second chapter was... what's the word... what I'd been expecting from the patients but I'm also hopeful about one of them too - will she be one of Max's 5%? I certainly hope so!I'm gonna risk reading one more chapter before lunch and hope beyond hope that it's not too gross.I've been more lenient than normal with trademarks so far, but there has been at least one in every chapter so the first star is, unfortunately, coming off. Will it be the only one? I really seriously hope so.Chapter 3 was a surprising relief and I can see why the ward round came to the decision that they did for the last patient of the chapter... sometimes being cured isn't in the best interests of the patient after all.Oooh! Chapter 5 came out of nowhere but I'm relieved that it happened when it did!I'm now at chapter 8 which is 50% and I used to feel the same way as Max because it felt like everyone I knew was into that scene but I never have, and after reading that chapter, I never want to any more either.Up to chapter 10 now and it's almost time for me to head off to beddy-byes but I'm hoping I'll be able to finish this book and therefore this review tomorrow. So far so good though and if you're a nosey-parker like me, then I reckon you should get this book added to your basket... just make sure you've got a strong stomach in a few places!Wowsers! Another intense chapter and one not to read around the time you eat! lolThe end of chapter 12 managed to raise a rare smile, but I'm itching again now too lolMy heart is melting now... there are good people out there after all, it just takes a bit of time and patience and a smidgen of luck for them to appear when they are most needed.Chapter 14 has made me quite emotional... I'm not in tears just yet, but I'm not that far off either, so I'm gonna leave off reading the last chapter or two until I've had my lunch and I'm alone for the rest of the day so that I can sob my heart out without risking someone coming to the door lolWhat a great way to end a great book. It's another one of those "shoulda been 5 stars" books though.