Novel-like format, or series of essays?

[askyfullofstars]

For a few years I have been contemplating writing a book based on my years working overseas as a holiday rep, not just drunken night out stories, but some quite touching stories and a bit of excitement too.
I have put together the first section, but I am now considering doing it as a series of essays rather than a "story" format.
Any opinions? Or is this style a bit 'dated'?

I wouldn't call it essays because that sounds a bit serious and analytical. Have a look at Mike Pannett's books - they sell well, so I don't believe it's dated. He was a policeman in rural Yorkshire and his books are chapters with different stories, not really a novel but lightly fictionalised first person with a few novel-like threads running through them to tie the whole book together - threads are things like his romance with another cop, a particular gang of thieves that it takes the whole book for them to catch, his dilapidated house finally getting fixed.
It sounds like something that could work well and I bet it could sell.