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This is Going to Hurt - starts 8th Feb

666 replies

ouch321 · 30/01/2022 17:37

I loved the book of this by Adam Kay. I know others weren't so keen.
BBC has dramatised this and starts in early Feb. Just a heads up for others who liked the book.

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6
ouchmyfeet · 30/01/2022 23:10

@Janesmom

I thought the book was rather good.

A few PPs appear to be confusing profanity/humour with misogyny. To be clear, the fact you don’t like something doesn’t make it misogynistic. If you’re of the pearl clutching persuasion, best give most types of comedy a miss…

The book was so clearly misogynist that I'm really quite shocked that people can't see it. I'm not even slightly easily offended but the constant undercurrent of hatred for women was evident in most chapters. I will not be watching. I only finished the book as I was reading it for a book club, I wouldn't have continued if I'd been reading it by choice.
Maiyakat · 30/01/2022 23:21

What concerns me with all these kind of books is if the stories are true, where is the consent from the patients he is talking about for the most intimate and in some cases traumatic experiences of their lives to be shared in public?

ExtremelyDetermined · 30/01/2022 23:30

It absolutely was misogynistic, the tone was sneery throughout, horrible book.

RoyKentsChestHair · 30/01/2022 23:39

@Maiyakat

What concerns me with all these kind of books is if the stories are true, where is the consent from the patients he is talking about for the most intimate and in some cases traumatic experiences of their lives to be shared in public?
I thought this tbh - not just the women but some of the men’s stories featured too, were so specific that that even if I he name isn’t mentioned, it would be pretty obvious if that were you.

One memorably horrific story (involving a lamppost and life changing injuries) being turned into entertainment was grim. The flippant attitude to this guy was sickening. So it seems that it’s not just misogyny but general arseholery at play here. We listened to it as an audiobook on a road trip one summer. It was certainly eye opening, but didn’t do anything to change my mind on the superiority complex some doctors have.

AgathaMystery · 31/01/2022 00:00

Couple of comments on here about training in the 1980’s. To clarify, Adam is almost 42. He qualified in 2004.

NewYearNewMinty · 31/01/2022 00:06

I enjoyed the book and adore Ben Whishaw so really looking forward to this.

Redburnett · 31/01/2022 00:36

I found it very odd that he chose obs and gynae as his specialism. I wondered if his intention at the time was to become one of the consultants he refers to in the book who do a lot of private work, earning loads of money for doing not very much work.

Thymeout · 31/01/2022 01:05

From what I remember, he came from a family of doctors. It was assumed that he would follow in their footsteps. As a teenager, he had no clear idea what he wanted to do and wouldn't anyway have been encouraged to pursue a career in script-writing or stand-up. He was academically able so why not go to medical school? The jokes and gallows humour are a defence mechanism.
I think pp is wrong about his being attracted by the money to be earned in private practice. He was scathing about golf-playing consultants and his letter to Jeremy Hunt at the end of the paperback edition was vitriolic.

purpleme12 · 31/01/2022 01:40

I got this book from a charity shop after hearing all the hype
After reading comments about this I'm having second thoughts about reading it now...

indiesearcher · 31/01/2022 01:56

I also went to see him recently at our local theatre. I won't go into details as the story made the news, but he was exceptionally, unnecessarily nasty to a member of the audience (who obviously liked Kay enough to buy an expensive ticket). I was deeply unimpressed by Kay, the show wasn't funny, and I was glad of the opportunity to leave the theatre early.

So I won't be watching. Awful man.

NickiMinajerie · 31/01/2022 03:19

Depends on the story indie - if it was the audience member, whose mask was half-mast and who kept heckling, have to admit that I am with Kay on that one.

PAFMO · 31/01/2022 05:48

@Janesmom

I thought the book was rather good.

A few PPs appear to be confusing profanity/humour with misogyny. To be clear, the fact you don’t like something doesn’t make it misogynistic. If you’re of the pearl clutching persuasion, best give most types of comedy a miss…

Or, a few people recognise him and his cheap gags for what they are.

I had another quick flick through the two books of his that I have late last night in the interests of this thread.

Anybody not seeing the misogyny needs a dictionary.

I actually think he started off with the idea of a "warts and all" almost exposé of what junior doctors go through then drifted off into the shoehorned one-liners (some of which would have made the scriptwriters of the Carry On films say "nah mate, too crap, too corny, too "is that a penis in your ear Ma'am") after someone must have told him what a totes hilaires grand wit he was.

Thankfully, I don't believe half of the anecdotes are true. I do believe he's a spiteful little man who is neither a good writer nor a comic genius. But I'm fucking glad he's no longer being left in the same room as vulnerable women.

ExtremelyDetermined · 31/01/2022 06:57

Yes, the way he spoke about the victim of the lamp-post incident was awful, I found that chapter very upsetting, no compassion shown whatsoever. No way will I be watching this.

indiesearcher · 31/01/2022 08:26

@NickiMinajerie you probs only heard Adam's side of the story!

Half mask wearer was wearing a mask, removed it to eat/drink, because food had been permitted into the auditorium.

And Kay just let rip. I'm not surprised the chap in question heckled back. It spiralled from there, but in my opinion Kay took it way too far and was a completely horrid man that evening.

I don't understand why you'd fill a room with 800 people if you were that concerned about covid spreading.

rookiemere · 31/01/2022 08:43

I borrowed the book and never quite finished it. I've lent it to DM who was a doctor to see what she thinks of it.

Mostly I didn't find it that well written or entertaining. It wasn't a huge surprise to me to learn that junior doctors work long hours and so a whole novel dedicated to telling me this feels like overkill. The humour seemed spiteful, but may come across better on Television.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 31/01/2022 08:45

i enjoyed this book
i like ben wishaw so am looking forward to it

rookiemere · 31/01/2022 08:46

I also didn't twig he was in a same sex relationship, but perhaps for the best with the contempt he shows for most females.

Mostly I couldn't believe how popular this book is and how highly marketed it was. It's of minor interest to most surely and doesn't have any warmth.

GrannytoaUnicorn · 31/01/2022 10:16

I loved it. The humour is very much typical of the humour amongst doctors.

You should hear the humour in the RAF.... You'd need a stiff drink if you're easily offended and that's no exaggeration.
It's quite often how those in difficult jobs, get through it. How they cope.

It's also worth remembering that Adam Kay wrote this diary without any intention of publishing it into a book. He just wrote it as a diary as another coping mechanism.

Blossomtoes · 31/01/2022 10:56

@Maiyakat

What concerns me with all these kind of books is if the stories are true, where is the consent from the patients he is talking about for the most intimate and in some cases traumatic experiences of their lives to be shared in public?
No consent is needed, they’re anonymous. You’d have a very difficult time proving you were the patient in question. Even if you were prepared to out yourself.
Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 31/01/2022 22:26

Not sure I want to watch this. I do like Ben Wishaw but I really disliked the book, he seemed to feel contempt for women, god knows why he chose to specialise in Obs and Gynae.

NotagainTuesday · 31/01/2022 23:05

I’m looking forward to it.

I read the book on a gynaecology ward and couldn’t put it down. I hadn’t realised before reading it that he went into obstetrics.

To caveat, I have always worked in a male-dominated environment and am often the only women in the room. However, I’ve spent a lot of time in obstetrics, and had one labour; in the situations I’ve been, I’ve much preferred the frank conversation and honesty of the male doctors and consultants. The one female obstetrician I’ve encountered ignored my feelings entirely, was patronising, and left me with a life entirely different from the one I lead before.

lljkk · 01/02/2022 14:06

The book has been out for yrs & no one has come forward to see him for violating their privacy. I assume he changed a lot of details.

anaemiatreatment · 01/02/2022 14:15

Bodies (and associated TV shows) is brilliant - read Bodies on my breaks doing nightshift in surgical HDU. Absolutely brilliant, couldn’t put it down.

Read Adam Kay’s book and as a long term gynae patient with very complex history, thought he came across as an absolute twat, he must have been right at home as from experience a lot of his colleagues are much the same .

NickiMinajerie · 01/02/2022 17:29

Ah indie, the food/drink element does put a new slant on it. I had read this report.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59681172

AmandaHoldensLips · 01/02/2022 17:33

He's a deeply misogynistic twat.