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flowerfrogz's review
4.0
struggled to finish it but it was a really lovely book, and very eye-opening!
alanyoung's review
5.0
This has been an inspiring reading experience. My engagement with the COVID pandemic was mainly second hand and mainly orientated to the impact on the medical and teaching areas. (Our family has strong involvement historically and currently in both areas.) This account took me to a completely different aspect of the pandemic.
It was troubling how much, already, I view the pandemic historically and forget the extreme suffering and disruption of the time.
The courage, boldness and commitment of the team at the Prince Rupert was truly impressive. The accounts of the experiences they went through with their colourful guest were quite mind-blowing. Here are catalogued wonderful insights, tragic histories, damaged people with warm hearts, damaged people inescapably trapped and, on the part of the staff, costly, loving and transforming service.
It shows what can be done in a crisis and highlights what is not done when 'normality' returns.
I have been suitably and significantly challenged in the reading of this account.
It was troubling how much, already, I view the pandemic historically and forget the extreme suffering and disruption of the time.
The courage, boldness and commitment of the team at the Prince Rupert was truly impressive. The accounts of the experiences they went through with their colourful guest were quite mind-blowing. Here are catalogued wonderful insights, tragic histories, damaged people with warm hearts, damaged people inescapably trapped and, on the part of the staff, costly, loving and transforming service.
It shows what can be done in a crisis and highlights what is not done when 'normality' returns.
I have been suitably and significantly challenged in the reading of this account.
erebus53's review against another edition
3.0
Review for the Audiobook edition (not listed on Goodreads at time of review)
ISBN 9780008487577 ; Published by HarperCollins Publishers - William Collins, 09 June 2022
Read by Harriet Dunlop
This was definitely a Lockdown Book with a twist. I was holding my breath when I started out because I couldn't tell what the tone was going to be - the title lays it all out, except for the delivery.
As someone who has been homeless and has socialized with homeless people (if only for weeks rather than years) I was really concerned that this would be condescending and come from a cultural perspective that rubbed me the wrong way, but in the end it was even handed. It is delivered in a biographical yet magazine style; anecdotes are flavoured with quotes and recollections of the people involved, interspersed with background on sociopolitical, economic and historical contexts. We learn a bit about the history of the hotel and its neighbours, and the history of Shrewsbury; we learn a little about the decisions made by politicians, and it is delivered in a factual, rather than emotive way.
The book tells the story of the people involved, in a way that means the author takes a back seat. We get a RealityTV / fly-on-the-wall insight with a personable Brit Doco feel. It left me feeling like the whole recounting was journalistic.. but I'm conflicted about the practice of faithfully recounting people's, lives, stories, confidences, traumatic incidents, meltdowns, medical histories, vulnerable moments, conflict and anger, "bad decisions", inebriation, squalor, hope... Is it important historical record; or helping to educate common folk and help them understand the lives of the homeless; or making money off the most vulnerable people in society?
It took a while for me to get into the book but I'll admit I have been a little busy of late. The book was not an onerous read, but I'm glad that I was listening to the audiobook so could catch up with some sewing repairs at the same time. My only real quibble with the style of the book was editorial. At times the information about the people was repeated. Early in the book someone would be introduced and a few things said about them, and later there would be an entire anecdote fleshing out why and how those things effected them.. but the anecdote was presented as though it were completely new information rather than being linked to what was previously imparted. A simple, "when (x) first arrived they had said things were hard because... it all came out over coffee one night....." or something, to link it to what we had already been given? At times I felt like I had skipped back and was re-reading earlier parts.
I guess I'm probably not the target audience for this book. There were no grand revelations for me, but it was an ok piece of modern journalism, and an interesting record of a unique slice of life.
ISBN 9780008487577 ; Published by HarperCollins Publishers - William Collins, 09 June 2022
Read by Harriet Dunlop
This was definitely a Lockdown Book with a twist. I was holding my breath when I started out because I couldn't tell what the tone was going to be - the title lays it all out, except for the delivery.
As someone who has been homeless and has socialized with homeless people (if only for weeks rather than years) I was really concerned that this would be condescending and come from a cultural perspective that rubbed me the wrong way, but in the end it was even handed. It is delivered in a biographical yet magazine style; anecdotes are flavoured with quotes and recollections of the people involved, interspersed with background on sociopolitical, economic and historical contexts. We learn a bit about the history of the hotel and its neighbours, and the history of Shrewsbury; we learn a little about the decisions made by politicians, and it is delivered in a factual, rather than emotive way.
The book tells the story of the people involved, in a way that means the author takes a back seat. We get a RealityTV / fly-on-the-wall insight with a personable Brit Doco feel. It left me feeling like the whole recounting was journalistic.. but I'm conflicted about the practice of faithfully recounting people's, lives, stories, confidences, traumatic incidents, meltdowns, medical histories, vulnerable moments, conflict and anger, "bad decisions", inebriation, squalor, hope... Is it important historical record; or helping to educate common folk and help them understand the lives of the homeless; or making money off the most vulnerable people in society?
It took a while for me to get into the book but I'll admit I have been a little busy of late. The book was not an onerous read, but I'm glad that I was listening to the audiobook so could catch up with some sewing repairs at the same time. My only real quibble with the style of the book was editorial. At times the information about the people was repeated. Early in the book someone would be introduced and a few things said about them, and later there would be an entire anecdote fleshing out why and how those things effected them.. but the anecdote was presented as though it were completely new information rather than being linked to what was previously imparted. A simple, "when (x) first arrived they had said things were hard because... it all came out over coffee one night....." or something, to link it to what we had already been given? At times I felt like I had skipped back and was re-reading earlier parts.
I guess I'm probably not the target audience for this book. There were no grand revelations for me, but it was an ok piece of modern journalism, and an interesting record of a unique slice of life.
lydiacowley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, and Death
Moderate: Child death and Eating disorder
epellicci's review
I was so excited by the premise of this book, but felt so let down by the execution. It takes a naïve and at times voyeuristic look at the lives of the homeless that were housed by the Prince Rupert Hotel during the Covid Lockdown's. The writing was overly focused on creating saviours of the rich owners than the homeless guests themselves. The whole thing felt simplistic and disappointing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
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