Renée reviews: On the other side.

On the other side, by Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Before I start let me clarify that no, this is not, yet another youtuber writing a book. Even though technically it is, this one is different. 

For those of you who don't know Carrie Hope Fletcher, who's known on youtube by the username 'Itswaypastmybedtime', is an amazingly creative person. And I don't mean this in the 'she's just your average vlogger' way. Carrie is the kind of youtuber you would want as your big sister. She's just so nice and warm and kind and cheerful. I absolutely love watching her videos. But then, Carrie told her audience she was writing a book. Honestly, I hated this idea, because every youtuber had written a book or was writing one. Then I borrowed the book from a friend of mine and that opinion changed. Completely.

On the other side is so well thought out, it has an amazing story line, and some magical twists you might not expect whilst reading the story. The story in itself is already truly magical. It's an easy read, yet conscientiously it keeps you thinking, a lot. I didn't mind this though, because the book was so well written and the characters had such interesting backstories.

And then, Carrie, also doesn't shy away from including a LGBTQ+ character and relationship. This kind of felt a bit overdone, you know as if she felt like she had to make it a very big deal, but then again, it still is a very big deal as LGBTQ+ characters and/ or relationships are still overlooked. Come one guys it's 2016.

Anyway, I will show you the blurb: 

Evie Snow is eighty-two when she quietly passes away in her sleep, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. It's the way most people wish to leave the world but when Evie reaches the door of her own private heaven, she finds that she's become her twenty-seven-year-old self and the door won't open.

Evie's soul must be light enough to pass through so she needs to get rid of whatever is making her soul heavy. For Evie, this means unburdening herself of the three secrets that have weighed her down for over fifty years, so she must find a way to reveal them before it's too late. As Evie begins the journey of a lifetime, she learns more about life and love than she ever thought possible, and somehow, some way, she may also find her way back to her long lost love. . . 

Carrie wrote this beautiful magical love story, that might as well have been made up by Disney (Disney, take notes). She adds some subtle magical twists that will change the atmosphere of the story completely, yet the story wouldn't have been as amazing without them. Her playful writing makes sure you're unable to put away the book before it's finished, and although it may seem an easy read it sure gives you a lot to think about. The story tells you to pursue your dreams and do not ever let go of the things you love because someone tells you to. Live your life to the fullest and make sure that in the end you can't say 'I wish I had,' or 'I wish I had done'. Life is to precious to waist and one should enjoy every moment that is given to them on this tiny orb in this infinite universe.

When reading the book you might notice some things that will give away the fact that this is Carrie's debut novel. It doesn't change the fact that the story is amazing and so are the characters and the cover. This book is very promissing and I cannot wait to find more of Carrie's work waiting for me at Waterstones. The novella she wrote as an addition to this book is already looking at me longingly from my bookshelves, waiting for me to pick it up and start reading. 

So would I read this book again, yes absolutely.

Would I recommend this book to others, also yes, absolutely.

Now if you have become rather curious to the specifics of the story line and to find out more about the story I will put a link to the Waterstones webshop here: Waterstones, On the other side - Carrie Hope Fletcher.

I hope I have given you a new book to add to the list.

Lots of love, 

ThatDutchGirl

ps. I do recommend you buy the hardback one as I fell in love with the way it looks and it just gives you this old fashioned hardback feel which is so nostalgic......

(Source: Waterstones)

The joys of birth.

Hello you all!

And welcome to the introduction of yet another internship. Yes I know my college course (nursing for those who didn't know) is very practical, which is just how I like it.

After my roller-coaster ride on the lung ward it is now time to do something else entirely. For this placement I've been put on the neonatology/ gynaecology ward. It's actually called the 'Mother and Child centre' and it's this fancy ward that is booming business in Dutch hospitals where they bundle all activities involving pregnancy, birthing, and maternity care after the birth. Which means I get to work with pregnant women, and not pregnant anymore women and their newborn babies. 

At first I had no idea what to expect and was basically super scared that I would drop a baby. But care for babies befalls me much more naturally than I had thought it would. The first time my colleague asked me to pick up and hold a baby was so awkward. I picked it up and the mum was just looking at me, probably also fearing I would drop her child, and then my colleague had to come up and help me as I wasn't able to get the child in a comfortable position on my arm. Yes that was the most awkward thing that happened to me, involving a baby at least. Please don't make me think back to the time I tried to preform a vena puncture on a women but was so nervous I couldn't even fixate the needle as it was inside the vein. It was horrible and I hope I never have to face that woman again, even though she was super chill about it.

Anyway, my work as a nurse now basically includes washing babies, holding other woman's breasts, and just giving information on all aspects of motherhood (because I know all about that). I've been there for three weeks now and it's going really well by now. I'm able to take care of a baby mostly independently, and also the care for the mother and post pregnancy birthing things are going pretty well. 

Right now you could say I would make an amazing mum, and I might even slightly agree with you. Secretly I'm also really happy with this placement as it does give me some idea on how to care for a newborn baby that has just been put on this amazingly dangerous planet with all these weird things happening. You would be surprised to see how many things can go wrong during the process of pregnancy and birthing, but also to see how complicated the physical state of a tiny little child can be. I still find it utterly amazing to see those babies sometimes, the way they look around the room and seem to be taking in every little detail and how they appear to be listening closely to what the adults in the room are discussing. Or how hard they have to work to keep their temperature up, how low a baby's sugar levels are, and just how amazingly complicated such a tiny little human can be. 

At the moment I still really enjoy my internship, and can't wait to learn more about pregnancy, and watch a c-section and someone giving birth once. It is so much more complicated than you might think, and babies are so incredibly interesting. Pathologically I haven't really been challenged yet at this ward, as most women are healthy and their babies too most of the time. So there aren't that many diseases which I kind of find a pity in the most objectively nursing way possible. But there is so much more to the process of pregnancy and birth than I first thought and I can't wait to learn all about it!

If you would like me to keep you updated about my placement, the things I learn there, and the struggles I will probably start facing there as well, just let me know in the comments below!

Love you lots!
ThatDutchGirl96