I think it is almost inevitable that this book will be compared with the work of James Herriot. While it was not quite as uplifting as the latter's fictionalised tales it was probably more realistic in many ways and was a very readable account of a young vet's experiences in London. The portraits of animals, owners and colleagues were not as detailed as James Herriot's but there were plenty of entertaining and touching moments.
I found the skipping between past and present tenses, sometimes within the same sentence, rather irritating, and on some occasions the narrative seemed a little disjointed. However I did enjoy the way developments in practices and the author's own attitudes were portrayed and explained, and the view of London in the 1970s through the eyes of an outsider was also really interesting. It is amazing to think that the world was so different such a short time ago - the married nurse losing her job almost automatically because she was having a child was a sharp reminder of this.
I found the skipping between past and present tenses, sometimes within the same sentence, rather irritating, and on some occasions the narrative seemed a little disjointed. However I did enjoy the way developments in practices and the author's own attitudes were portrayed and explained, and the view of London in the 1970s through the eyes of an outsider was also really interesting. It is amazing to think that the world was so different such a short time ago - the married nurse losing her job almost automatically because she was having a child was a sharp reminder of this.