Michael Rosen has produced an informative, entertaining and at times very upsetting autobiographical memoir of his experiences during the pandemic of the last year.

This is a short book, which provides an insight into what, for most of us, has been life on the 'inside': His experiences as an NHS Covid-19 patient are told through a mixture of diary entries by the plethora of medical professionals who treated him; alongside his own entertaining writing.

I can only imagine how terrible his experience has been, not only for him, but for his family. Who for so long were helpless onlookers kept on the 'outside'.

His tragi-comic and poetic writing has helped me, a mere victim of the fallout associated with successive lockdowns, to understand what life is like for a person who is severely ill with the virus.

I wish him well for the future and give my thanks to Netgalley and Random House (Ebury Press) for a copy in exchange for this review.

You may know this author because he wrote 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. When he became ill with covid he was taken to hospital and the staff left him notes, telling him what was happening during his time there. It was quite emotional reading the letters from the NHS staff who were looking after him and the letters from his wife. Some of the staff had transferred from other hospital departments. Some had done a shift of their regular job then had gone on nights to help out.

As he recovered he was able to put things in his own words, in the form of poems. Some sad, some funny. It's a very moving account of one man's struggle to fight covid and the struggles the NHS faced too.

I had just come home from the vaccination centre when I received this ARC. It put my sore arm and headache into perspective when I read this book that was written from the heart.

It felt like a privilege to read this book, such is the raw honesty of Michael Rosen's poetic musings on being close to death and recovering.
We all have been touched in some way by the pandemic but to read of a person's experience with such eloquence is truly revelatory.
This book is full of concern, honesty, humour, sadness, personal fear, and so much more.
Alongside Rosen's poetical journey there are updates his wife wrote when he was hospitalised and daily diary entries ITU staff wrote to Michael as he was in a coma and slowly coming out of it. These notes from the staff gave me a lump in my throat. This is our NHS where the workers go the extra mile.
Rosen's illustrations are interspersed too. As always, they are creative and apt.
I wish Michael Rosen a continued good recovery and thank him for honouring us with this book. Thank you to every person in the NHS who helped him recover too.
I've reviewed an early copy and thank the publisher for it.

As soon as I was approved for this I had to stop everything else and just sit down and read the book.
It isn't an easy read but in every line, in every word love, resilience and strength shine through.

I have suffered a serious, unexpected & life changing illness in recent years and Rosen manages to say everything I've felt since then so eloquently that I was crying for him & for myself.
I have recovered well and I hope that Mr Rosen continues to improve and that at some point our government is held to account for the devastation it has allowed to happen.

Michael has gone through so much in his battle with Covid-19 and has lost so many things but he hasn't lost his writing talent.
This is a heart breaking story, told through a mixture of nurse's diaries, poetry and letters.
It really brings home the commitment of the NHS and it's amazing team of staff and how they adapted so quickly at the start of the pandemic.

This is such a beautifully written book. I haven't cried so much over a book in years. It really brings home the realities of Covid-19 and the amazing job that the people working in the NHS do. The wonderful devotion of Michael Rosen's wife should be an inspiration to us all.
This book should be compulsory reading for anyone who underestimates the effect of corona virus and who fails to observe the Covid rules, acting recklessly without a thought for others. In fact. everyone should read it anyway, it is simply wonderful.

Michael Rosen may have gone through so much with his covid illness, but it hasn’t taken his talents. This book is so moving, I cried a tear at the lost months and the struggles he faced rebuilding himself. However, as always with Michael’s work I smiled and had a little giggle too- especially at his daily mail dig! The love he has for his family, wife and the NHS workers shines through. This book tells a story that needs to be heard- covid-19 is evil and the people in charge should have done more to protect us. Thank the Lord for the NHS, their kindness and skills and for their ability to save people like Michael.