Weekends at Bellevue,   ISBN:9780553807660

Customer Rating: 

It is NOT your average doctor who pulls aside the Wizard of Oz curtains and reveals herself as a fallible human being, wrestling with her own issues all the while taking the reader on an E-Ticket (the BEST rides at Disneyland) ride through her 9 years as ER doc on the weekends at Bellevue. Fabulously brave and incredibly heartfelt, it is a testament to what it actually takes this person to navigate, personally and professionally, caring for those who, for whatever reason, are severely mentally ill in so many different manifestations, and attempting to solve each puzzle as it lands in the ER. It also highlighted the thin line between sanity and insanity that so many successfully walk with the assistance of therapy and medication - really bringing mental health to a level that it should be - acknowledged as just another part of life and not something to hide or be ashamed of. I actually listened to the audio version and enjoyed hearing Dr. Holland read it herself - adding a "scratch n' sniff" dimension that really works for this very real, often funny, often questioning, sometimes sad & frustrating book. A relaxing read it's not - more like a wild ride - so strap on your seat belt!

Customer Rating: 

As a psych student, I was really curious to see what a seasoned professional in the field had to say--especially at Bellevue, of all places. I was impressed at the openness and honesty the author showed, not only in explaining the context of her anecdotes, but also going into things besides the patients themselves, to include divulging some pretty deep and personal feelings. While some of the things she did during her time at Bellevue--particularly early on--could be looked askance by readers, the fact that she addressed the behavior by going to therapy shows a great deal of responsibility, especially in a position where getting jaded happens all too easily. And as the book goes on, her patients seem more and more human as she opens up to them more, which will hopefully help transform the public image of the mentally ill. Overall, an inspiring and interesting read!

Customer Rating: 

I began reading this book from the perspective of a person who has spent many hours in locked psychiatric wards with a family member who had repeated episodes of psychosis beginning when they were elderly. After reading the first few chapters of this book, I was disturbed by the doctor's approach to her patients and other staff and became deeply grateful that she was not the first person I encountered at the time my relative was in so much pain and the family was reeling from the shock and grief of dealing with the delusions. By the grace of God, most of the psychiatric professionals we encountered during that time were deeply compassionate and helped my family to navigate in a world that had suddenly been turned upside down. Early on I wanted to give this book an unfavorable review but did not feel that it was fair to the author to do so until I had read the entire book. Although she asserted repeatedly that therapy had given her greater insight and compassion in dealing with her patients, that simply did not ring true for me. I feel that this book is much more insightful of the doctor's psychological challenges than a heartfelt look at this most vulnerable population.

Customer Rating: 

Julie Holland is a bright and cocky, whiny, self focused doctor trying to work out her own issues on the backs of the people who come through the Bellevue Psych ER. While potentially interesting, particularly because I have worked on a psychiatric unit, the book failed to deliver. The author did not across as being honest with herself and the detailed inclusion of her sexual escapades and other "bad girl" behaviors made her sound an awful lot like the people who did not hold the keys. Not much of a role model (except as an example of what not to do), how she ever made it into, let alone completed her residency is beyond me ~ limited self-understanding (or at least its application), contentious relationships and a propensity for behaviors that are personally or professionally destructive. In the hands of a more accomplished writer, her abrasiveness could have been balanced with the vulnerability and compassion that is so carefully controlled, thus making a better story.

Customer Rating: 

I was very disappointed with the content of this book. I expected it to be more patient focused. At the very least I expected it to show compassion and some type of respect for the patients seen. I saw no evidence of either and that disappoints me since the author is an individual who chose to make a career out of helping others.

The author might be better suited in writing a fictional story with characters based on her experience at Bellevue...or her experiences as a student. Dr Holland's writing style is candid and to-the-point-descriptive. This type of writing when mixed with the subject matter comes off as insensitive as well as pompous. There can be a way to make money from such experiences without belittling others in the process.

Overall interesting topic but insensitive and overall poorly executed.