Review of Last Days of the Asylum

[R Chinaza Onwuka]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Last Days of the Asylum" by David Shapcott.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Robin is a young man with strong moral values but lacks confidence and self-esteem due to his panic attacks. Afraid that people might discover his vulnerability, he constantly changed geographical locations and places of work. This continued until he arrived at Carrington Hospital.

Robin was planning to resign again when the principal nurse, Bryan Stubbs, attempted suicide. Robin discovered him and helped save his life. While there, he encountered Brad Sykes, who was rude to the recovering principal nurse. Robin confronted Sykes, knowing that there would be no future encounters since he was resigning. However, after discussing his resignation with Bryan, who explained the potential consequences of his running and changing locations, Robin decided to stay at Carrington Hospital. His therapist, Clyde, also encouraged him to be more active.

Robin made friends with Daisy, Aroha, and Dakota as they worked together. When transferred to the secure unit, he observed the inhumane treatment of patients by Brad and Al. When Raymond stood up to Al, Al bribed a patient to attack him. Robin reported the incident, using Raymond's name to protect himself. But due to Brad's connections, nothing was done. Brad's predatory behavior escalated when he raped Daisy and transferred her to the gymnasium to cover his tracks. Robin, Aroha, Dakota, and Wairua decided to rid Carrington Hospital of Brad and his associates. Can they do this? Read Last Days of the Asylum by David Shapcott to find out.

The character development in this book is impressive, particularly for Robin, Daisy, Dakota, and Paul. Robin's transformation from a fearful, passive young man to a courageous, active individual is inspiring. Daisy also demonstrates growth, overcoming her fear of her stalker ex and standing up to him. Although Carrington Hospital was in its final days, Robin and his friends brought about positive change. Paul was a fascinating character from the very beginning to the end. The author carefully brought out his witty and smart character. Even though Paul had committed a serious crime, there was a lot of humanity in him as he defended Robin from Al's attack by attacking first.

The author vividly describes scenes in the book, allowing readers to visualize them easily. The descriptions of the feral cats are particularly detailed. The writing style is smooth and flows effortlessly, with natural transitions between scenes. However, the pacing came short for me, particularly in the middle, where discussions about removing Brad from the hospital became lengthy. Additionally, some grammatical errors could be corrected through further editing.

Due to the above, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. It is an amazing story that will appeal to adults who enjoy fictional stories. Those interested in mental health care and self-development will find it particularly engaging.

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Last Days of the Asylum
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[Elsa Davis]

"Last Days of the Asylum" by David Shapcott is an interesting story of Robin's transformation from fear to courage in a troubled mental hospital. The characters are well-developed, and the writing is vivid.

[Yasmine ZM]

People who despise mental health patients, or those who can't be patient enough with them shouldn't be allowed to work as nurses or doctors in such hospitals; they end up abusing and using those patients they were supposed to care for. That's heartbreaking! Luckily there are also people like Robin. It seems like it is a well-written and interesting book.