This ultimately is a book of praise for our wonderful NHS and the key workers (from doctors to catering and cleaning staff) who are working together, dealing with the current pandemic conditions.

Alys had coronavirus but didn't know it: her symptoms were different to how the virus usually presents; and she stayed at home for 10 days before becoming too weak to move and realising she needed a higher level of care than her husband could give.. Transferred to hospital, she was routinely swabbed for the virus, but even staff in A & E didn't think she had it. When the positive test result came back, Alys was too weak to care, and had all but given up recovering. It was the staff who looked after her day and night, encouraging her to try to get better that made the difference; she didn't want to let the people, who cared so much about her, down

This diary was written retrospectively: at the time Alys was too ill to write it, but she pieced the story together towards the end of her stay. After she returned home, she needed ongoing help from the local mental health team - proving that this disease is more than just flu, or a bad cold, it can completely turn your life on it's head.

The diary is juxtaposed with paragraphs from the Daniel Defoe book "A Journal of the Plague Year" which was published in 1722, and reportedly based on a diary from his uncle who had lived through the 1665 plague. It does show that nothing has really changed and how people think and behave personally and socially at a time when a deadly virus is working it;s way through the population. I think the way she presented her book around the Daniel Defoe book added to the story and was enlightening.

It's a journal of hope - recovery from the direst of circumstances is possible; and a journal of love and appreciation.for the staff who work so hard in the NHS, and are rewarded with weekly claps rather than decent pay and working conditions.

It's a short, but very interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
There will soon be an abundance of books about Covid-19 and the impact its had on every aspect of life. This book is a short Diary from the perspective of one survivor. The excerpts from Defoe's book were distracting to me but I do see why she included them as the situations are somewhat similar. Overall, this was a pretty decent book. I had to laugh about her comparison of ventilators and her Dyson vacuum. But there is definitely a seriousness to the comparison too.

My husband got coronavirus and was hospitalised just a few days before Alys Morgan. Ever since he got out of hospital - he was in HDU for nearly two weeks - he's been recording what happened before, during and after his illness. I'm saturated in coronavirus hospital experience. I asked for the ARC of Morgan's book in the hope that it might help my husband to address his own experience. Sadly, I ended up thinking that what he's been recording has a lot more literary and medical merit than 'Ward Nine: Coronavirus' and I won't be passing it to him to read.

This 'book' took less than an hour to read and a major chunk of the book is not her work, it's extracts from Daniel Defoe's 1722 book 'A Journal of the Plague Year'. Some may find it fun to play 'compare and contrast' but it's a brave writer who sets themself up to be compared to an historic literary giant.

Although the book is dedicated to the NHS and Conwy Mind, we don't get any insight into the psychological traumas. For my husband, the mental health issues started once he got out of hospital. He still cries daily. It's as if his skin has been peeled off and he's being rolled in salt. I don't think it unreasonable that the book might have covered some of the aftermath of the illness, especially when it's such a short piece. The book is also less 'useful' (if that's an appropriate term) because Alys's experience is not at all typical. Yes, my husband threw up a few times before he got REALLY sick, but Alys doesn't seem to have had many of the typical oxygen deprivation, lungs full of gunge, experience that's so typical.

I may not be a 'normal' reader because I'm too close to the topic (I had it too, but very mildly) but if I had paid £8.99 for this I would have wanted my money back. I don't wish in any way to denigrate Alys's experience and I wish her a continued and full recovery, but I question why any publisher considered this document - which would have made a good blog -worthy of a so-called proper book. My recommendation would be for the publishers to gather 4-6 people's stories together to make a full book with a range of experience that could help readers a bit more.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This book is a personal account of a lady who became really unwell back in April with an unknown illness. Her symptoms did not match up to the symptoms for Coronavirus, but she needed hospital care, where she subsequently tested positive for the virus, displaying only those symptoms not akin with the disease. The story, albeit short, is personal, sad, and hard hitting from someone who has seen what happened in the hospital during the first wave of the crisis. A real eye opener that all should read, especially the ones who haven’t taken the virus seriously and continue to misuse the tireless NHS.

One woman's experience with COVID-19. This was an enlightening read that brought me more understanding of the novel Coronavirus. It gave me some more perspective on the impact it has on individuals and families, and how hospitals are coping and dealing with it. It is a very scary time and we dont know everything about COVID-19, but we should take it seriously because it is very serious. Everyone should read this book because it is important to know more about Coronavirus!

Wow this is obviously such a timely book. I felt that I couldn't relate as much because I live in America where the medicine, health care, and overall trends look different but it really showed the scary reality of COVID-19. I am also impressed by the usage of journals from Daniel Defoe's "A Journal of the Plague Year" from 1664. I really appreciated that tie in.

This book certainly puts things in to perspective for anyone still spouting rubbish that Coronavirus is a “hoax”
Ward Nine - Coronavirus is the story of Alys Morgan who was admitted to hospital with what she thought was gastroenteritis. She was later moved on to Ward Nine and was told she had tested positive for Coronavirus.
I read this book the evening before England entered Coronavirus Lockdown 2.0 - the memoir is 150 pages long but every page packs a punch.
I am one of the clinically vulnerable that was instructed to shield and as a result I have been off work since March (thankfully my boss and work have been fantastic) I’ve barely left the house in 8 months and we are about to enter another lockdown in a matter of hours. This virus is scary. This virus should be taken seriously. I can’t explain how angry I get when I see news reports of people carrying on as normal. If you’re fortunate enough not to get this virus that’s great but how many people could you pass it on to by being selfish and not wearing PPE, washing your hands and keeping your distance?!
Thankfully after 3 weeks in hospital Alys was allowed home but that wasn’t the case for many people she shared a ward with.
This book pays homage to our NHS and the staff that work there every day still risking their own lives to save ours. Still keeping separate from their families so we can stay home and see ours.
The message is simple. This virus is a killer. Follow the guidance. Wear your mask. Support our fantastic NHS and hope that you, and the people you love aren’t devastated by this virus that has become a global enemy.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance copy of, Ward Nine: Coronavirus, by Alys Morgan. This is a very good book, a first hand description of having the dreaded virus. This has been a year of firsts for most of us, lockdowns, schools closing, churches closing, just unimaginable change. This book is also a testament to the front line workers.

A well written account of what it's like to have Covid_19, how quickly it can take hold & an honest insight as to what it's like in many of our hospitals rights now whilst the Pandemic continues to rise.

My Mother was tested positive back in July & she too thank God recovered very quickly without the need for hospital care.

This covered every aspect from lockdown, clapping for the NHS & even the authors dislike of Bojo's wayward hair.

A fascinating, yet daunting read as we now are a day away from entering a second lockdown & with so many thinking they're still invincible, not wearing masks & ignoring Government guidelines, who knows what is yet to come?!

I'm glad the author made a speedy recovery ☺

Thank you Alys Morgan for sharing your experiences. It brought home the fact that you can catch this horrible disease easily and end up not only with serious physical issues but mental scars as well. I do not feel comfortable with a free copy of this book and will be buying a copy as a mark of respect to the truly wonderful staff of the NHS dealing with this on a daily basis and also to the much needed support of MIND during this pandemic. Buying the book and making the contribution to the charities Alys has chosen seems a small gesture in times of great need.