( 7 reviews )
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Posted: Dec 10 2008
If I could give this book 3 1/2 stars I would. Otherwise, it is between good and great. The Great: The story is fascinating, it is gripping from the first page. We are in the midst of a parent's worst nightmare and at the same time, thrown into the dark, troubled memories of the narrator. As the story progresses, we are both in the waiting room, wondering if the narrator's daughter will pull through and on a journey through the past, reliving his heightened love affair with a impoverished woman he met in a bar. The Good: Despite all the great, the writing is filled with a lot of metaphors. Be prepared, the word 'like' appears a lot. The narrator acts 'like this', feels 'like that'. For a surgeon, he is very poetic almost too the point where it feels maudlin, contrived and unrealistic. I am impressed with the story but it could have used a bit of editing to tighten it up. Sometimes the over-description of things took away from the emotions, from the strength of the tale. Paragraphs needed trimming here and there. There is a lot of 'telling' here and in good writing, 'showing' is a strength. I saw the movie first which I feel retains the best elements of the book. The book, as in most cases, was better than the movie but not in all instances. Overall a solid read and if you don't mind the maudlin poetic confession of the narrator, then you might give this book five stars. Between good and great is still not bad.
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Posted: Nov 30 2008
Overall bland and way too drawn-out with a bit of a whiny undertone makes this novel not one that I would not recommend and would definitely not read again. Quite disturbing with little resolution and even less plot. The narrator of the story is selfish, overall not likeable, and altogether not believeable. (The novel makes him out to be an intelligent man conscious of the body and diseases, yet has unprotected sex/rapes a woman in a dirty dark apartment?) Sure, it absolutely could really happen, but the way the author writes the character, he doesn't make a believeable case (let alone the father spilling this tale to his comatose daughter).. Do youself a favor and skip over this one if it finds its way to your reading list.
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 21 2007
I can't remember the last time I wrote one of these reviews. This novel was just that gripping and beautiful. It is infused with details of love, with poignant smells, and it promises to break your heart. If you have ever loved and lost someone, this novel will resonate with you for a very long time.
