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mistylyn's review
4.0
A Man to Die For is a brilliant medical thriller in desperate need of an aggressive editor and a prime example of why it sometimes pays to wait for a reputable publishing house with in-house readers.
First, make no mistake—this author can write. She knows her way around an Emergency Room, and her vast wealth of knowledge, as well as her distinctive, almost poetic, style, bleeds onto each and every page.
“Hanging up, Casey focused on the shaft of sun again, where it flowed in from the back bay window. Thick and golden and trembling with dust, it reminded her of the sun of cathedrals, ringing with enlightenment and inspiration, swollen with faith. Carrying prayers and incense up through the windows to God.
Carrying back warmth to earth to feed decay, warming a corpse so the bacteria could balloon, so the maggots could feed and grow and hasten dust back to dust. Melting identity and individuality back into fertilizer, the hopes and prayers decaying along with all the other body parts.
Her style also extends to the effective use of humor. For example, when elderly Helen’s cat, Pussy, is in heat and calling for the neighborhood toms, Helen exclaims:
"Listen to my pussy sing...How Our Lord must love her music."
Casey didn't acknowledge the choking noises behind her as Helen walked on through into the dining room.
"I don't think it's God she's trying to raise," Poppi finally managed.
By the same token, however, I found some of the book’s references, humorous and otherwise, to be period-specific, so I’m not sure this will necessarily stand the test of time (a readily fixable issue). Additionally, some of the dialogue was EXTREMELY racist and gender-biased and seemed to test the seams of the characters. For example:
"I don't know, Tom. Seems to me these women get more uppity all the time."
Stunned, Casey whipped around to see that Hunsacker had managed to appear on the scene just when he was least wanted. "Uppity?" Marva echoed with just enough lift to her left eyebrow to make a sane man dive for cover. Hunsacker smiled right through it.
Seriously? This is the extent of the conversation that this comment provokes. It just didn’t play true that neither Casey nor Marva would have called Hunsacker out, at least in hindsight. I understood the author’s choice in allowing Hunsacker’s comments to paint him as a narcissistic misogynist. What I don’t understand is her choice to not use this same opportunity to reinforce the strength of her female characters, especially Casey. It undermined them all by allowing the two most aggressive to sit casually back as they were sexually harassed. My reaction is, perhaps, a sensitivity relative to current culture that won’t be considered as much an issue in the months and years to come.
Another area of potential conflict is for those more sharply attuned to the portrayal of Christians in literature, as it felt like organized religion was skewered and treated, at least in Helen’s case, as a symptom of her deteriorating mental capacity.
The lack of editing (that left some really silly and painful mistakes), the seemingly racist and misogynistic overtones and some clearly anti-religious threads were definite negatives, but when they are balanced by writing like this, it’s easy to forget the transgressions:
The air outside was heavy and metallic-smelling. A sickly orange full moon topped the trees. It was still too hot. The city shouldn't have felt this stale until August. Early summer was a time of upheaval in St. Louis, different weather fronts slamming into each other with the force of football lines right over the Mississippi Valley. The trees should be dancing with wind, and clouds should be boiling over the southwest horizon. Instead it waited, thick and uncertain and distasteful, sapping energy and straining patience.
First, make no mistake—this author can write. She knows her way around an Emergency Room, and her vast wealth of knowledge, as well as her distinctive, almost poetic, style, bleeds onto each and every page.
Carrying back warmth to earth to feed decay, warming a corpse so the bacteria could balloon, so the maggots could feed and grow and hasten dust back to dust. Melting identity and individuality back into fertilizer, the hopes and prayers decaying along with all the other body parts.
Her style also extends to the effective use of humor. For example, when elderly Helen’s cat, Pussy, is in heat and calling for the neighborhood toms, Helen exclaims:
Casey didn't acknowledge the choking noises behind her as Helen walked on through into the dining room.
"I don't think it's God she's trying to raise," Poppi finally managed.
By the same token, however, I found some of the book’s references, humorous and otherwise, to be period-specific, so I’m not sure this will necessarily stand the test of time (a readily fixable issue). Additionally, some of the dialogue was EXTREMELY racist and gender-biased and seemed to test the seams of the characters. For example:
Stunned, Casey whipped around to see that Hunsacker had managed to appear on the scene just when he was least wanted. "Uppity?" Marva echoed with just enough lift to her left eyebrow to make a sane man dive for cover. Hunsacker smiled right through it.
Seriously? This is the extent of the conversation that this comment provokes. It just didn’t play true that neither Casey nor Marva would have called Hunsacker out, at least in hindsight. I understood the author’s choice in allowing Hunsacker’s comments to paint him as a narcissistic misogynist. What I don’t understand is her choice to not use this same opportunity to reinforce the strength of her female characters, especially Casey. It undermined them all by allowing the two most aggressive to sit casually back as they were sexually harassed. My reaction is, perhaps, a sensitivity relative to current culture that won’t be considered as much an issue in the months and years to come.
Another area of potential conflict is for those more sharply attuned to the portrayal of Christians in literature, as it felt like organized religion was skewered and treated, at least in Helen’s case, as a symptom of her deteriorating mental capacity.
The lack of editing (that left some really silly and painful mistakes), the seemingly racist and misogynistic overtones and some clearly anti-religious threads were definite negatives, but when they are balanced by writing like this, it’s easy to forget the transgressions:
ker95's review
4.0
I've read this book (and most of the Eileen Dreyer books) several times. It was *finally* available for Kindle so I snapped it up and read it yet again. The main character reminded me so much of an RN friend (mouthy, focused on patient care over administration silliness, willingness to stand up to doctors when needed) that I recommended it to her as well... and she verified the accuracy of the medical information and enjoyed the book as much as I did.
My husband is now trying to read the book, but it may be a bit too much 'chick' for him. He is hanging with it though LOL
Premise: a new, handsome OB/GYN joins the hospital staff. St. Louis Trauma nurse Casey McDonough seems to be the only one who doesn't like him/trust him. And then people start dying...
My husband is now trying to read the book, but it may be a bit too much 'chick' for him. He is hanging with it though LOL
Premise: a new, handsome OB/GYN joins the hospital staff. St. Louis Trauma nurse Casey McDonough seems to be the only one who doesn't like him/trust him. And then people start dying...
More...