Review of McDowell
Posted: 28 Sep 2022, 14:27
[Following is a volunteer review of "McDowell" by William H. Coles.]
The titular character of McDowell is a selfish, arrogant, vainglorious man who ascends to the uppermost levels of his professional career at the expense of his familial relationships and then descends with shocking rapidity to the lowest levels of humanity. Hiram McDowell, a renowned surgeon, spends the first half of the novel accumulating accolades and honors at almost the same pace as he does enemies. Carefully insulating himself through a hands-off approach to his staff, Hiram avoids being held accountable in any meaningful way for mistakes and errors; however, this leaves a circumstantial trail of reprehensible oversight that factors into Hiram’s eventual downfall.
When his 11-year-old grandson goes on a killing spree and ends up in the hospital after a failed attempt at suicide, Hiram is implicated in the boy’s death in his hospital bed and convicted at trial of his grandson’s murder. The personal and spiritual journey Hiram takes as he sets out to clear his name through a written memoir is by turns surprising, heartening, and shocking, letting readers come to their own conclusions about him and his character.
Fascinatingly, it is women who end up as the main drivers of the novel. Hiram is alternately dismissive of, condescending towards, and inspired by various women he interacts with throughout the story, yet they serve as the heart and soul of the storyline. Paige, the reporter who struggles with her role in McDowell’s tale; Sophie, the daughter who blossoms into life and conviction through her father’s turmoil; Ann, mother of the 11-year-old killer, herself having lost almost everything; Rima, a nurse and Hiram’s companion in Nepal; and a host of women along Hiram’s path to redemption are truly the strength of the novel. Author William H. Coles creates compelling people and situations that draw readers in and keep them engaged, and that character development is the true heart of this book.
There were a few grammatical and other errors in the book, but they did not distract from the content. It was difficult to follow the switching between characters and situations at times through the first half of the book, but once the characters became established every person had a part to play and was developed well enough to be memorable on their own. There was little to no throwaway or unnecessary material in the novel; the story was lean and the material was relevant to the storyline. I have nothing negative to say about the book, as I enjoyed it immensely.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was thought-provoking, well-written, interesting, and engaging. I particularly enjoyed the feeling of having just dropped into the life and timeline of the characters without the need for backstories on them. The way they were all shaped through descriptions of their personalities and motivating factors felt natural. Sophie and Paige in particular were characters I felt had compelling arcs, especially about their own lives. The ending was unexpected and the resolution brief but satisfactory; I specifically appreciated that I was left to draw my own conclusions about Hiram’s moral character by the end.
The author’s description indicates that the best reader of this book would be someone for whom English is a native tongue. Due to infrequent but strong offensive language, in addition to some violence and sexual activity, this novel is suitable for mature readers. Audiences interested in philosophy would find this content enjoyable, as would those who enjoy a story of redemption. Some of the additional topics that form important plot points are mountain climbing, off-grid living, jazz music, photography, and medical work. Readers who are not from the United States of America might enjoy the depictions of the various parts of the country that are featured, as well.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
The titular character of McDowell is a selfish, arrogant, vainglorious man who ascends to the uppermost levels of his professional career at the expense of his familial relationships and then descends with shocking rapidity to the lowest levels of humanity. Hiram McDowell, a renowned surgeon, spends the first half of the novel accumulating accolades and honors at almost the same pace as he does enemies. Carefully insulating himself through a hands-off approach to his staff, Hiram avoids being held accountable in any meaningful way for mistakes and errors; however, this leaves a circumstantial trail of reprehensible oversight that factors into Hiram’s eventual downfall.
When his 11-year-old grandson goes on a killing spree and ends up in the hospital after a failed attempt at suicide, Hiram is implicated in the boy’s death in his hospital bed and convicted at trial of his grandson’s murder. The personal and spiritual journey Hiram takes as he sets out to clear his name through a written memoir is by turns surprising, heartening, and shocking, letting readers come to their own conclusions about him and his character.
Fascinatingly, it is women who end up as the main drivers of the novel. Hiram is alternately dismissive of, condescending towards, and inspired by various women he interacts with throughout the story, yet they serve as the heart and soul of the storyline. Paige, the reporter who struggles with her role in McDowell’s tale; Sophie, the daughter who blossoms into life and conviction through her father’s turmoil; Ann, mother of the 11-year-old killer, herself having lost almost everything; Rima, a nurse and Hiram’s companion in Nepal; and a host of women along Hiram’s path to redemption are truly the strength of the novel. Author William H. Coles creates compelling people and situations that draw readers in and keep them engaged, and that character development is the true heart of this book.
There were a few grammatical and other errors in the book, but they did not distract from the content. It was difficult to follow the switching between characters and situations at times through the first half of the book, but once the characters became established every person had a part to play and was developed well enough to be memorable on their own. There was little to no throwaway or unnecessary material in the novel; the story was lean and the material was relevant to the storyline. I have nothing negative to say about the book, as I enjoyed it immensely.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was thought-provoking, well-written, interesting, and engaging. I particularly enjoyed the feeling of having just dropped into the life and timeline of the characters without the need for backstories on them. The way they were all shaped through descriptions of their personalities and motivating factors felt natural. Sophie and Paige in particular were characters I felt had compelling arcs, especially about their own lives. The ending was unexpected and the resolution brief but satisfactory; I specifically appreciated that I was left to draw my own conclusions about Hiram’s moral character by the end.
The author’s description indicates that the best reader of this book would be someone for whom English is a native tongue. Due to infrequent but strong offensive language, in addition to some violence and sexual activity, this novel is suitable for mature readers. Audiences interested in philosophy would find this content enjoyable, as would those who enjoy a story of redemption. Some of the additional topics that form important plot points are mountain climbing, off-grid living, jazz music, photography, and medical work. Readers who are not from the United States of America might enjoy the depictions of the various parts of the country that are featured, as well.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords