Overall rating and opinion of "McDowell"
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Overall rating and opinion of "McDowell"
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That's my key takeaway. And yes, I have no hesitation in recommending McDowell as a book everyone should read.
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I have better things to do than read a book where it is required to read English naively and a man who makes a decent alone on a mountain...I think someone meant natively and descent. If you can't get the description right...yeah, I don't need to waste my time.
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I had read another novel from this author previously which was a disaster, to say the least. Based on the official review of this book on the OBC platform, I was willing to give this author another chance but the snippet of the blurb you provided has made me make an about-turn. I am not going to pick up this book.DC Brown wrote: ↑01 Oct 2018, 21:18 I'm sorry I can't get past the blurb: "When readers first meet Hiram McDowell, he is leaving a hiking partner for dead and trying to make a decent alone on a mountain in Nepal in 1981. McDowell is a world-renown surgeon who treats women like sex-objects and deceives his third wife."
I have better things to do than read a book where it is required to read English naively and a man who makes a decent alone on a mountain...I think someone meant natively and descent. If you can't get the description right...yeah, I don't need to waste my time.
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That's exactly the impression I got first. Coles built up Hiram's character as a self centered man who could climb (virtually) the ladder of success over his friends. Also, he didn't have respect for women. But later on, even as an outlaw where life has brought him down to earth, his character takes an upward trend because of a woman. Kudos to Coles for in-depth research about characters.Values_and_standards wrote: ↑01 Oct 2018, 02:19 I thought it was a very good story of redemption. I was impressed with how Coles managed to introduce an unpleasant antagonist and make him sympathetic by the conclusion of the book.
That's my key takeaway. And yes, I have no hesitation in recommending McDowell as a book everyone should read.
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In summary, the novel does a great job keeping the reader engaged with some shocking moments that are unexpected. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy strong and powerful stories that evoke thought about social and ethical issues facing people today.
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It's unfortunate that you have both decided not to read the book based on a blurb written by someone other than the author. This is the only book of Coles that I've read, so I can't speak to any, earlier book that may have been a disaster. I can say that I found this a really interesting novel. Though, it's not easy to categorize it, so obviously it won't be for everyone.Debjani Ghosh wrote: ↑01 Oct 2018, 23:18I had read another novel from this author previously which was a disaster, to say the least. Based on the official review of this book on the OBC platform, I was willing to give this author another chance but the snippet of the blurb you provided has made me make an about-turn. I am not going to pick up this book.DC Brown wrote: ↑01 Oct 2018, 21:18 I'm sorry I can't get past the blurb: "When readers first meet Hiram McDowell, he is leaving a hiking partner for dead and trying to make a decent alone on a mountain in Nepal in 1981. McDowell is a world-renown surgeon who treats women like sex-objects and deceives his third wife."
I have better things to do than read a book where it is required to read English naively and a man who makes a decent alone on a mountain...I think someone meant natively and descent. If you can't get the description right...yeah, I don't need to waste my time.
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I’ve never read anything from this author, and even though there are a lot of recommendations for this book, the blurb makes me agree that I won’t be picking up this book. I’m not a big fan of fiction anyway, so I’m normally on the fence as it is, but these comments sealed the deal for me.Debjani Ghosh wrote: ↑01 Oct 2018, 23:18I had read another novel from this author previously which was a disaster, to say the least. Based on the official review of this book on the OBC platform, I was willing to give this author another chance but the snippet of the blurb you provided has made me make an about-turn. I am not going to pick up this book.DC Brown wrote: ↑01 Oct 2018, 21:18 I'm sorry I can't get past the blurb: "When readers first meet Hiram McDowell, he is leaving a hiking partner for dead and trying to make a decent alone on a mountain in Nepal in 1981. McDowell is a world-renown surgeon who treats women like sex-objects and deceives his third wife."
I have better things to do than read a book where it is required to read English naively and a man who makes a decent alone on a mountain...I think someone meant natively and descent. If you can't get the description right...yeah, I don't need to waste my time.
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