Review of Nutshell
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Kajori Sheryl Paul
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Review of Nutshell
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Nutshell" by John Albedo (pseudonym for Alan B Hollingsworth.]
Nutshell is a thrilling medical novel penned by John Albedo. Set in Matherville, Far West Texas, the book enmeshes us in the lives of the cursed Callaways, primarily Zebulon and his grandson, Chase.
In the Depression Era, Zebulon became popular as a doctor in Metzgerville, even though he was merely a pharmacist. With time, he began to think of himself as the Master of Life and Death. Then came the birth of Ivy Pettibone. Though a bright girl, Ivy was born with many physical deformities. Even her speech was not normal. A hurricane made Ivy lose everything. The same calamity ignited Zebulon's faith in God and led him to establish the Church of the Driven Nail. Years passed. Matzgerville became Matherville and Doc Callaway became Brother Zeb. Though reluctant at first, Chase Callaway parted ways with his musical career and joined medical school at the behest of his wife, Livvy. He took up a part-time job as an aide in the Matherville State Asylum to support his family. On his very first day, he came across Ivy. Desperate to come out of the shadow of his brilliant yet distant father, Doctor Wes Callaway, Chase began to show his brilliance. Slowly the rigors of medical school brought about a change in him. Yet, Ivy remained a constant in his life.
How was Ivy related to Zeb and Chase? Was the transformation in Chase good? Would he be able to maintain his roots in his quest to become the Master of Life and Death?
John Albedo masterfully paints the highs and lows of the medical profession. The author sheds light on the intricacies of the various branches of medicine. The simple manner in which everything is portrayed makes it easy to understand even for laymen. To boot, all this is done without making the story tedious. I have to mention how Albedo gives us a concise yet detailed history of the Callaway ancestors. This added depth to the story. Another aspect that I find worth mentioning is the portrayal of faith. Zebulon finds faith whereas Chase's journey heads in the opposite direction. I find this very interesting.
The characters of John Albedo's Nutshell are all well-fleshed. I still have mixed feelings about Zebulon. I am not sure if the things he did are forgivable. On the other hand, I find myself rooting for Chase. His metamorphosis is brilliantly depicted. I really liked the contrast between his first and last encounter with Porter Piscotel. The two meetings showed how far the two men had come. Ivy and Neva had my heart. I hope to see more of them in the next book. Livvy is the quintessential doctor's wife. Sukie Spurlock is an enigma. Her role in Chase's life is irreplaceable. Chase's last conversation with her depicted another key change in his character.
Nutshell by John Albedo is a must-read. I love the vivid writing style and the spectacular use of foreshadowing. There is nothing that I did not like about the book. Hence, I happily rate Nutshell 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this book to fans of medical thrillers and psychological novels.
******
Nutshell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Nutshell is a thrilling medical novel penned by John Albedo. Set in Matherville, Far West Texas, the book enmeshes us in the lives of the cursed Callaways, primarily Zebulon and his grandson, Chase.
In the Depression Era, Zebulon became popular as a doctor in Metzgerville, even though he was merely a pharmacist. With time, he began to think of himself as the Master of Life and Death. Then came the birth of Ivy Pettibone. Though a bright girl, Ivy was born with many physical deformities. Even her speech was not normal. A hurricane made Ivy lose everything. The same calamity ignited Zebulon's faith in God and led him to establish the Church of the Driven Nail. Years passed. Matzgerville became Matherville and Doc Callaway became Brother Zeb. Though reluctant at first, Chase Callaway parted ways with his musical career and joined medical school at the behest of his wife, Livvy. He took up a part-time job as an aide in the Matherville State Asylum to support his family. On his very first day, he came across Ivy. Desperate to come out of the shadow of his brilliant yet distant father, Doctor Wes Callaway, Chase began to show his brilliance. Slowly the rigors of medical school brought about a change in him. Yet, Ivy remained a constant in his life.
How was Ivy related to Zeb and Chase? Was the transformation in Chase good? Would he be able to maintain his roots in his quest to become the Master of Life and Death?
John Albedo masterfully paints the highs and lows of the medical profession. The author sheds light on the intricacies of the various branches of medicine. The simple manner in which everything is portrayed makes it easy to understand even for laymen. To boot, all this is done without making the story tedious. I have to mention how Albedo gives us a concise yet detailed history of the Callaway ancestors. This added depth to the story. Another aspect that I find worth mentioning is the portrayal of faith. Zebulon finds faith whereas Chase's journey heads in the opposite direction. I find this very interesting.
The characters of John Albedo's Nutshell are all well-fleshed. I still have mixed feelings about Zebulon. I am not sure if the things he did are forgivable. On the other hand, I find myself rooting for Chase. His metamorphosis is brilliantly depicted. I really liked the contrast between his first and last encounter with Porter Piscotel. The two meetings showed how far the two men had come. Ivy and Neva had my heart. I hope to see more of them in the next book. Livvy is the quintessential doctor's wife. Sukie Spurlock is an enigma. Her role in Chase's life is irreplaceable. Chase's last conversation with her depicted another key change in his character.
Nutshell by John Albedo is a must-read. I love the vivid writing style and the spectacular use of foreshadowing. There is nothing that I did not like about the book. Hence, I happily rate Nutshell 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this book to fans of medical thrillers and psychological novels.
******
Nutshell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Nutshell by John Albedo is a gripping medical novel set against the backdrop of Depression-era Texas. The story weaves together the lives of the enigmatic Callaway family, particularly Chase, who seeks his own identity amidst the shadow of his father and the haunting presence of Ivy Pettibone. A captivating blend of personal struggles, faith, and medical intrigue.
Latest Review: Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper
