Review by Kansas City Teacher -- McDowell

[Alys Sterk]

[Following is a volunteer review of "McDowell" by William H. Coles.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Can a person’s identity be defined by his success? The actions of his children? Can one grievous transgression destroy years of work in building a name?

An intriguing prologue draws the reader in with its description of the summits of the Himalayas and provides a glimpse of how the story will unfold. The mountain itself, is a symbol of power and prestige, towering above nature, scoffing at all who have attempted, but failed to climb its rugged peaks. One can imagine the struggle on this grand scale of nature through the author’s words as the imagery here is quite vivid. Here, the main character seems to be energized with personal challenge and the isolation of this perilous setting. He is also interestingly apathetic to the frozen bodies that lie around its slopes. The prologue leaves the reader with a sense of the character’s disposition as well as an anticipation to the events that will be revealed throughout the novel.

McDowell, by William H. Coles is the story of a talented and affluent surgeon, who has risen to success at the highest levels. This success seemingly comes at a high cost to his personal life. He is also portrayed as rude, selfish, and chauvinistic. His dismissive attitude towards women, especially his wife, creates a very unlikable character who seems to deserve whatever karma he might receive. When tragedy befalls his family, though, dominoes begin to fall. As the prestige and power that once defined him begin to crumble, McDowell is forced to face the consequences of his behavior.

The character’s apparent lack of morality is a central theme in the book. Before the tragedy, he lacks empathy, especially towards women, and does not seem to care about his wife or children. As the story unfolds, the character must deal with the aftermath of the crime he committed and face the choices he has made. The issues of human nature and psychological concepts of conformity addressed in this novel are applicable to any culture, and any age group. Most readers would be able to relate to them. I would recommend this novel for high school readers and older, but the deep issues presented here would be most fully appreciated by adults with life experiences. There is also some sexuality and social pressure issues that might not be suitable for impressionable young readers.

I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars. What I liked most about the book is the character development- in the main character, but also the supporting ones. I could see the attitude and outlook of the characters changing throughout the story, reflected in their thoughts and actions. This transformation raises questions. Do money, prestige, and power change people? Is blood really thicker than water? Is one’s predisposition to certain character traits a product of the environment, or more driven by genes? Is a crime ever justifiable?

The only negative thing I can say about the book is that some parts seem to move faster in time than others. Some paragraphs covered months, and some events happened rather suddenly. I found myself reading these sections over to make sure I didn’t miss anything. There were also a few errors in grammar, but these were very minor. Overall, I appreciated the writing and highly recommend this book. Readers will undoubtedly enjoy the drama, identify with the characters, and leave this novel with a renewed sense of human fellowship as they follow the characters through turmoil, joy, and redemption.

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McDowell
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[R Benedicta]

The writing in McDowell is both intellectual and emotional, making it a satisfying read.

[Kibet Hillary]

The question whether crime is ever justifiable is a thought-provoking one and will definitely provide food for thought as one pores over the story. Many thanks for this curiosity-piquing review.