Review by Bradie -- McDowell by William H. Coles
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Bradie
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- Latest Review: McDowell by William H. Coles
Review by Bradie -- McDowell by William H. Coles
[Following is a volunteer review of "McDowell" by William H. Coles.]
4 out of 4 stars
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McDowell, written by William H. Coles, is a novel focused on the life of an arrogantly successful surgeon, Hiram McDowell. The prologue takes place in 1981 in Nepal as Hiram is on one of his climbing trips to the Himalayan Mountains. This sets the tone for the book as Hiram mirrors the cold and unforgiving climate of the mountain peak in his determination to climb and his lack of empathy for those accompanying him. The book then jumps forward to 1999, where the true story begins. The book is told in third person and follows Hiram as he continues to do whatever it takes to gain more wealth, status, and success, while showing little to no care for those around him. Unfortunately for Hiram, after a series of personal, financial, and societal decisions and events, McDowell is left with nothing and must restart his life. The book is told via the experiences of Hiram, his family, coworkers, and friends. This gives the reader a detailed perspective of Hiram McDowell throughout the years of his success and failure.
The character development in this novel is amazing and one of the elements I appreciate the most. It was a unique experience for me to have so much distaste for a character, but I think this is what made the story even more intriguing. Hiram is proven to be callous, rude, and selfish on a multitude of occasions. The interest comes from being able to get insight into the life of a person you would hope to never meet. As his character continues to develop, it’s interesting to reflect on how your perspective and judgement of McDowell changes. The author is able to capture who Hiram is by simultaneously focusing on the growth of the people closest to him. The attention to detail for all the characters is what hooks you to keep reading. Coles attention to detail expands to all elements of the book. The settings and events in this book are vividly described, making them feel real.
The beginning of the book was a little hard to follow as most chapters would focus on a different and/or new character, often being in a different city. This is what I disliked most about the novel. There were so many things to keep track of, that it was hard to delve into the story itself. Instead, I had to think about how what I was reading was connected to the overlying plot. With that being said, this wasn’t an awful aspect of the book. Although it was confusing at first, it ended up being rewarding later when Coles successfully connected all the different characters and stories together. Additionally, this made the storyline more robust.
This novel is fit for young adults and above due to its mature content and concepts. It also likely wouldn’t be that interesting for younger readers because it would be hard to relate to the characters and the plot. Readers who are intrigued by the motivations behind peoples’ actions and enjoy realistic fiction are recommended to read this book. Multiple societal issues are addressed in this book, so it is also a good read for people looking to gain new perspectives. Furthermore, the book takes place in numerous areas and gives a glimpse into the lives of many people, so readers who are interested by adventure and travel may also enjoy this novel.
Overall, I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. Despite there being a lot to keep track of in the beginning, everything ended up fitting together to create a detailed storyline. As I read the novel, I was always invested in what was going to happen next. There was never a dull part in it. The novel was incredibly well written and edited. There were only a few minor errors, none of which detracted from the understanding of the sentences. I enjoyed reading this novel so much that even after I finished it, I found myself wanting to continue reading it.
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McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
4 out of 4 stars
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McDowell, written by William H. Coles, is a novel focused on the life of an arrogantly successful surgeon, Hiram McDowell. The prologue takes place in 1981 in Nepal as Hiram is on one of his climbing trips to the Himalayan Mountains. This sets the tone for the book as Hiram mirrors the cold and unforgiving climate of the mountain peak in his determination to climb and his lack of empathy for those accompanying him. The book then jumps forward to 1999, where the true story begins. The book is told in third person and follows Hiram as he continues to do whatever it takes to gain more wealth, status, and success, while showing little to no care for those around him. Unfortunately for Hiram, after a series of personal, financial, and societal decisions and events, McDowell is left with nothing and must restart his life. The book is told via the experiences of Hiram, his family, coworkers, and friends. This gives the reader a detailed perspective of Hiram McDowell throughout the years of his success and failure.
The character development in this novel is amazing and one of the elements I appreciate the most. It was a unique experience for me to have so much distaste for a character, but I think this is what made the story even more intriguing. Hiram is proven to be callous, rude, and selfish on a multitude of occasions. The interest comes from being able to get insight into the life of a person you would hope to never meet. As his character continues to develop, it’s interesting to reflect on how your perspective and judgement of McDowell changes. The author is able to capture who Hiram is by simultaneously focusing on the growth of the people closest to him. The attention to detail for all the characters is what hooks you to keep reading. Coles attention to detail expands to all elements of the book. The settings and events in this book are vividly described, making them feel real.
The beginning of the book was a little hard to follow as most chapters would focus on a different and/or new character, often being in a different city. This is what I disliked most about the novel. There were so many things to keep track of, that it was hard to delve into the story itself. Instead, I had to think about how what I was reading was connected to the overlying plot. With that being said, this wasn’t an awful aspect of the book. Although it was confusing at first, it ended up being rewarding later when Coles successfully connected all the different characters and stories together. Additionally, this made the storyline more robust.
This novel is fit for young adults and above due to its mature content and concepts. It also likely wouldn’t be that interesting for younger readers because it would be hard to relate to the characters and the plot. Readers who are intrigued by the motivations behind peoples’ actions and enjoy realistic fiction are recommended to read this book. Multiple societal issues are addressed in this book, so it is also a good read for people looking to gain new perspectives. Furthermore, the book takes place in numerous areas and gives a glimpse into the lives of many people, so readers who are interested by adventure and travel may also enjoy this novel.
Overall, I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. Despite there being a lot to keep track of in the beginning, everything ended up fitting together to create a detailed storyline. As I read the novel, I was always invested in what was going to happen next. There was never a dull part in it. The novel was incredibly well written and edited. There were only a few minor errors, none of which detracted from the understanding of the sentences. I enjoyed reading this novel so much that even after I finished it, I found myself wanting to continue reading it.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Latest Review: McDowell by William H. Coles
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Dragonsend
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It's always nice to read a review from someone who has enjoyed a book and can explain why. Thank you for your review.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 
Latest Review: House of Eire by June Gillam
