Review by AmySaraMartha -- McDowell by William H. Coles

[AmySaraMartha]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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McDowell by William H. Coles tells the story of Hiram McDowell, a world-class surgeon and mountain climber, through some of the most tumultuous years of his life and the mistakes he makes in both finances and personal relationships. The first half of the book describes his high and mighty life full of fame and privilege while the second half shows his fall from grace and eventual recovery in the eyes of some. Hiram is ambitious, arrogant, but still lovable. The book highlights redemption in life and relationships, reminding us all that it is never too late to make amends.

I enjoyed following the exploits of Hiram and found it interesting that he was almost a villain in the beginning half of the book, but by the end, I was cheering for him. That aspect of the story was almost a mirror image of the biography that the character, Paige, writes about Hiram. It was very interesting the feelings that were raised by showing both sides of things, making me think about whether or not I thought Hiram was guilty, as well as if I thought his punishments were just.

I liked that we see a softer and more meaningful side of Hiram after all his pretentious fame is stripped away, as well as how he was able to relate and ingratiate himself to people that were once so below him. I also found it justified that his ending was brought about by someone he was friendly with and helping, and not by someone who was actively chasing him down from his past life.

I disliked that Hiram’s daughter Sophie was almost more of the main character than Hiram himself. The poor girl was always stuck taking care of everybody else in her family, especially after Hiram wasn’t around. It was also a bit misleading, in my opinion, to allude that because Sophie was his favorite child that Hiram shaped Sophie’s character when it was the mother who made Sophie into the kind, agreeable person that she is.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was well edited and allowed for an enjoyable read while not being complete fluff. There were some instances of foul language and a couple of mildly erotic scenes, as well as some events that could be considered moral disputes, so it would be best suited for adults who aren’t offended easily. I found it captivating because I didn’t know what direction it would take toward an ending, especially since the description was so vague.

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McDowell
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[David Samanthaa]

"McDowell" is a beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of human nature. The protagonist's transformation is both believable and inspiring, and the supporting characters are equally well-developed. This book is a testament to Coles' skill as a storyteller.