Review by HannahsReads -- McDowell by William H. Coles
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Review by HannahsReads -- McDowell by William H. Coles
[Following is a volunteer review of "McDowell" by William H. Coles.]
McDowell is a literary fiction novel by award-winning author William H. Coles. The novel explores the plunging highs and lows of an arrogant and possibly sociopathic surgeon’s life. Hiram McDowell attains the highest accolades of the medical world before his own morally bankrupt actions destroy his life. On the run but intent on exonerating himself of his crimes, McDowell encounters a number of ordinary people who begin to reshape the way he views both himself and humanity.
This novel is impeccably crafted. Each scene presents as starkly real and immediate. Medical situations are well-researched and authentic, and settings from around the world and across the nation are vividly detailed. Coles has a gift with dialogue as well; his characters converse in terse, realistic exchanges that breathe life into the novel. I occasionally found it jolting to move from a vignette-like section written in one character’s point of view into another character’s point of view in the next section, but I did appreciate that Coles gives each character a distinct motive and thought pattern that makes that character both real to the reader and essential to the plot. Do not expect to find the characters likeable, however. Many of them commit thoughtless, callous, or even terrible acts that are meant (in my opinion) to make the reader consider why people think and act in certain ways.
I think it is safe to say (without giving away any spoilers) that the conceit of the novel is that it is the protagonist’s memoir. The fictional memoir is structured like a series of short stories arranged in chronological order. These stories are glued together with italicized passages of exposition that summarize key events instead of expanding them into scenes. This structure is clearly an intentional choice on the author’s part, but in my opinion the novel would feel more cohesive if these summaries were expanded into scenes that would connect each chapter more smoothly.
I would describe this novel as literary fiction; its primary focus seems to be exploring the human condition. I personally found the novel intellectually engaging though not an enjoyable reading experience. However, the author’s writing is undeniably incredibly skilled; I believe many readers will be fascinated by his subject matter. I would caution readers that the author makes heavy use of profanity throughout the book. The novel also includes possibly triggering material such as teen suicide and murder.
Because of its technical brilliance and unique subject matter, I give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to readers of books like Ian McEwan’s Atonement or Mary Lawson’s Road Ends.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
McDowell is a literary fiction novel by award-winning author William H. Coles. The novel explores the plunging highs and lows of an arrogant and possibly sociopathic surgeon’s life. Hiram McDowell attains the highest accolades of the medical world before his own morally bankrupt actions destroy his life. On the run but intent on exonerating himself of his crimes, McDowell encounters a number of ordinary people who begin to reshape the way he views both himself and humanity.
This novel is impeccably crafted. Each scene presents as starkly real and immediate. Medical situations are well-researched and authentic, and settings from around the world and across the nation are vividly detailed. Coles has a gift with dialogue as well; his characters converse in terse, realistic exchanges that breathe life into the novel. I occasionally found it jolting to move from a vignette-like section written in one character’s point of view into another character’s point of view in the next section, but I did appreciate that Coles gives each character a distinct motive and thought pattern that makes that character both real to the reader and essential to the plot. Do not expect to find the characters likeable, however. Many of them commit thoughtless, callous, or even terrible acts that are meant (in my opinion) to make the reader consider why people think and act in certain ways.
I think it is safe to say (without giving away any spoilers) that the conceit of the novel is that it is the protagonist’s memoir. The fictional memoir is structured like a series of short stories arranged in chronological order. These stories are glued together with italicized passages of exposition that summarize key events instead of expanding them into scenes. This structure is clearly an intentional choice on the author’s part, but in my opinion the novel would feel more cohesive if these summaries were expanded into scenes that would connect each chapter more smoothly.
I would describe this novel as literary fiction; its primary focus seems to be exploring the human condition. I personally found the novel intellectually engaging though not an enjoyable reading experience. However, the author’s writing is undeniably incredibly skilled; I believe many readers will be fascinated by his subject matter. I would caution readers that the author makes heavy use of profanity throughout the book. The novel also includes possibly triggering material such as teen suicide and murder.
Because of its technical brilliance and unique subject matter, I give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to readers of books like Ian McEwan’s Atonement or Mary Lawson’s Road Ends.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Latest Review: Commercial Property Made Easy by Chris Lang
