Review of Days of the Giants
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Izu Emmanuel
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Review of Days of the Giants
[Following is a volunteer review of "Days of the Giants" by RJ Petrella.]
Days of the Giants by R.J. Petrella is a long suspense thriller, the storyline revolves around Slater Barnes, his highs and lows (alcohol addiction, love life, family issues, work issues, and even murder: father and best friend deaths caused by the same person, who happens to be his stepdad), his work at City hospital and how he ultimately saves it- saves it from becoming another private hospital more interested in insurance than people.
The story tells the tale of Slater Barnes, through his eyes and that of his dad, who is dead and sitting with God on high, and somehow his dad can tell all (how people feel and what they think). The story starts with the murder of a resident doctor, who we later learn was Don Lindey. Slater's confusion in choosing a hospital for his internship, his dislike for his stepdad (Mel Garrot turns out to be the villain), his choice of City hospital as his place of internship, his relationship with Sofia that he breaks and later attempt at reconnection, that still goes under the bridge.
The storyline was a bit dark at the beginning, obviously since it started with a murder. Still, Slater's dad can tell a good story "in the year of our Lord and all that." The way he and Slater told the story, gave me an almost all-seeing God's likeability. The story followed Slater's almost all to cynic life, with brief bouts of light here and there. Still, it seems Slater was confused half of the story, with a long infection of unforgiveness and feelings of betrayal: Sofia's change of hospital choice, his mother's marriage to Melvin, and even himself for his alcoholism. The storyline ends well, post-climax (Melvin's arrest, the strike and call off of the merge) as Slater forgives his mother, understands Academy hospital, and finds true love.
The novel had a theme of humanitarian service as opposed to just profit-oriented service. Slater's real reason for going to the City hospital, a public hospital, was because he believed they got it: what was important in a City hospital, was the patient not where they came from, or who they were. It was like the Jesus of the bible, accepting people and caring. It became glaring to the reader how truly different, City was from the Academy when Slater had to go on rounds in the Academy hospital. Even though Academy had more equipment, specialists, and technicians to handle equipment (the doctors had to handle, or more correctly share a machine among themselves during test runs at City hospital), even though the Academy doctors dressed all right in their pretty clean suits. (By the way, the reader should note that one of the rules guiding City hospital was to dress for your rounds in Academy, the same way you dressed in City.) My point is Academy was richer than City, you had to wonder what was the rush in discharging Mr. Tudman. Slater had tested the man, his infection was still spreading, why did Doctor Johensten say he should be discharged. Why did the nurses at the ward refuse to release those medicines Slater had asked for, he even had to advise Mr. Tudman not to come to the Academy again. Doctor Johnson told us why though..." He wasn't their patient!" The City had one last rule in its guidelines. Respect the homeless. The City was about service, Academy was about profit. Slater was not an Academy person at all. In the end, the bottom line for the Academy hospital, was quite simple: profit!
The characters of the novel came in different colors, loving and supportive Sofia, outspoken and fearless Don, dead but all-knowing Slater's father, loving and supportive Pamela... Slater's mother, suicidal and repented Gina, playful and caring Jesse, deceptive and cunning Buckingham and his not to wise superior Spake. And don't forget Mel the good businessman and stepfather turned criminal mastermind. The characters had vital roles in the novel and each was like an important piece of chain in the wheel of the story.
The story was professionally edited. The pacing of the novel was a bit slow, as the novel was divided into six parts. Yet the narrative was filled with suspense, so one had this desire for the "aha I knew he was the bad guy ." It was in essence a good-paced book. The story was like a good art piece. Some sides were rough, some smooth; still, together the novel was a beauty. I recommend this book to readers of suspense thrillers and American contemporary novels. And, I rate the book four out of four stars.
******
Days of the Giants
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Days of the Giants by R.J. Petrella is a long suspense thriller, the storyline revolves around Slater Barnes, his highs and lows (alcohol addiction, love life, family issues, work issues, and even murder: father and best friend deaths caused by the same person, who happens to be his stepdad), his work at City hospital and how he ultimately saves it- saves it from becoming another private hospital more interested in insurance than people.
The story tells the tale of Slater Barnes, through his eyes and that of his dad, who is dead and sitting with God on high, and somehow his dad can tell all (how people feel and what they think). The story starts with the murder of a resident doctor, who we later learn was Don Lindey. Slater's confusion in choosing a hospital for his internship, his dislike for his stepdad (Mel Garrot turns out to be the villain), his choice of City hospital as his place of internship, his relationship with Sofia that he breaks and later attempt at reconnection, that still goes under the bridge.
The storyline was a bit dark at the beginning, obviously since it started with a murder. Still, Slater's dad can tell a good story "in the year of our Lord and all that." The way he and Slater told the story, gave me an almost all-seeing God's likeability. The story followed Slater's almost all to cynic life, with brief bouts of light here and there. Still, it seems Slater was confused half of the story, with a long infection of unforgiveness and feelings of betrayal: Sofia's change of hospital choice, his mother's marriage to Melvin, and even himself for his alcoholism. The storyline ends well, post-climax (Melvin's arrest, the strike and call off of the merge) as Slater forgives his mother, understands Academy hospital, and finds true love.
The novel had a theme of humanitarian service as opposed to just profit-oriented service. Slater's real reason for going to the City hospital, a public hospital, was because he believed they got it: what was important in a City hospital, was the patient not where they came from, or who they were. It was like the Jesus of the bible, accepting people and caring. It became glaring to the reader how truly different, City was from the Academy when Slater had to go on rounds in the Academy hospital. Even though Academy had more equipment, specialists, and technicians to handle equipment (the doctors had to handle, or more correctly share a machine among themselves during test runs at City hospital), even though the Academy doctors dressed all right in their pretty clean suits. (By the way, the reader should note that one of the rules guiding City hospital was to dress for your rounds in Academy, the same way you dressed in City.) My point is Academy was richer than City, you had to wonder what was the rush in discharging Mr. Tudman. Slater had tested the man, his infection was still spreading, why did Doctor Johensten say he should be discharged. Why did the nurses at the ward refuse to release those medicines Slater had asked for, he even had to advise Mr. Tudman not to come to the Academy again. Doctor Johnson told us why though..." He wasn't their patient!" The City had one last rule in its guidelines. Respect the homeless. The City was about service, Academy was about profit. Slater was not an Academy person at all. In the end, the bottom line for the Academy hospital, was quite simple: profit!
The characters of the novel came in different colors, loving and supportive Sofia, outspoken and fearless Don, dead but all-knowing Slater's father, loving and supportive Pamela... Slater's mother, suicidal and repented Gina, playful and caring Jesse, deceptive and cunning Buckingham and his not to wise superior Spake. And don't forget Mel the good businessman and stepfather turned criminal mastermind. The characters had vital roles in the novel and each was like an important piece of chain in the wheel of the story.
The story was professionally edited. The pacing of the novel was a bit slow, as the novel was divided into six parts. Yet the narrative was filled with suspense, so one had this desire for the "aha I knew he was the bad guy ." It was in essence a good-paced book. The story was like a good art piece. Some sides were rough, some smooth; still, together the novel was a beauty. I recommend this book to readers of suspense thrillers and American contemporary novels. And, I rate the book four out of four stars.
******
Days of the Giants
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Marco Martinez by R M Allan
