Review by cvetelina_yovcheva87 -- McDowell

[cvetelina_yovcheva87]

[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 is a brilliant novel by William H. Coles. It presents an insightful picture of the character’s spiritual development. McDowell’s character is quite complicated. He is first presented as a successful surgeon who has contributed a lot to the health care in Nepal. However, in his private life, he is selfish and does not care for the feelings of the others. He uses the surrounding people to achieve his goals, and his main aim is fame. He is good at manipulating the others. McDowell is presented as a negligent father who rarely pays attention to his kids. However, he is always ready to support them when they cannot cope with a problem by themselves. The reason he finds himself in prison is exactly his desire to protect his relatives. This is a crucial moment for the character and the beginning of his rebirth.

McDowell is divided into two parts. The first part presents the successful and ambitious Hiram McDowell who is always in the spotlight. The second part presents him as a fugitive who is trying to escape not only from the law but also from his past. The life of a refugee reveals to Hiram the mistakes he has made in his past. He realizes that some of the decisions he has made are the reason for him to be in this miserable condition. The reborn Hiram makes a lot of new friends and tries to help them overcome their problems.

The novel is simply amazing. It deals with a lot of social issues. There are pages dedicated to the inferior roles of women in Eastern cultures. The novel also focuses on problems concerning gun possession and the education of children. My favorite part of the book is the one referring to Hiram’s change from an egoist to an altruist. It is really amazing to see how one can totally change his attitude toward the world.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it is really great. I think that it is a suitable choice for all types of readers as there is love, passion, betrayal, and crime in it. Maybe only the science-fiction lovers will not find it grabbing. I really adore the book and, if I have a chance, I will read other books by William H. Coles. His knowledge of the human soul is striking.

I noticed several typos including double negations and misuse of pronouns, but the book is, as a whole, professionally edited and is a really grabbing reading.

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McDowell
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[Nicky Rita]

The relationships between the characters are nuanced and realistic, with all their flaws and complexities.