M.D. by Neil Ravin

M.D. by Neil Ravin

Let me begin by stating that this book is designed for a select demographic. It’s not for everyone. It moves at a very deliberating pace that may seem to drag at times, but engrosses all the same. It was difficult to absorb myself into the work and world of Dr. William Ryan M.D., but once I allowed myself to do so, enjoyed the book immensely. I had to be patient (see what I did there?) and take the time to learn and recognize all the characters. There are quite a few of them and about four of them get…quite intimately involved with Ryan. There are few characters that I feel like I have to take responsibility for and Ryan was one of them. I felt embarrassed as he made his mistakes, angry at an idiotic blunder of another colleague, and smug right along with him. This made the ride of a long year as an intern all the more interesting. The medicine is interesting the deeper you delve, ranging from life threatening sarcomas to a rare reaction to a flu medicine. I don’t have the qualifications to comment on its accuracy concerning the medical procedures, terms, etc. so I simply won’t. Also, some of it could be rather outdated since the book was first published in 1981. Never the less, one could hardly tell as the novel seemed as if it could be present day. Of course, if I was an expert in the medical field, I doubt that would be the case. The ending is rather anticlimactic, but, at the same time, oddly fitting. It resolves some key issues, but leaves the rest of the story up to speculation. I award M.D. by Neil Ravin 4 stars. ****


Review by Alisa Heskin