Gregory D. Williams' new novel Open Heart is a bildungsroman of sorts. In this story, spread over decades, we follow Gene Hull in his journey to discover himself and find love in the process. It's clear that Williams writes from experience; the author's detailed knowledge of the medical field shines through in his writing:
"Dr. Harrington punches a hole in the aorta with something like an awl. Blood spurts from the hole. Gene flinches. Dr. Pereira cups his hand over the pulsing jet. In an instant, Dr. Harrington inserts a cannula (smaller than the ones in the vena cavas) into the hole..."
At the same time, while medicine and heart surgery are a strong running theme in the novel, the writing is not bogged down by overly technical jargon. Instead, Williams blends his knowledge of science with eerily beautiful imagery of the operating theater:
"This is like nothing he's ever seen. Deep within the rib's cage, naked and shimmering under the harsh light, the heart rocks with each beat. The rhythmic motion lends it a sentient quality. A kind of being itself, awake and unfazed by the anesthetic which has rendered the larger being unconscious. The surgeons have prepared this smaller, more resilient soul for bypass, but with the cannulas strapped to its limbs, each contraction looks like a struggle, as if the heart is trying to escape its bonds..."
The narrative is beautifully crafted and paints a visceral and incredibly compelling story about family, love, integrity, and belonging.
"Dr. Harrington punches a hole in the aorta with something like an awl. Blood spurts from the hole. Gene flinches. Dr. Pereira cups his hand over the pulsing jet. In an instant, Dr. Harrington inserts a cannula (smaller than the ones in the vena cavas) into the hole..."
At the same time, while medicine and heart surgery are a strong running theme in the novel, the writing is not bogged down by overly technical jargon. Instead, Williams blends his knowledge of science with eerily beautiful imagery of the operating theater:
"This is like nothing he's ever seen. Deep within the rib's cage, naked and shimmering under the harsh light, the heart rocks with each beat. The rhythmic motion lends it a sentient quality. A kind of being itself, awake and unfazed by the anesthetic which has rendered the larger being unconscious. The surgeons have prepared this smaller, more resilient soul for bypass, but with the cannulas strapped to its limbs, each contraction looks like a struggle, as if the heart is trying to escape its bonds..."
The narrative is beautifully crafted and paints a visceral and incredibly compelling story about family, love, integrity, and belonging.