This book began slow, for me. Although I love historical fiction, this era is not one that I know much about or care to read about. When the opportunity came to read this book, however, I did jump at the chance.
This book focused on Gene, a (near) college graduate, caught between being a boy and a man. He takes a summer internship at a hospital, being an "assistant" on the hospital's "Heart Team", performing open heart surgeries. Part of the book focuses on that, part focuses on the relationship Gene had with his (now) deceased father, and part focuses on his relationship with his high school girlfriend, Patty.
The book began with a series of flashbacks, and I found it to be a little confusing, overall. It was disorienting, especially when you were first meeting and getting to know these characters. The book was slow, and covered a lot of topics, but it all did come together in the end.
Generally, I liked this book, but thought it covered TOO much (too many relationships and too many "problems") I especially liked the female characters, and thought that they were more dimensional than the "flat" male characters of Gene, his father and the other medical personnel that Gene worked with. In the end, I am glad that I read it. I give this books 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4.
This book focused on Gene, a (near) college graduate, caught between being a boy and a man. He takes a summer internship at a hospital, being an "assistant" on the hospital's "Heart Team", performing open heart surgeries. Part of the book focuses on that, part focuses on the relationship Gene had with his (now) deceased father, and part focuses on his relationship with his high school girlfriend, Patty.
The book began with a series of flashbacks, and I found it to be a little confusing, overall. It was disorienting, especially when you were first meeting and getting to know these characters. The book was slow, and covered a lot of topics, but it all did come together in the end.
Generally, I liked this book, but thought it covered TOO much (too many relationships and too many "problems") I especially liked the female characters, and thought that they were more dimensional than the "flat" male characters of Gene, his father and the other medical personnel that Gene worked with. In the end, I am glad that I read it. I give this books 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4.