The Year of the Intern by Robin Cook
Paperback, 320 Pages
1973, Signet
ISBN: 0451165551
Synopsis
Originally published by Signet in 1973, this startling novel reveals what happens to a young intern as he goes through the year that promises to make him into a doctor-and threatens to destroy him as a human being.
Review
The Year of the Intern reads like a non-fiction memoir-like account of a medical intern. It focuses on the dull, day to day life of an intern that we've all seen countless times on medical television shows like ER. Robin Cook fans are used to his fast-paced thrillers and this early book is nothing like his more recent novels.
The Year of the Intern looks at the stressful and exhausting job a surgical intern has. The book focuses on Dr. Peters' fear and his grief at the loss of patients. It's disconcerting reading about a doctor unsure of himself as we usually like to believe that doctors are strong and have all the answers.
The bottom line is the book just wasn't that interesting. It kind of got under my skin, making me fear being left in the hands of an intern at the hospital, but the actual story in the book left me wanting more. If you're looking for suspenseful, medical thrillers, skip this one and stick with Robin Cooks later books.
Rating
Wow. Lots of people has recommended me Robin Cook's books, but I never really picked any of them to read. I'm sorry you did not like it... I should try another, like COMA, so. A friend of mine loved it.
ReplyDeletethis book reminds me of Complications by Atul Gawande. Non fiction about a doctor with similar themes as this one.
ReplyDelete@Raila - I liked Coma, but it felt a little dated. Robin Cook is considered by many to be THE author to read if you like medical mysteries, but you might want to stick with his later works if you're looking for something you can relate to today.
ReplyDelete@Pammy pam - Never heard of it, but I don't read a lot of nonfiction.