Thursday, June 26, 2008

More Than it Hurts You

I just finished reading this book. Let me say this before anything else. The book reads like a script. Every detail carefully visualized. The characters all given 3-d lives, beyond the current storyline. I think it will make a great movie.

When I started reading More than It Hurts You, I thought it would be like an episode of House. A medical thriller. It is that on a certain level, for it does revolve around Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome, but upon reading it, I thought it was more about the undercurrents of a relationship. Husband-Wife, Parent-Child, Doctor-Patient, Lawyer-Client. Relationship when a certain trust between the two parties is implied and expected. Through intricate description of characters and their motives, these undercurrents shape the novel as they do shape our relationships and our world views in real life. It is a compelling read, although I must admit at times I was overwhelmed with the exhaustive imagery.

The story is about three main characters. Three and a half if you include baby Zack, whose life it most at stake. Josh Goldin is a TV airtime salesman, is married to Dori and is the father of their baby, Zack. When Zack is admitted twice to the hospital with the same mysterious symptoms – anemia and heart attack for no apparent reason, the head of the pediatrics unit a black women named Dr.Darlene Stokes starts to suspect something. Child Protective Services get involved and a public debate ensues – where no one is spared. The tale is disturbing at times and Strauss does a good job in exposing the nuances of the myriad relationships he examines in the course of narrating this tale. I have to confess that Dori was on my mind long after I finished reading the book. Do add it to your reading list.

9 comments:

rayshma said...

added. immediately.
now will nag till book comes on my doorstep. :)

Yet Another Mother Runner said...

wow! sounds awesome! when are you passing it on to me?? :)
you know? when i started my blog, i wanted to write about my "relationships" with different people and about how all experiences are totally "relative" to each person's circumstances/ situations/ points of view, hence "its-all-relative"...it's more of a mommy blog now... (not complaining)

Mystic Margarita said...

I'll will find a copy next time I visit the library :)

Preethi said...

sounds like a great book.. now the minute I find the elusive library.. off I go!!

Sucharita Sarkar said...

Hey, sounds like an interesting read, esp. for a fellow night-owl like me!

WhatsInAName said...

Sounds a good read.Too much of scientific details bog me down but when interspersed with people and feelings, it sure makes an interesting read!
Added to my list, this!
Have you read My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picault?

Daisy said...

The relationships and the interpersonal skills struck me, too. The characters are very complex!

Friendly Stranger said...

Added!
The plot sounds interesting.....
Good review...

Savani said...

rayshma: lol.

gnd: today?

mystic: it will be out in july, me thinks

preethi: they are always in one of those pleaces, no?

sucharita: welcome! yes.. it will keep you awake. guaranteed!

whatsinaname: Actually, there is not a whole lot of medical jargon. just enough to explain the synbdrome.

daisy: you have read it?would love toread your take on the story.

friendlystranger: thanks!