Review by JodiBrozio -- The Surgeon's Wife

[JodiBrozio]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Surgeon's Wife" by William H. Coles.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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I give The Surgeon’s Wife by William H. Coles a 3 out of 4 stars because it was well-written and held my interest. What prevented the story from becoming a 4 out of 4 rating was the inclusion of random characters whom did not seem to connect to the story. In shorter works of fiction such as this, I feel that each character must be introduced for a reason and serve a specific purpose to connect the web of the story together. These characters seemed like ideas for another story altogether, and unnecessary to the premise of The Surgeon’s Wife.

The ongoing theme of this work of fiction, to me, is the search for the meaning of love. Is it possible to learn to love someone when it is deemed a good match, even if the romance is not there? Do you love someone because of how they treat you or what they can do for you? Do you love someone based on their social standing and what perks are expected in their society? Do you love someone based on the physical passion you feel? It seems that love is not actually unconditional. In each relationship explored in this writing, love is only offered when other requirements are met. The characters have to overcome obstacles and stand by the choices they have made in the name of love.

What I liked most about this writing was the strong female character because she is viewed from every angle: as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a mentor, a friend, a leader, and ultimately as a woman. She tries to do what is right for everyone else, but has a difficult time knowing what it is she needs for herself. She is portrayed as a pillar of the community with integrity and values, but also as a woman with wants and needs that every human being craves – and we, as readers, can relate to. Her struggles become our own and we can sympathize with her plight.

What I did not like about this writing was how the focus shifted back and forth between the three main characters. The storyline did not flow together, and then the added characters just confused the issues. It was difficult to follow at times and I had to go back find the relevance of that person. They did add drama to the mix, but something was just missing. I don’t know if it was not enough information to connect them all together, or too much by including them in the first place.

This work of fiction will appeal to medical professionals because they can relate to the language and the drama first-hand. For instance, in Part One: Chapter One: switching between “anesthetist” and “anesthesiologist” (pages 4,5) can confuse people not in medical field but who enjoy medical drama. At the hospital board meetings, labels given to the committee team members will hit home for those who are familiar with the protocol and runnings of a hospital. The dialogue and the concerns are realistic.

Overly sensitive people may want not want to read this. People who have had similar drama in their life may not want to have that memory brought back, such as drug addiction, infidelity, and medical malpractice. There is always a grain of truth when it comes to using a stereotype in any kind of writing. The details can be changed to add creativity, but the base feelings and meanings are still there. Their reality can be harsh.

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The Surgeon's Wife
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