Review by AMNRAO -- McDowell by William H. Coles
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Review by AMNRAO -- McDowell by William H. Coles
[Following is a volunteer review of "McDowell" by William H. Coles.]
3 out of 4 stars
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McDowell by William H. Coles is a story of Mr Hiram McDowell, the president of Board of Regents of the International College of Surgeons and the head of a department of surgery in Denver. He climbs high mountains, runs marathons and the founder of a foundation that upfront a surgery center in Nepal. A super human-hero. What happens to this hero? What has he accomplished further? Whether his life ended on a high note? Readers will find answers to these questions at the end of the book.
The plot revolves round how his selfish attitude brings him down as a convict for his own grandson’s murder. The beautiful characterization of McDowell makes reader hates his behavior from the beginning. His disregard for the marriage, caring for only his children, and his selfish ambitions turn him into the prisoner of wealth and prestige. McDowell didn’t realize that woman wanted to be coveted like water to a drowning man and not as a toy of sex. His ambition is to climb all peaks over 8,000 meters but didn’t recognize his morality going downhill bit by bit.
It is likely to have multi-talented professionals in the present world. Here also, McDowell is a reputed surgeon with an added interest in mountaineering and marathon running. I feel, the author has given a message through McDowell that ‘Everything has an end.’ As per Hindu philosophy, FREE WILL is the ability to choose between different courses of action unimpeded. It is linked to the concepts of guilt, sin, and other judgments which apply only to actions that are chosen. I presume that McDowell has chosen the path for a transformation based on FREE WILL which has given him strength to introspect his fast. One can visualize the changes in his egoistic attitude as the story moves on. At the end, his efforts to save a woman risking his own life show his changed attitude.
McDowell’s life in the wilderness and meeting with many people who have helped him to realize his inner self, has enhanced the story line. While changing identity to escape from the police surveillance, McDowell uses his musical talent by singing on the street to earn his lively hood.The author has used this episode to chalk out a story called ‘Gatemouth Willie Brown on Guitar’ in his book ‘Illustrated short-fiction of William H Coles 2000-2016.’
I give the book 3 out of 4 stars. The book would have attracted a higher rating had the author pushed his hero to a bit more into the spiritual path. A good beginning was made towards spiritual teachings when the lady in charge of a family with whom he stayed for a few days said, “It’s no good if people seek success and money only for their own satisfaction and self-worth. People content in themselves learn to give selflessly, without concern for personal gain, to learn the joy of being human. How many times a day do we do things for others that are really for our own pleasure and advancement?”. But, When he was forced leave the family, the story took a different path. Still, the book is enjoyable.This book has many chapters but few chapters only given the heading. I could not attribute any reasons for the same. I would recommend this book to people who like fiction.
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McDowell
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3 out of 4 stars
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McDowell by William H. Coles is a story of Mr Hiram McDowell, the president of Board of Regents of the International College of Surgeons and the head of a department of surgery in Denver. He climbs high mountains, runs marathons and the founder of a foundation that upfront a surgery center in Nepal. A super human-hero. What happens to this hero? What has he accomplished further? Whether his life ended on a high note? Readers will find answers to these questions at the end of the book.
The plot revolves round how his selfish attitude brings him down as a convict for his own grandson’s murder. The beautiful characterization of McDowell makes reader hates his behavior from the beginning. His disregard for the marriage, caring for only his children, and his selfish ambitions turn him into the prisoner of wealth and prestige. McDowell didn’t realize that woman wanted to be coveted like water to a drowning man and not as a toy of sex. His ambition is to climb all peaks over 8,000 meters but didn’t recognize his morality going downhill bit by bit.
It is likely to have multi-talented professionals in the present world. Here also, McDowell is a reputed surgeon with an added interest in mountaineering and marathon running. I feel, the author has given a message through McDowell that ‘Everything has an end.’ As per Hindu philosophy, FREE WILL is the ability to choose between different courses of action unimpeded. It is linked to the concepts of guilt, sin, and other judgments which apply only to actions that are chosen. I presume that McDowell has chosen the path for a transformation based on FREE WILL which has given him strength to introspect his fast. One can visualize the changes in his egoistic attitude as the story moves on. At the end, his efforts to save a woman risking his own life show his changed attitude.
McDowell’s life in the wilderness and meeting with many people who have helped him to realize his inner self, has enhanced the story line. While changing identity to escape from the police surveillance, McDowell uses his musical talent by singing on the street to earn his lively hood.The author has used this episode to chalk out a story called ‘Gatemouth Willie Brown on Guitar’ in his book ‘Illustrated short-fiction of William H Coles 2000-2016.’
I give the book 3 out of 4 stars. The book would have attracted a higher rating had the author pushed his hero to a bit more into the spiritual path. A good beginning was made towards spiritual teachings when the lady in charge of a family with whom he stayed for a few days said, “It’s no good if people seek success and money only for their own satisfaction and self-worth. People content in themselves learn to give selflessly, without concern for personal gain, to learn the joy of being human. How many times a day do we do things for others that are really for our own pleasure and advancement?”. But, When he was forced leave the family, the story took a different path. Still, the book is enjoyable.This book has many chapters but few chapters only given the heading. I could not attribute any reasons for the same. I would recommend this book to people who like fiction.
******
McDowell
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Like AMNRAO's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: McDowell by William H. Coles
