Mini Reviews: Complications, Strangers At The Feast and Backseat Saints
by Jenners • 03/04/2011 • 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, B Titles, C Titles, Contemporary, Fiction, G Authors, J Authors, Literary, Memoir, Non-Fiction, S Titles, Southern Fiction, V Authors • 65 Comments
In a continuing effort to clear out my backlog of reviews, I’m writing another set of three mini-reviews.
Complications by Atul GawandePublisher: Picador, 2002
Pages: 252
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Where I Got It: Paperback Swap
My Rating: 4 stars
Brief Overview: The subtitle of the book pretty much says it all: “A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science.”
My Thoughts: First things first, I wouldn’t recommend reading this book if you or a loved one are scheduled for surgery as Gawande is utterly forthright about the fallibility of physicians (and surgeons in particular). As much as we like to believe that our doctors know what they are doing, Gawande reveals that, all too often, medicine is a combination of luck, guesswork, timing and instinct. After all, physicians are human and prone to the same weaknesses as the rest of us: pride, arrogance, fatigue and distraction. But Gawande doesn’t just focus on the “hidden” side of surgery, he also explores how much of medicine is just plain mysterious—that some conditions just don’t “follow the rules” or behave as expected. This was a fascinating and gripping read, and I highly recommend it. However, as I said at the start, it may not be the best choice if you’re about to undergo surgery. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award, and Gawande also wrote Better: A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance, which I fully intend to read.
Strangers at the Feast by Jennifer Vanderbes Publisher: Scribner, 2010
Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction
Where I Got It: Downloaded it for my Kindle
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Brief Description: If you’re in the mood for a suspenseful family drama set during Thanksgiving, look no further! This novel manages to work in class warfare, single mother interracial adoption, simmering resentment, a marriage in freefall and multiple viewpoints. This story of the Olson family’s Thanksgiving will make your family’s feast seem like a smooth-sailing joy.
My Thoughts: I’d heard so many rave reviews about this book that I just had to read it. Although I wasn’t quite as taken with it as some others (which could be due to the fact that I wasn’t in a good mental place when I read it as it was the first book I read after my mom died), I thought Vanderbes did a good job of showing a family in the midst of a complete and utter breakdown while also working in issues related to the gap between the haves and the have nots.
Backseat Saints written and narrated by Joshilyn JacksonPublisher: Hachette Audio, 2010
Listening Time: 12 hours and 43 minutes
Genre: Fiction
Where I Got It: I downloaded it from Audible
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Brief Description: Ro Grandee is the sweet-looking, dutiful wife of Tom Grandee, living in Amarillo, Texas in a tiny house the color of toothpaste. If you met her, you might think it odd that Ro wears long sleeves in summer. But how else can a wife hide the bruises that her husband’s been giving her? So when Ro is told by a gypsy that she must choose between her life or Tom’s life, her long-buried “true” self (Rose Mae Lolley) surfaces and attempts to shoot Tom dead. But things don’t quite go as planned, and Rose Mae realizes she needs to find another way out.
My Thoughts: This is a book that I think I liked more because I listened to it on audio. Much of the appeal for me was listening to Joshilyn Jackson’s narration. She has this cute Southern voice that just made the book come alive for me. The way she phrased things and her inflections at particular times was very entertaining, and certain details (like the toothpaste color of the house) stuck with me in a way I don’t think they would have had I physically read the book. However, upon assessing the book with a little bit of distance, I do think it is a bit unbelievable in terms of the plot. I’m willing to overlook that, though, because I enjoyed the narration so much. I do plan on listening to Gods Of Alabama, the precursor to this book, as it apparently answers the question of what happened to Jim Beverly.
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Have I mentioned that I love your book reviews? Because I do. If you don’t give something 4 stars or over I don’t add it to my “to read” list. Just finished Still Missing and it was FABULOUS!
You just made my day with this comment!! Glad you liked Still Missing so much … it was a page turner!! : )
Strangers at the Feast sounds good to me. Thanks for the reviews. You have me wondering about trying out audio books. I like the idea of getting captivated by the reader’s voice too.
You should give them a try! I’ve quite enjoyed them and they actually do encourage me to walk so I can listen to them. They help make boring tasks like housework go by faster too. Check out your local library; I’m sure they have some to try.
Love these mini-reviews!
I’m not sure I can read Complications. You’d think surgery and info on surgeons, surgery and medicine wouldn’t faze me after 40 some odd surgeries and more hospitalizations but I don’t want to know too much! Still, I’m also intrigued. I’m going to research this book I think!
I thought Strangers at the Feast was terrific until the ending. I wanted more after such a major character study. Oh well. I want to read Jennifer Vanderbes first book.
I have Backseat Saints here but haven’t read it yet. Maybe I’ll give it to a friend and listen to the audio instead. I like southern accents. I’m also thinking I will listen to/read Gods in Alabama first.
Thanks for some great mini-reviews, Jenners. I think it’s a great way to highlight books you’ve read!
~ Amy
I could see that you might be leery of Complications given your history with surgery. Still, it might be even more interesting because of that.
And didn’t love “Strangers At The Feast” for somewhat of the same reason you mentioned. I didn’t get enough into all of their heads and wanted more.
I think going with Gods In Alabama might be the right way to go.
Yikes, not sure I could handle the surgical secerts!
I know. It was somewhat disturbing but very enlightening. And not to make too much of the negative aspects, you do learn a lot of good about doctors too.
Glad to know you liked the audio of Backseat Saints. It reminded me I have that somewhere in this house. Somewhere . . . can’t quite remember where I put it but thanks for the reminder. Off to look for it now.
Good luck finding it. I just loved Joshilyn Jackson’s voice; it made the story come alive.
Three book reviews in one… Lucky us! But dangerous for my wallet if my Kindle is nearby.
They make it a little too easy to order books on the Kindle, don’t they? : )
I’ve got Complications on my shelf and I’m sure I will love it when I get around to reading it. I will make sure that is after my son gets his tonsils and adenoids out in a couple of weeks though.
Yes … please wait to read it until after your son’s surgery.
Just added complications to my shelves at the library. Want to read it, but not sure I should. I already freak out when I so much as get pets neutered, so I dunno, but it does sound good.
It is fascinating and good stuff and probably things we SHOULD know but don’t really want to know, if you know what I mean.
Complications sounds frightening, but in a very intriguing way, so I am going to try to give that one a shot. I also have Strangers at the Feast, and I am saving it for Thanksgiving this year, as it will probably be the perfect read at the perfect time for me. Glad to see you were pretty impressed with all of these!
Complications is a very very intriguing read. Very eye-opening and informative. Like I said though, it might not be the best read if you’re facing surgery or complicated medical problems!
And saving “Strangers At the Feast” for a Thanksgiving read is genius.
I, too, like your mini reviews.
I read Complications a couple summers ago. Atul Gawande is absolutely brilliant. I’ve had Better since it first came out but have not read it yet. Asks self: What the heck are you waiting for?
I think I’ll keep doing the mini reviews then. I like them too. Some books just don’t need a whole long review I think.
And I’m wondering what the heck you are waiting for re: “Better” as well!
Not too sure about the first two but Backseat Saints sounds promising, thanks for the recommendation.
From what I can tell, if you’re interested in Backseat Saints, then Gods in Alabama is probably the better book to start with.
I actually listened to Complications a few years back and really enjoyed it. Maybe 9 months later I went in for surgery, and thank goodness I couldn’t remember the details! I’d have been even more terrified than I already was!
I like this mini-review format; I might have to do something like this at some point.
Thank goodness for not reading it right before surgery; you would have been a nervous wreck I think!
And this mini review thing is really helping me out. It gets me to focus and get rid of some of the backlog of reviews that stress me out. Urgh. Some day I’ll get caught up.
I will not be reading Complications either. No surgery scheduled but, I just don’t do well with these things. I read Back Seat Saints, and I must say that after listening to some of the stories of people’s lives, I don’t think anything is difficult to believe. I have Gods of Alabama requested. Thanks for your thoughts.
I’m very curious to read Gods in Alabama now … I’ve got to know what happened to Jim Beverly. And I read that Rose Mae is a minor character in that book too.
I will certainly check out Complications. I work in health care, and everyone knows some dirty little secrets or how things really happen in a hospital. Physicians are human too
Good job on the mini-reviews. Enjoy your sunday !
Oh I bet this book would be so fascinating to you. I’m sure that, working in health care, you already know so many of things that are discussed in this book.
My daughter is pretty much terrified of waking up during surgery – so that book would not be for her!
Oh it goes far beyond that! She should definitely not read it! : )
I love Gawande – his books always give such an interesting perspective on the institution of medicine.
Strangers at the Feast is a book club book for me this month – your review has perfectly warmed me up for it!
I makes me wonder if Gawande is “well loved” in the medical community or viewed as as “whistleblower.”
And I think you might end up having a lot to talk about at your book club with Strangers At The Feast. There is a lot going on in it.
LOL!! Strangers at the Feast is already on my TBR list because it sounds so familiar!! Loved your comment about it making Thanksiving seem normal!! Gotta love family…can’t live with em’ and can’t live without em’
I can’t wait to get my hands on Complications…I pretty much already figured that doctors were just guessing…which is why it’s so important to be as knowlegable as you can about your own health and to have others in the hospital with you to make sure the doctors and nurses don’t kill you accidently
Complications is fascinating. Although doctors know so much, there is so much they DON’T know and it makes you realize they are full of weaknesses like the rest of us.
i loved your response to the first commenter.
“if you want your thanksgiving to seem normal,
read this book!”
So often, I think Thanksgiving ends up being a stressful holiday. This book puts it all in perspective!
I liked Backseat Saints fine, but agree with you that it was a little unrealistic, and I thought it was all over the place. I think you’ll find Gods in Alabama to be tighter and much more believable. The other two I must read!
Now I’m even more excited for Gods In Alabama!
Complications sounds like something I’d love. I learn a long time ago that doctors are fallible. During my pregnancies I had scary weird issues that different doctors all diagnosed differently, but none could really pinpoint for sure what it was.
Then it sounds like this just confirms what you know to be true. It makes sense really; doctors are just humans but I think we expect them to somehow be exempt from all human weaknesses.
i can totally relate to your experience with backseat saints on audio. listening to books seems to enhance my appreciation, even if the book is only so-so. i avoid reviewing audiobooks because i’m afraid my perspective will be skewed because i adore listening to books.
as for complications, it sounds like a good read. i love non-fiction and am happy when other bloggers review nf books i’ve missed. i’m going to see if i can snag it from the library.
As an audio book newbie, I’m amazed how much it can enhance the “reading” experience.
And Complications is what I would consider a terrific non-fiction read.
I really loved Strangers at the Feast as well as back Seat Saints — sorry they did not work for you as well.
They weren’t bad by any means. I just think I read them at a not so good time for me.
It looks like her head’s on backwards to me…I never see it as cut hair; I see it as a braid down a back but not attached….creepy
OK…now I see what you mean.
I’d probably be willing to read all three, for different reasons. I know that when I’ve said, to a doctor, “that’s why they call it PRACTICING medicine”, they have been less than thrilled – so I’d like to get a realistic picture of a day on the job.
I like a good audiobook, especially when the narrator reads with a distinctive, yet pleasant, speech pattern.
And I’m always pleased when I can read of families who have more difficulties than my own, at any particular time (sick, I know).
The doctor book is so fascinating. Love your quip! I bet you were just soooo popular with the doctors.
I had to read Complications for Health Law class, and I vacillated between thinking it was so so good and well-written (especially for a doctor! No offense, doctors!) and totally FREAKING OUT about hospitals and doctors and illness and surgery. Just a warning but if you have a hospital phobia, guys, this book is like a panic attack in literary form! (But also really good. Still. Read at your own risk!)
Haven’t read the other two–now I must!
It would have the potential to freak you out, which is why I put the disclaimer. I would NOT want to read this and then have to go in for surgery. And I agree with you; he was a good writer “for a doctor.”
The cover for that Saints book has been freaking me out ever since I first saw it. It just seriously freaks me out.
Really? Do you have a fear of cutting your hair?
I will pass on Complication as I am one of those people that have had the 1 in 10,000 reactions (twice). Obviously, I survived. ;o)
I enjoyed Backseat Saints and want to read or listen to Gods in Alabama. Got Strangers at the Feast sitting on my shelves.
Amazing that you had to face a 1 in a 10,000 reaction — two times! You’re lucky I guess!
I’ve heard Joshilyn Jackson speak (got a book signed, too). She’s a local writer for me. I second what you said about her voice. I can see why she narrates her own audio book(s?). She is a great storyteller, too, based on the way she told a story at her book talk. I still haven’t read the two books of hers that I have on my shelf, and I should. I know I’d like them.
How neat you got to see her in person. I bet she is a dynamo. I think this was the only one of her books she narrated but I hope she does more. She is quite talented at it.
Jenners….I loved Backseat Saints, and I too ‘read’ it in the audio version. I also listened to Gods in Alabama first and just had to do this one. I understand she has another one out also. Southern fiction is a genre I enjoy, and Joshilyn Jackson does it so well.
I wish I had listened to Gods In Alabama first. I’m always coming at these things backwards. She is a fun author, and I’ll definitely look for her latest.
The first book sounds the most interesting to me. We tend to forget that doctors are, after all, only human.
It is very interesting. Fascinating even. His insights are eye-opening and some of the cases he discuss are just downright engrossing.
Okay, I’ve met Joshilyn Jackson in person and have no clue what accent you’re talking about. LOL She is adorable and I’m sure her reading was fantastic! You need to read Gods in Alabama – it’s my favorite of all of her books.
Oh I bet she is so cute in person. She sounds like it! And I’m very excited to read “Gods In Alabama.” That sounds like everyone’s favorite book of hers.
Strangers at the Feast is one I checked out from the library two different times and had to return it unread. I guess I am not destined to read it right now!
Wait until Thanksgiving. It will make the holiday seem more pleasant and normal.