Not so miraculous

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures: Vincent Lam, 2005

This novel, Lam's first, is a collection of stories revolving around young Canadian doctors as they make their way from University to residency and eventually to practicing medicine themselves. We begin with Ming and Fitzgerald trying to get into medical school and dealing with new developments in their relationship. They are the two main characters, and even separate they carry the story between them. With them we also learn about what they learn, from acyclovir to vertiginous (Thank you glossary!) Through their tumultuous relationship and the trials of becoming doctors, we end up identifying with both of these characters at different times, really depending on the which one is speaking in first person. When we understand their thoughts, we can understand their actions. Yet somehow, the characters still remain characters and not people (which is one thing I believe is necessary for a good book). I feel nothing for them.

While some may enjoy the factual and descriptive novels, I personally found it dull and a little pretentious. Lam even included a glossary so the average reader without a medical background would be able to understand, and maybe even finish this book. I may be alone in my low opinion of this work, as Lam did win the Scotiabank Giller Prize.

My recommendation would be that this novel is not for the faint of heart. If you enjoy medical dramas (although there is not much drama here!) maybe this book is for you, but I doubt it. There is nothing to grab you, nothing to entice you to read more... simply a book full of facts and a simple storyline that is used to move the reader from one fact to another. It lacks heart, which is ironic since it is a medical book that centres around organs.

Give this one a miss.

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xoxo