***SPOILER ALERT***This novel is written from the perspective of a middle aged Dutch doctor now living in Toronto. The doctor has recently become a widower and is contemplating giving up his practice as a cardiologist. His passion has really always been for literature - particularly the works of Anton Chekov. He feels he has a story to tell and therefore he enrolls in a creative writing course...
more ***SPOILER ALERT***This novel is written from the perspective of a middle aged Dutch doctor now living in Toronto. The doctor has recently become a widower and is contemplating giving up his practice as a cardiologist. His passion has really always been for literature - particularly the works of Anton Chekov. He feels he has a story to tell and therefore he enrolls in a creative writing course at Ryerson. While studying medicine he took three years out to study literature but returned to medicine at the urging of his mother. The creative writing course leads him into contact with the teacher, the teacher's soon to be ex-wife, a younger Swiss woman and her abusive husband. The story recounts the doctor's discovery of the abuse of the young Swiss woman and his involvement in her life to the point of becoming her husband's doctor. He strikes up a romance the teacher's wife who is a psychologist. She also becomes involved in the fight to save the young woman from her husband. The jealous husband is convinced his wife is having an affair with the creative writing teacher. The story climaxes with the abusive husband becoming incapacitated by a heart attack that was aided but faulty medication prescribed by the doctor. I enjoyed the ethical dilemma presented by the doctor's involvement in trying to save the young woman from her husband and at the same time fulfill his oath as a physician. I also enjoyed the descriptions of running in England and in the ravines of Toronto.
hide
Yes (0) 
No (0) 
