Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. This small town veterinarian answers the call every time -- goats with difficult births, choking horses, sick cows. Amid caring for everyone's animals, his son is struck by a hunter's bullet. And then, he gets a call no one expects...
I felt that the format really suited the book...that kind of start/stop thinking that happens when you are going through a stressful event and also the kind of start/stop interruptions you must experience as an "on call" vet. Murphy kind of lost me on the "spaceman" section, it felt too much like a plot twist, but other than that the ending gave me a sort of warm-fuzzy that I hadn't gotten from a book in while.
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Good story, creative writing style, and I really loved it. Was a fast read, always good!
Interesting format the writer used to write this book. It took a bit of getting used to but ultimately worked. Good story about a large animal veterinarian and his family. It is as much about his relationship with his family as it is about his care of animals.
A quirky little book about a rural veterinarian and his family that was told in a different format. At first I thought it would be a nice little homespun tale that Karon fans might like but changed my mind after a disaster befalls his family. At points there are some strange goings on (mainly a "spaceship" that keeps appearing) but keep with it as it is resolved at the end.
I am sad about the low-star reviews from people who did not finish this book. Because it is an original, insightful, almost poetic portrayal of everyday life in a family. Some readers seem turned off by the writing style which they perceive as gimmicky. However, I think it is anything but. The protagonist is a large animal veterinarian. I'm also a vet, and the style of writing felt comparable to a clinical note-taking method with SOAP as the acronym. I don't know if that is what the author intended, but the rhythm of the thought process her writing style evokes resonated with me as a veterinarian. It felt comfortable and familiar, even though it wasn't objectively close to replicating SOAP.
On top of this, the interrelationship of the people, pets, clients, and townspeople was poignant and resonated with my heart.
Plus - the veterinary medicine substance in the book was accurate and well written. The author's husband is a vet and must have reviewed her writing. Well, it is veterinarian approved.
Like many readers, I wasn't sure I liked the style of the writing for the first 50 pages or so, but the rhythm grew on me and I liked it by the end. It works for this book, IMO. It feels a lot like reading medical record notes, and that is very appropriate for giving the reader the experience of seeing the world through the eyes of the main character/narrator of the book.
I may up adjust this rating to 5-stars, but I need to ruminate for a while. My grading curve has become tougher over the years. This book is somewhere between 4 and 5.
****Spoiler below****
The kidney transplant section of the story was surprising and wonderful to read. I am a living kidney donor and the description of the process/experience was as close to reality as I've read in fiction. Bravo to this author.
On top of this, the interrelationship of the people, pets, clients, and townspeople was poignant and resonated with my heart.
Plus - the veterinary medicine substance in the book was accurate and well written. The author's husband is a vet and must have reviewed her writing. Well, it is veterinarian approved.
Like many readers, I wasn't sure I liked the style of the writing for the first 50 pages or so, but the rhythm grew on me and I liked it by the end. It works for this book, IMO. It feels a lot like reading medical record notes, and that is very appropriate for giving the reader the experience of seeing the world through the eyes of the main character/narrator of the book.
I may up adjust this rating to 5-stars, but I need to ruminate for a while. My grading curve has become tougher over the years. This book is somewhere between 4 and 5.
****Spoiler below****
The kidney transplant section of the story was surprising and wonderful to read. I am a living kidney donor and the description of the process/experience was as close to reality as I've read in fiction. Bravo to this author.
It's a good read. The layout is unconventional and I enjoyed that but after a while I began to ignore the formatting just so I could get to the story. It's also a very fast read.
Como con todo libro con estilo extraño, me preocupaba cansarme del formato y no poder concentrarme en la historia, pero me cansé mas de los momentos poéticos del protagonista. Me parece que no cuadraban ni con la historia ni con el personaje. Es mucho mejor cuando hace comentarios ligeramente graciosos.
Lo fuerte del libro esta mas en los detalles de la vida de veterinario que en la historia en si.
Lo fuerte del libro esta mas en los detalles de la vida de veterinario que en la historia en si.