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mjacton's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is the eighth and by far most difficult novel to read in my chronological reading of Pulitzer Prize-winning novels/fiction.
None of the characters, or character types, goes unscathed by the satirical knife. This is primarily a medical satire that is quite relevant today, with references to both the 1918 flu epidemic and a fictional plague combining to almost completely mirror the way the public and health officials responded (and continue) to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s hard to know which side of that equation gets the worst criticism, but science always wins. However, the reader who knows more about early 20th Century America and the state of medicine/public health would understand better.
This is satire-driven, with semi-rich characters and very purposely disjointed plot.
I think I need to read this again someday to notice all the details and maybe understand it’s nuances better, but I’m glad I read it.
Content Warnings: Early 20th Century racial language and satirical references to Eugenics.
None of the characters, or character types, goes unscathed by the satirical knife. This is primarily a medical satire that is quite relevant today, with references to both the 1918 flu epidemic and a fictional plague combining to almost completely mirror the way the public and health officials responded (and continue) to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s hard to know which side of that equation gets the worst criticism, but science always wins. However, the reader who knows more about early 20th Century America and the state of medicine/public health would understand better.
This is satire-driven, with semi-rich characters and very purposely disjointed plot.
I think I need to read this again someday to notice all the details and maybe understand it’s nuances better, but I’m glad I read it.
Content Warnings: Early 20th Century racial language and satirical references to Eugenics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
jeffs's review against another edition
4.0
Highlights many points of contention that still exist in the science community today – the tension between pure and applied, the ethics of experimentation, and the consequences of commercialization. A fun read that gave me insight into the scientific world as it was in the early 20th century.
carson2031's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in high school for AD and I really loved it. Not so much the classes. I really like Lewis. Sook!
msand3's review against another edition
5.0
Arrowsmith is the best novel I've read so far by Lewis, who has become one of my favorite writers. This is a novel about failure--the many failures that true scientists must make to achieve even small successes, the failure of Americans of all geographic regions, social classes, and education levels to value scientific achievement over religious phooey or soft-soap pseudo-healing, and even the failure of scientists to honor their profession in the face of capitalist temptations. "Fail" is even the last word of the novel. In a sense, Arrowsmith himself fails as a heroic figure. Some of the reviewers here seem to think these failings (especially his inability to have a social life or steady home life) make him a terrible person. I just think they make him painfully human.
So much of the novel reminded me of current issues that still divide the medical profession, from testing new and experimental drugs during the Ebola scare (and the debate on whether to quarantine) to the balance between affordability and profit in the prescription drug industry. For a novel written over 90 years ago, the content and writing style was remarkable contemporary (aside from the '20s slang, of course). It's my favorite Lewis novel so far, along with Elmer Gantry.
So much of the novel reminded me of current issues that still divide the medical profession, from testing new and experimental drugs during the Ebola scare (and the debate on whether to quarantine) to the balance between affordability and profit in the prescription drug industry. For a novel written over 90 years ago, the content and writing style was remarkable contemporary (aside from the '20s slang, of course). It's my favorite Lewis novel so far, along with Elmer Gantry.
schmoterp's review against another edition
3.0
Arrowsmith tells the story of Martin Arrowsmith, a bright idealistic scientist on his life's work. From the beginning of his time at medical school, he is influenced by the prodigious and eccentric Dr. Gottlieb. Gottlieb's motivation was science and the search for truth; he was critical of "commercial" medical practitioners and those sycophantic scientists doing work for money and glory. This would become Arrowsmith's chief struggle throughout his professional life.
Complicating matters, as it so often does, Martin falls in love...a couple of times actually. He would eventually marry Leora who's devotion to Martin is saintly. Neither Martin nor any other man deserves a woman so patently unselfish as I found Leora to be. For the record, Martin is only somewhat aware of how lucky he is. Nevertheless, it is because of Leora that he makes certain choices and it is through Leora that he comes back to his roots in the laboratory. During this time, he has a breakthrough with a substance he calls "phage" and it would lead him to do field research and testing of the phage with a bubonic plague outbreak in the Caribbean. Leora would succumb to the disease that Martin was trying to cure. Upon his return home, he is jettisoned into upper society, finding a second wife who is rich rich rich. She birthed his only child, a son, and she even built him an enviable laboratory right at home. His trade-off would be to attend dinner parties and chit-chat with people he disdains as much as he could stand. Martin eventually decides his work must not be interrupted by the trappings of high society or family and moves into the woods with an old colleague. Some time later, his wife and son meet come to Martin and he rejects them again. It is during this hermit phase that Martin claims he is finally truly working but I believe Martin was happiest when he was working in the laboratory and with Leora.
It would appear that Sinclair Lewis wrote this novel as a social commentary to the change in American medicine following the effects of the 1910 Flexner report recommending that medical schools only teach mainstream science. The novel takes Arrowsmith down many career paths including small-town doctor, professor, researcher, and director. There are glib references to incompetence, fraud, pseudo-professionalism, and probably some other not-so-great tenants of the medical profession (or any profession, really). In a way, some of this book reminded me of Robin William's speech in Patch Adams about how some doctors have an expectation of their own reputation with a reverence bordering on religious piety rather than a profession of humanity. I dunno...maybe that's not completely analogous.
There were times I laughed out loud. Sinclair has a dry wit that despite being nearly 100 years old, still rings true. That can't be said for all of Arrowsmith's vernacular which is beyond dated to the point where meanings are unknown and the reader must ignorantly guess. It took me awhile to finish this one and I eventually abandoned the Kindle version for the Audible version. Even still, I can't say I didn't enjoy it. I imagine it might be a fun book to read in school....perhaps mostly as a first-year medical student. In some ways, it even reminds me a bit of another satire, [b:A Confederacy of Dunces|310612|A Confederacy of Dunces|John Kennedy Toole|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562554946l/310612._SY75_.jpg|968084].
Complicating matters, as it so often does, Martin falls in love...a couple of times actually. He would eventually marry Leora who's devotion to Martin is saintly. Neither Martin nor any other man deserves a woman so patently unselfish as I found Leora to be. For the record, Martin is only somewhat aware of how lucky he is. Nevertheless, it is because of Leora that he makes certain choices and it is through Leora that he comes back to his roots in the laboratory. During this time, he has a breakthrough with a substance he calls "phage" and it would lead him to do field research and testing of the phage with a bubonic plague outbreak in the Caribbean. Leora would succumb to the disease that Martin was trying to cure. Upon his return home, he is jettisoned into upper society, finding a second wife who is rich rich rich. She birthed his only child, a son, and she even built him an enviable laboratory right at home. His trade-off would be to attend dinner parties and chit-chat with people he disdains as much as he could stand. Martin eventually decides his work must not be interrupted by the trappings of high society or family and moves into the woods with an old colleague. Some time later, his wife and son meet come to Martin and he rejects them again. It is during this hermit phase that Martin claims he is finally truly working but I believe Martin was happiest when he was working in the laboratory and with Leora.
It would appear that Sinclair Lewis wrote this novel as a social commentary to the change in American medicine following the effects of the 1910 Flexner report recommending that medical schools only teach mainstream science. The novel takes Arrowsmith down many career paths including small-town doctor, professor, researcher, and director. There are glib references to incompetence, fraud, pseudo-professionalism, and probably some other not-so-great tenants of the medical profession (or any profession, really). In a way, some of this book reminded me of Robin William's speech in Patch Adams about how some doctors have an expectation of their own reputation with a reverence bordering on religious piety rather than a profession of humanity. I dunno...maybe that's not completely analogous.
There were times I laughed out loud. Sinclair has a dry wit that despite being nearly 100 years old, still rings true. That can't be said for all of Arrowsmith's vernacular which is beyond dated to the point where meanings are unknown and the reader must ignorantly guess. It took me awhile to finish this one and I eventually abandoned the Kindle version for the Audible version. Even still, I can't say I didn't enjoy it. I imagine it might be a fun book to read in school....perhaps mostly as a first-year medical student. In some ways, it even reminds me a bit of another satire, [b:A Confederacy of Dunces|310612|A Confederacy of Dunces|John Kennedy Toole|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562554946l/310612._SY75_.jpg|968084].
izvalentyn's review against another edition
I'd have to come back to this one - since it was for class, I did more skimming than actual reading, and I definitely relied too heavily on SparkNotes to prepare for class discussions.
What I did read was interesting though, and I'm anticipating having more time to delve into it more.
What I did read was interesting though, and I'm anticipating having more time to delve into it more.
naturalistnatalie's review against another edition
3.0
A perfectly fine story for a piece of literature. I enjoyed the scientific slant to the plot even if I don't have any medical training myself. Poor Martin had a hard time figuring out what he wanted to be once he graduated from medical school. It's a career story that felt very modern, even if the setting was anything but. Martin wanted to be a researcher from the start, but he couldn't figure out how to make it work. At the same time, his mind kept being drawn back to the lab, regardless of what he was supposed to be doing. And he was too tied to scientific ideals to work well with people in his other career choices.
The other main character in the book was Leora, Martin's wife. She didn't get near as much fleshing out as a character as Martin did. I kept wondering what Leora did all day while Martin was working. She was always there for Martin, whatever time he showed up and whatever lab help he needed. However, it's not like she was the perfect housewife. She couldn't cook, was always slightly unkempt, and had no kids. So, what did she do all day? And then to have her die of the plague all alone while Martin was off meeting his future wife. Not a great end for her, that's for sure.
The other main character in the book was Leora, Martin's wife. She didn't get near as much fleshing out as a character as Martin did. I kept wondering what Leora did all day while Martin was working. She was always there for Martin, whatever time he showed up and whatever lab help he needed. However, it's not like she was the perfect housewife. She couldn't cook, was always slightly unkempt, and had no kids. So, what did she do all day? And then to have her die of the plague all alone while Martin was off meeting his future wife. Not a great end for her, that's for sure.
pussreboots's review against another edition
5.0
It's been a decade or more since the last Sinclair Lewis book I read. I went through a spate in school reading everyone I could get my hands on. Arrowsmith wasn't one of them but my local library had a copy and feeling nostalgic for an old favorite author, I snatched it up.
Martin Arrowsmith, the title character, is a high spirited medical student, and later doctor. He's in constant fear of selling out while the women in his life wish for him to be a rich and famous doctor. Or at least successful.
The book covers his entire career from medical student, to resident, to country doctor, to researcher and his work down in Jamaica. My favorite part of the book by far was his time in college because Lewis managed to capture what college life is like in the sciences. Having been with my husband through his entire college education I saw a bunch of points of similarity between Arrowsmith's education (the lack of free time, the juggling of different papers, the research, the oddball advisors) that I was often laughing as I read through this section.
What fascinated me most though was how Arrowsmith compartmentalizes the different aspects of his life. There's Dr. Arrowsmith, world famous doctor, Sandy Arrowsmith husband, Martin the student and so forth. Throughout the book the plot pauses for Arrowsmith to have dialogues with the different aspects of his life and personality.
Like a typical Lewis novel, Arrowsmith ends without a pat resolution. Martin's life goes through good parts and bad parts as does his career and even when he finally has a huge success, becoming a household name, Martin Arrowsmith still isn't satisfied with himself or his skills. Thus the book ends with him just about to start another internal dialogue.
Martin Arrowsmith, the title character, is a high spirited medical student, and later doctor. He's in constant fear of selling out while the women in his life wish for him to be a rich and famous doctor. Or at least successful.
The book covers his entire career from medical student, to resident, to country doctor, to researcher and his work down in Jamaica. My favorite part of the book by far was his time in college because Lewis managed to capture what college life is like in the sciences. Having been with my husband through his entire college education I saw a bunch of points of similarity between Arrowsmith's education (the lack of free time, the juggling of different papers, the research, the oddball advisors) that I was often laughing as I read through this section.
What fascinated me most though was how Arrowsmith compartmentalizes the different aspects of his life. There's Dr. Arrowsmith, world famous doctor, Sandy Arrowsmith husband, Martin the student and so forth. Throughout the book the plot pauses for Arrowsmith to have dialogues with the different aspects of his life and personality.
Like a typical Lewis novel, Arrowsmith ends without a pat resolution. Martin's life goes through good parts and bad parts as does his career and even when he finally has a huge success, becoming a household name, Martin Arrowsmith still isn't satisfied with himself or his skills. Thus the book ends with him just about to start another internal dialogue.