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Gemini
A stranger's life hangs in the balance. What if you had the power to decide if she lives or dies?
Dr. Charlotte Reese works in the intensive care unit of Seattle's Beacon Hospital, tending to patients with the most life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Her job is to battle death -- to monitor erratic heartbeats, worry over low oxygen levels, defend against infection and demise.
One night a Jane Doe is transferred to her care from a rural hospital on the Olympic Peninsula. This unidentified patient remains unconscious, the victim of a hit and run. As Charlotte and her team struggle to stabilize her, the police search for the driver who fled the scene.
Days pass, Jane's condition worsens, and her identity remains a mystery. As Charlotte finds herself making increasingly complicated medical decisions that will tie her forever to Jane's fate, her usual professional distance evaporates. She's plagued by questions: Who is Jane Doe? Why will no one claim her? Who should decide her fate if she doesn't regain consciousness -- and when?
Perhaps most troubling, Charlotte wonders if a life locked in a coma is a life worth living.
Enlisting the help of her boyfriend, Eric, a science journalist, Charlotte impulsively sets out to uncover Jane Doe's past. But the closer they get to the truth, the more their relationship is put to the test. It is only when they open their hearts to their own feelings toward each other -- and toward life itself -- that Charlotte and Eric will unlock Jane Doe's shocking secret, and prepare themselves for a miracle.
Filled with intricate medical detail and set in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest, Gemini is a riveting and heartbreaking novel of moral complexity and emotional depth.
Dr. Charlotte Reese works in the intensive care unit of Seattle's Beacon Hospital, tending to patients with the most life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Her job is to battle death -- to monitor erratic heartbeats, worry over low oxygen levels, defend against infection and demise.
One night a Jane Doe is transferred to her care from a rural hospital on the Olympic Peninsula. This unidentified patient remains unconscious, the victim of a hit and run. As Charlotte and her team struggle to stabilize her, the police search for the driver who fled the scene.
Days pass, Jane's condition worsens, and her identity remains a mystery. As Charlotte finds herself making increasingly complicated medical decisions that will tie her forever to Jane's fate, her usual professional distance evaporates. She's plagued by questions: Who is Jane Doe? Why will no one claim her? Who should decide her fate if she doesn't regain consciousness -- and when?
Perhaps most troubling, Charlotte wonders if a life locked in a coma is a life worth living.
Enlisting the help of her boyfriend, Eric, a science journalist, Charlotte impulsively sets out to uncover Jane Doe's past. But the closer they get to the truth, the more their relationship is put to the test. It is only when they open their hearts to their own feelings toward each other -- and toward life itself -- that Charlotte and Eric will unlock Jane Doe's shocking secret, and prepare themselves for a miracle.
Filled with intricate medical detail and set in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest, Gemini is a riveting and heartbreaking novel of moral complexity and emotional depth.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2014
109 people are currently reading
6825 people want to read
About the author
Carol Cassella
4 books251 followersCarol Cassella, M.D. is a practicing physician and national bestselling author of two novels, Oxygen (2008) and Healer (2010), both published by Simon & Schuster and translated into more than a dozen languages. She majored in English Literature at Duke University and attended Baylor College of Medicine. Carol is board certified in both internal medicine and anesthesiology, and practiced primary care with a focus on cross cultural and underserved populations before becoming an anesthesiologist. Prior to writing fiction she wrote for the Global Health division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, covering their grant projects throughout the developing world. She is a Wall Street Journal Expert Panelist and Associate Editor of Mind to Mind, the literary section in Anesthesiology, the journal of the American Society of Anesthesiology. She is a founding member of Seattle7Writers, a non-profit supporting literacy and reading in the Pacific Northwest, and also serves on medical boards working in Nicaragua and Bhutan. Carol lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington with her husband and two sets of twins. She is the author of the novels Oxygen and Healer, both published by Simon & Schuster. Her third novel Gemini is scheduled for release in March, 2014.
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February 21, 2014
My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster for providing an e-galley of Gemini due to be published in March 2014.
I could see her lying there, this Jane Doe , the heart of the book Gemini. I cared immediately for Jane, wondering how she became the victim of a hit and run, left injured at the side of the road. I feared growing attached to Jane, just like ICU Dr. Charlotte Reese of Beacon Hospital, Seattle, who orders this patient to be placed in a medically induced coma to allow her to heal, hoping against the odds for a brain activity and favorable odds. Of course, I wondered "who is Jane?". The answer comes in a surprising love story, narrated in the alternating voices of Charlotte and Raney.
This is the second book I've read by Carol Cassella. She is becoming a master of medical drama for me. A practicing anesthesiologist, Cassella balances detailed medical speak without losing her audience, keeping the facts in layman's terms, always interesting and woven carefully into the narrative. It is the skill of the author that makes Gemini outstanding. Don't miss it!
I could see her lying there, this Jane Doe , the heart of the book Gemini. I cared immediately for Jane, wondering how she became the victim of a hit and run, left injured at the side of the road. I feared growing attached to Jane, just like ICU Dr. Charlotte Reese of Beacon Hospital, Seattle, who orders this patient to be placed in a medically induced coma to allow her to heal, hoping against the odds for a brain activity and favorable odds. Of course, I wondered "who is Jane?". The answer comes in a surprising love story, narrated in the alternating voices of Charlotte and Raney.
This is the second book I've read by Carol Cassella. She is becoming a master of medical drama for me. A practicing anesthesiologist, Cassella balances detailed medical speak without losing her audience, keeping the facts in layman's terms, always interesting and woven carefully into the narrative. It is the skill of the author that makes Gemini outstanding. Don't miss it!
December 21, 2014
I found this book to be moving, and the writing was beautiful. I would have liked to include many of the passages here if it weren't for the fact that my copy was an advanced readers edition -- no quoting allowed. So all I can offer are my thoughts, and I thought it was pretty wonderful. It explores first love, loneliness, trust, medical ethics and the science of genetics, in chapters alternating between two women. Raney is the one with the first love experiences and later hardships with her love life and life in general, while Charlotte, a doctor, has a comatose hit and run "Jane Doe" patient whom no one seems to be missing. Charlotte's team could be responsible for deciding Jane's end of life, should it come to that, if no one comes forward.
How the storylines would tie together, the mystery of who is this Jane Doe and how did she end up in in Charlotte's hospital, along with some fascinating medical phenomena, kept me turning the pages to the very end.
How the storylines would tie together, the mystery of who is this Jane Doe and how did she end up in in Charlotte's hospital, along with some fascinating medical phenomena, kept me turning the pages to the very end.
January 14, 2014
Intensive care doctor Charlotte Reese receives an unidentified and comatose patient in the Seattle area hospital where she works. The woman was a victim of a hit and run, and is referred to as Jane Doe for now, as the search for her family and the facts that caused this tragedy remain as mysterious as her identity.
Charlotte is haunted by Jane Doe’s lack of identity, and as her condition worsens, she endeavors to stabilize and keep her alive until a family member can be found to make the tough decisions. It becomes apparent that Charlotte, although surrounded by loving family, is lonely for an open, intimate relationship. Her boyfriend, Eric, a science journalist, keeps her at bay due to his own traumas and buried past.
Alternating the story of Charlotte and Eric is another narrative that starts with two adolescents, Bo and Rainey, and the deep bond that grows between them over their spotty years in each other’s company. Bo is a lanky, well-to-do city boy, whereas Rainey is a tomboy from out in the sticks, and an aspiring painter. Even at this young, tender age, they learn some hard lessons about the prickliness of life’s vicissitudes. Events and obstacles occur that thwart their desires and put them on a star-crossed path.
The title of the book is increasingly symbolic and revealing as the story progresses. In mythology, Gemini refers to the twin brothers Castor and Pollux. Pollux asked Zeus to let him share his own immortality with Castor when Castor was killed, to keep them together. They were transformed into the constellation Gemini. How this relates to the book is eventually transformative to the characters and the readers as well. Also, it informs a remark that Charlotte’s colleague turns to about doctors playing God. (And note that the author, also a doctor, has two sets of twins, one set fraternal and the other identical.)
“And we are all Gods within our realms…Especially doctors…Anyway, it worked in the myth. Except, of course, the twins could then live only in the stars.”
Pondering this quote, I was also contemplating the spiritual and philosophical questions that this novel provokes when a doctor is faced with a comatose patient with brain damage and failing systems. How far should one go to save a life? Charlotte says, “My job is to keep people alive as long as possible. Whatever they find on the other side will still be there waiting.”
Since we are not able to split ourselves to save a life, we depend on external sources (medicine) and the natural homeostatic mechanisms of the human body in order to heal. Life and death, when hanging in a precarious balance, carries the burden of legal and moral judgment. There are no “right” answers, but there must eventually be a resolve.
Cassella is a warm, sensitive writer, and her narrative is rich with sensuous, lyrical prose. She lives near the area where the story takes place, and captures the region with an elegiac beauty that wraps the reader in an immanent sense of place. I half expected this to be a genre medical thriller, but it is more of a reflective family drama about love, family, friendship, and loss. The author has nurtured her characters so that they inhabit the reader’s heart, and the outcome holds some unexpected surprises. It’s a fine story and morality tale of human triumph and redemption amidst hardship and adversity. It examines the dualities of the human condition and reaches into the corners of our hearts. If you like to empathize while you read, I recommend this contemporary tale with timeless themes.
Charlotte is haunted by Jane Doe’s lack of identity, and as her condition worsens, she endeavors to stabilize and keep her alive until a family member can be found to make the tough decisions. It becomes apparent that Charlotte, although surrounded by loving family, is lonely for an open, intimate relationship. Her boyfriend, Eric, a science journalist, keeps her at bay due to his own traumas and buried past.
Alternating the story of Charlotte and Eric is another narrative that starts with two adolescents, Bo and Rainey, and the deep bond that grows between them over their spotty years in each other’s company. Bo is a lanky, well-to-do city boy, whereas Rainey is a tomboy from out in the sticks, and an aspiring painter. Even at this young, tender age, they learn some hard lessons about the prickliness of life’s vicissitudes. Events and obstacles occur that thwart their desires and put them on a star-crossed path.
The title of the book is increasingly symbolic and revealing as the story progresses. In mythology, Gemini refers to the twin brothers Castor and Pollux. Pollux asked Zeus to let him share his own immortality with Castor when Castor was killed, to keep them together. They were transformed into the constellation Gemini. How this relates to the book is eventually transformative to the characters and the readers as well. Also, it informs a remark that Charlotte’s colleague turns to about doctors playing God. (And note that the author, also a doctor, has two sets of twins, one set fraternal and the other identical.)
“And we are all Gods within our realms…Especially doctors…Anyway, it worked in the myth. Except, of course, the twins could then live only in the stars.”
Pondering this quote, I was also contemplating the spiritual and philosophical questions that this novel provokes when a doctor is faced with a comatose patient with brain damage and failing systems. How far should one go to save a life? Charlotte says, “My job is to keep people alive as long as possible. Whatever they find on the other side will still be there waiting.”
Since we are not able to split ourselves to save a life, we depend on external sources (medicine) and the natural homeostatic mechanisms of the human body in order to heal. Life and death, when hanging in a precarious balance, carries the burden of legal and moral judgment. There are no “right” answers, but there must eventually be a resolve.
Cassella is a warm, sensitive writer, and her narrative is rich with sensuous, lyrical prose. She lives near the area where the story takes place, and captures the region with an elegiac beauty that wraps the reader in an immanent sense of place. I half expected this to be a genre medical thriller, but it is more of a reflective family drama about love, family, friendship, and loss. The author has nurtured her characters so that they inhabit the reader’s heart, and the outcome holds some unexpected surprises. It’s a fine story and morality tale of human triumph and redemption amidst hardship and adversity. It examines the dualities of the human condition and reaches into the corners of our hearts. If you like to empathize while you read, I recommend this contemporary tale with timeless themes.
June 23, 2018
This was an amazing story. I enjoyed it a lot and I learned a lot from reading it. The author was also very qualified to write this and I'm sure did a lot of research. I will definitelyl want to read more by this author. While reading the whole book I could not figure out where the title came from. After I finished it, I finally figured it out. Gemini is about twins and this book is about genetics and twins in a very different way. This was such a good story. Even though there was a lot of medical information here, it is also a story about love and faith. Definitely recommend.
April 14, 2014
2.5 stars. I wanted to like this but I really struggled - not for a lack of meaty and interesting medical and plot twists and turns, but just because I felt a bit bored with it. I wasn't invested in any of the characters, although I enjoyed the back story of Raney the most. The descriptions of the landscape and poverty were well written but that wasn't enough to keep me interested and had it not been for a long haul flight, I probably would have given up. I'm glad I didn't as I enjoyed the ending, but not enough to win me over.
August 10, 2014
Intriguing book. There are two main story arcs. The first involves Charlotte, a compassionate intensive care physician, and her boyfriend, Eric, a writer. The two are in a relationship that seems to be at a stand-still. One day, a comatose woman is medevac’ed in to Charlotte’s hospital. She is a Jane Doe, a victim of a hit-and-run. Jane is intrigued by the woman and wonders why no one has claimed her as their own.
The other story arc is about Raney and Bo. Raney is a young teenager living in poverty in rural Seattle with her grandfather. Bo is the son of affluent parents who are divorcing. He is sent to Quentin, Seattle to live with his aunt and uncle for the summer. He meets Raney in Quentin and a prickly but lasting friendship develops. As they grow older and move in and out of each other’s lives, they head down very different paths, buffeted by everything life can throw at them – but they remain connected by a common bond, although neither of them knows it.
There is lots of Pacific northwest color and lovely writing in this book. The author is a doctor herself and lives on Bainbridge Island in Washington, so the medical and regional details are authentic and believable. About a quarter of the way in, you will begin to see – sort of – where this is going although the true reveal comes late in the book. I really liked it. A minor quibble I have is something I can’t reveal without creating a spoiler so let’s just say “well done.” I had a hard time putting this book down.
The other story arc is about Raney and Bo. Raney is a young teenager living in poverty in rural Seattle with her grandfather. Bo is the son of affluent parents who are divorcing. He is sent to Quentin, Seattle to live with his aunt and uncle for the summer. He meets Raney in Quentin and a prickly but lasting friendship develops. As they grow older and move in and out of each other’s lives, they head down very different paths, buffeted by everything life can throw at them – but they remain connected by a common bond, although neither of them knows it.
There is lots of Pacific northwest color and lovely writing in this book. The author is a doctor herself and lives on Bainbridge Island in Washington, so the medical and regional details are authentic and believable. About a quarter of the way in, you will begin to see – sort of – where this is going although the true reveal comes late in the book. I really liked it. A minor quibble I have is something I can’t reveal without creating a spoiler so let’s just say “well done.” I had a hard time putting this book down.
January 18, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars - Medical drama, mystery and love story...
Dr. Charlotte Reese, an intensivist, is on duty at Beacon Hospital near Puget Sound when an unidentified woman is admitted to the ICU -- the victim of a vehicular hit and run. Severely injured and unresponsive, the Jane Doe begins to consume Charlotte's thoughts and life. Who is this woman and why has no one reported her missing? Since there is no family to give medical directive, the hospital executives and legal team step in to assume responsibility. Meanwhile, in her personal life, Charlotte, is conflicted over her relationship with Eric as it seems to be going nowhere.
Flashback to a small town near Olympic National Park where Raney, 13 years old and living with her grandfather, meets Bo, a twelve year old boy who is visiting for the summer. The shift in perspective and time was disconcerting until this second story's connection became obvious.
Throughout the rest of the narrative, this changing point of view provided the backstory that ultimately connects to the present day and current situation with all the characters. The conclusion is predictable and mostly satisfying though I found it ultimately quite heartbreaking.
I have read Cassella's two previous books and was so excited to see a new one. The writing is beautiful and a smooth blend of scientific fact, philosophy, religious speculation, discussion of ethical issues, and an exploration of love in its many forms. The female characters are multidimensional and believable. I would have preferred more medical focus and a more linear tale by a single narrator, but the construction of the story does work when it converges. The author provides many subjects for discussion and debate so it would be a great choice for a book club.
This book was an ARC and reviewed for Amazon Vine.
Dr. Charlotte Reese, an intensivist, is on duty at Beacon Hospital near Puget Sound when an unidentified woman is admitted to the ICU -- the victim of a vehicular hit and run. Severely injured and unresponsive, the Jane Doe begins to consume Charlotte's thoughts and life. Who is this woman and why has no one reported her missing? Since there is no family to give medical directive, the hospital executives and legal team step in to assume responsibility. Meanwhile, in her personal life, Charlotte, is conflicted over her relationship with Eric as it seems to be going nowhere.
Flashback to a small town near Olympic National Park where Raney, 13 years old and living with her grandfather, meets Bo, a twelve year old boy who is visiting for the summer. The shift in perspective and time was disconcerting until this second story's connection became obvious.
Throughout the rest of the narrative, this changing point of view provided the backstory that ultimately connects to the present day and current situation with all the characters. The conclusion is predictable and mostly satisfying though I found it ultimately quite heartbreaking.
I have read Cassella's two previous books and was so excited to see a new one. The writing is beautiful and a smooth blend of scientific fact, philosophy, religious speculation, discussion of ethical issues, and an exploration of love in its many forms. The female characters are multidimensional and believable. I would have preferred more medical focus and a more linear tale by a single narrator, but the construction of the story does work when it converges. The author provides many subjects for discussion and debate so it would be a great choice for a book club.
This book was an ARC and reviewed for Amazon Vine.
August 10, 2017
I had a few issues with this book. First it took about 100 pages for me to get into the story. Secondly, the characters, I didn't like most of them, Raney especially. The way she ditched Bo in a cave with the intention of looking for seal pups. I wasn't surprised when Bo didn't keep in touch, but I was when it was revealed that he loved Raney. I didn't see how that made sense. He wouldn't initiate conversation, she had to search for him every time they stopped talking. Later in the book he doesn't seem too upset that someone he loved was dying.
Charlotte was annoying because she implied numerous times that she felt as though her relationship with Eric was balancing precariously on the edge of disaster yet she stayed with him and even suggested they raise a child together.
The author had great writing moments, but there were times when she lost me. Her writing didn't clearly convey what she meant. Here is an example: "A group of teenagers jangled through the door- Amelia and Caroline Wells prancing their new figures like they alone knew what was what." What does that mean? What new figures? What does that have to do with knowing what was what? And what was "what was what?'" Another example: "It grew dark outside. They counted down from ten and plugged in the light cord." Maybe I missed something. Why are they counting from ten?
Other issues with the author's writing were the implication that Cleet committed suicide. Did he or didn't he? The author just leaves that unfinished. Also, when Raney meets David and introduces herself as Renee he calls her Raney. How does he know her? Why is that mentioned if it's not important? Just a few things that tend to aggravate me as a reader.
Charlotte was annoying because she implied numerous times that she felt as though her relationship with Eric was balancing precariously on the edge of disaster yet she stayed with him and even suggested they raise a child together.
The author had great writing moments, but there were times when she lost me. Her writing didn't clearly convey what she meant. Here is an example: "A group of teenagers jangled through the door- Amelia and Caroline Wells prancing their new figures like they alone knew what was what." What does that mean? What new figures? What does that have to do with knowing what was what? And what was "what was what?'" Another example: "It grew dark outside. They counted down from ten and plugged in the light cord." Maybe I missed something. Why are they counting from ten?
Other issues with the author's writing were the implication that Cleet committed suicide. Did he or didn't he? The author just leaves that unfinished. Also, when Raney meets David and introduces herself as Renee he calls her Raney. How does he know her? Why is that mentioned if it's not important? Just a few things that tend to aggravate me as a reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2014
One evening, a Jane Doe, victim of a hit and run, is transferred to Seattle Beacon Hospital. Charlotte Reese, ICU doctor, is to become her doctor, but once this Jane Doe is in Charlotte’s charge, the questions that Charlotte needs answered remain a mystery. Charlotte Reese must make decisions for her Jane Doe with no one else in this Jane Doe’s life stepping forward for her. The hospital becomes increasingly unwilling to continue any extraordinary means for a comatose patient with no identity and no family stepping forward. The police have no leads. Time ticks on while everyone watches this Jane Doe battle each step.
At the same time Charlotte’s biological clock ticks on and she debates this with boyfriend Eric, who is never going to be ready to share his less than perfect DNA with an offspring of his own.
How these two storylines come together is another matter. Where I found Carol Cassella’s storyline about Charlotte Reese, ICU doctor and her charge, Jane Doe to be interesting, believable and well written, the second storyline felt very disjointed and haphazard to me. In the end, of course, it comes together, but I lost the sense of her compassion and drive long before the ending.
"the goal is still the winning of love rather than the maintenance, which takes a more enduring patience."
At the same time Charlotte’s biological clock ticks on and she debates this with boyfriend Eric, who is never going to be ready to share his less than perfect DNA with an offspring of his own.
How these two storylines come together is another matter. Where I found Carol Cassella’s storyline about Charlotte Reese, ICU doctor and her charge, Jane Doe to be interesting, believable and well written, the second storyline felt very disjointed and haphazard to me. In the end, of course, it comes together, but I lost the sense of her compassion and drive long before the ending.
"the goal is still the winning of love rather than the maintenance, which takes a more enduring patience."
February 11, 2014
“Gemini” by Carol Cassella, published by Simon and Schuster.
Category – Fiction/Literature Publication Date – March 04, 2014
“Gemini” is a story that combines the medical field, family life, life changing decisions, and the full spectrum of human emotions.
A woman is found seriously injured by the side of the road with no indication of who she is or where she lives. She is non-responsive and close to death.
Her case is taken up by Dr. Charlotte Reese who becomes personally and emotionally involved in her patient. There are some early questions as to how much effort should be spent on keeping her alive.
Charlotte is dating Eric Bryson who has more secrets in his life than Carter has Little Liver Pills. Although Charlotte and Eric have a good relationship there is something missing in Eric’s commitment to the relationship. This commitment may have its roots in Eric’s early life and his own medical history.
One can only image the shock when Charlotte discovers that Eric not only knows who Charlotte’s patient is but that he also has a relationship with her. Everything becomes more complicated when it is discovered that the patient has a young son and there is some question as to who is biological father is.
A story that will satisfy those readers who are looking for a novel that takes on the tough issues involving family and medical decisions. The book is solid in both its medical content and family issues. This is due to Carol Cassella being a practicing anesthesiologist and the mother of two sets of twins. She knows of what she writes.
Category – Fiction/Literature Publication Date – March 04, 2014
“Gemini” is a story that combines the medical field, family life, life changing decisions, and the full spectrum of human emotions.
A woman is found seriously injured by the side of the road with no indication of who she is or where she lives. She is non-responsive and close to death.
Her case is taken up by Dr. Charlotte Reese who becomes personally and emotionally involved in her patient. There are some early questions as to how much effort should be spent on keeping her alive.
Charlotte is dating Eric Bryson who has more secrets in his life than Carter has Little Liver Pills. Although Charlotte and Eric have a good relationship there is something missing in Eric’s commitment to the relationship. This commitment may have its roots in Eric’s early life and his own medical history.
One can only image the shock when Charlotte discovers that Eric not only knows who Charlotte’s patient is but that he also has a relationship with her. Everything becomes more complicated when it is discovered that the patient has a young son and there is some question as to who is biological father is.
A story that will satisfy those readers who are looking for a novel that takes on the tough issues involving family and medical decisions. The book is solid in both its medical content and family issues. This is due to Carol Cassella being a practicing anesthesiologist and the mother of two sets of twins. She knows of what she writes.
June 21, 2014
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER!!!! I liked the book in the beginning. I thought the story was developing nicely with the way the doctor becomes attached to the patient and we have a patient that we are learning about her past. The flashbacks into the patient's past are well written and provide great insight into the woman's life. Unfortunately I can not rate this higher because of how the last half of the book was. It is not because of the ending exactly, but I can not understand how anyone who has read this book can actually like how the author did this! So by a little past the middle, the author reveals that the patient actually has a serious past with the doctor's boyfriend. They used to be best friends and for a day lovers. They were in love. Then that guy never visits her in the hospital at all. Doesn't seem to even really do anything once he goes to the hospital just to identify her. You see no emotion about how he might feel about his ex dying. He never seems anything. Its distressing. Then it turns out that he might have a son, the doctor cares more than he does. I just got really turned off by all that.
May 25, 2014
This was a decent book. The characters were interesting and not just run of the mill, and I found the plot to be well paced and intriguing. I liked reading from an ICU doctor's perspective, as it is certainly not something you get every day. Much of the conclusion felt realistic to me, things work out, but not in a magical, fairytale everything ends well type of a way, which is always refreshing.
I enjoyed reading this novel, but it was a little predictable at times, and the final revelation at the end was a bit too much for me; just a little too convenient of an explanation, although an interesting concept. Additionally, it was hard to relate the characters in the past storyline with the characters in the present day story line and I think that took away from some of the power the story could have had.
Overall, a solid, well-written book. 3.5 stars.
I enjoyed reading this novel, but it was a little predictable at times, and the final revelation at the end was a bit too much for me; just a little too convenient of an explanation, although an interesting concept. Additionally, it was hard to relate the characters in the past storyline with the characters in the present day story line and I think that took away from some of the power the story could have had.
Overall, a solid, well-written book. 3.5 stars.
April 28, 2014
GEMINI is the second novel I have read by Carol Cassella. Like OXYGEN, I enjoyed GEMINI and recommend it to anyone interested in a good story about medicine and the Pacific Northwest.
Jane Doe, an unidentified victim of a hit and run accident arrives at the emergency room of a Seattle-area hospital in a comatose state. Dr. Charlotte Reese is the attending physician and immediately forms a strong bond with Jane going above and beyond with her care.
As the story progresses, amidst the many twists and turns, we learn that the victim's son has a critical illness and decisions have to be made.
Genetics is a prominent component in this story and I admired the author's conclusion explaining why the title GEMINI (the twins) is significant.
An interesting and thought-provoking read.
Jane Doe, an unidentified victim of a hit and run accident arrives at the emergency room of a Seattle-area hospital in a comatose state. Dr. Charlotte Reese is the attending physician and immediately forms a strong bond with Jane going above and beyond with her care.
As the story progresses, amidst the many twists and turns, we learn that the victim's son has a critical illness and decisions have to be made.
Genetics is a prominent component in this story and I admired the author's conclusion explaining why the title GEMINI (the twins) is significant.
An interesting and thought-provoking read.
April 6, 2014
This book is multilayered…yes, it is a love story, and a commentary on ethics, but on a deeper level is explores Tetragametic Chimerism.
Tetragametic Chimerism is a form of congenital chimerism. This condition occurs through the fertilization of two separate ova by two sperm, followed by the fusion of the two at the blastocyst or zygote stages. This results in the development of an organism with intermingled cell lines. Put another way, the chimera is formed from the merging of two nonidentical twins (although a similar merging presumably occurs with identical twins, but as their DNA is almost identical, the presence would not be immediately detectable in a very early (zygote or blastocyst) phase). As such, they can be male, female, or hermaphroditic.
As the organism develops, it can come to possess organs that have different sets of chromosomes. For example, the chimera may have a liver composed of cells with one set of chromosomes and have a kidney composed of cells with a second set of chromosomes. This has occurred in humans, and at one time was thought to be extremely rare, though more recent evidence suggests that it is not as rare as previously believed.
Most chimeras will go through life without realizing they are chimeras. The difference in phenotypes may be subtle (e.g., having a hitchhiker's thumb and a straight thumb, eyes of slightly different colors, differential hair growth on opposite sides of the body, etc.) or completely undetectable (Wikipedia).
The author, Carol Cassella is a medical doctor and her novels speak from experience. The interesting science discussion saved this novel for me...I was having a tough time getting through the narrative and the character’s lives. The last 50 pages were worth it and tied everything together.
Tetragametic Chimerism is a form of congenital chimerism. This condition occurs through the fertilization of two separate ova by two sperm, followed by the fusion of the two at the blastocyst or zygote stages. This results in the development of an organism with intermingled cell lines. Put another way, the chimera is formed from the merging of two nonidentical twins (although a similar merging presumably occurs with identical twins, but as their DNA is almost identical, the presence would not be immediately detectable in a very early (zygote or blastocyst) phase). As such, they can be male, female, or hermaphroditic.
As the organism develops, it can come to possess organs that have different sets of chromosomes. For example, the chimera may have a liver composed of cells with one set of chromosomes and have a kidney composed of cells with a second set of chromosomes. This has occurred in humans, and at one time was thought to be extremely rare, though more recent evidence suggests that it is not as rare as previously believed.
Most chimeras will go through life without realizing they are chimeras. The difference in phenotypes may be subtle (e.g., having a hitchhiker's thumb and a straight thumb, eyes of slightly different colors, differential hair growth on opposite sides of the body, etc.) or completely undetectable (Wikipedia).
The author, Carol Cassella is a medical doctor and her novels speak from experience. The interesting science discussion saved this novel for me...I was having a tough time getting through the narrative and the character’s lives. The last 50 pages were worth it and tied everything together.
August 20, 2015
I really liked the premise of Gemini by Carol Cassella. Jane Doe arrives into the ICU of a hospital, a hit and run victim. Dr. Charlotte Reese is in charge of saving this woman while the police investigate the accident. Who is this patient; why doesn't a family member come forward; who is really in charge of Jane's fate? These are all great questions and are a great basis for a great book.
However, the book fell short for me. The first half, the backstory of Raney and Eric, was outstanding. I was cheering for all characters. But the second half of the book fell flat. Eric became flat and showed no emotion about anybody for the rest of the book. I feel in love with Jake and just wanted to wrap him up and bring him home where he could be loved and encouraged. The ending? Well, if you decide to read this book, you decide for yourself.
Go Cards! L1C4!!
However, the book fell short for me. The first half, the backstory of Raney and Eric, was outstanding. I was cheering for all characters. But the second half of the book fell flat. Eric became flat and showed no emotion about anybody for the rest of the book. I feel in love with Jake and just wanted to wrap him up and bring him home where he could be loved and encouraged. The ending? Well, if you decide to read this book, you decide for yourself.
Go Cards! L1C4!!
December 2, 2014
I often judge a book by how much it stays with me after I finish the last page. Do the characters haunt me for days afterward? Do I keep turning the themes over and over in my head, pondering how the whole thing fit together? For the very best books, the answer to those questions is YES, and that was the case with Gemini. I love Carol Cassella's writing always, but this novel was so artfully put together - so full of themes worth thinking about - that it's stayed with me even though I finished the book days ago.
As always with Carol's writing, the medical details (and medical mysteries) are absolutely fascinating. The characters feel real and flawed and beautiful. This is a thoughtful book, one that raises questions about how we handle death, how and why we make decisions, and the tough realities of what it's like to live in poverty.
This book sucked me in from the first page, and now I'm sad that it's over.
As always with Carol's writing, the medical details (and medical mysteries) are absolutely fascinating. The characters feel real and flawed and beautiful. This is a thoughtful book, one that raises questions about how we handle death, how and why we make decisions, and the tough realities of what it's like to live in poverty.
This book sucked me in from the first page, and now I'm sad that it's over.
May 5, 2016
You will like this book if genetics or medical dramas interest you even a sliver. But I am more sure that you will like this books if you like reading about the struggles of real people with real problems. In some ways this novel is a wake-up call, a deviation from romance and fantasy usually found in fiction (even contemporary fiction). It is a good hard look at life, at us -- the humans. It is an exploration of how we become people, and what external forces bind us to others, the forces that keep our feet tethered to the earth. Moreover, it asks the questions: What is life? And what right do we have to live it? Gemini is a thoughtful and engaging experience, a story that will hook onto your heart.
For more of my thoughts, check out a longer review on my blog: http://the-word-muse.blogspot.com/201...
For more of my thoughts, check out a longer review on my blog: http://the-word-muse.blogspot.com/201...
November 15, 2015
An excellent medical mystery. I liked this one in so many ways. Lovable yet imperfect characters yet plot, and yes, even setting driven. Learned about the heartbreak of making difficult decisions. The only flaw was that rather abrupt ending but it won't be difficult for the reader to fill in the blanks. Two middle age women in love with the same man weave a complicated story over decades.
April 14, 2017
Hmmmmmm. I think the premise of the story was a little overwritten. I mean, how many coincidences can you have? Also...it took forever to get to the end and didn't really resolve much. Although, I kind of appreciate that because if it ended any other way it would be horribly cheesy. I gave it 3 stars because something kept me reading Eric, Charlotte, and Raney's story...
November 4, 2018
An ICU nurse and her long-time boyfriend become embroiled in the life of a comatose patient who was brought into ICU with no ID. I thought the past and present were seamlessly mixed and brought the reader into an unbeliveable story of coincidences. Nicely done.
January 13, 2014
When a book is entitled GEMINI, you can expect a certain exploration of duality and indeed, this novel does not disappoint.
The storyline focuses on a badly injured and unconscious woman – a hit-and-run victim dubbed Jane Doe – who ends up in the intensive care unit. Her physician, Dr. Charlotte Rowe, becomes emotionally involved as she races to keep her alive and locate family members…and gradually, finds herself involved in ways she never suspected. In flashbacks, we learn about the back stories of these two women…and also about Eric, Charlotte’s science journalist partner who has his own stakes in the evolving story.
The story itself is scintillating and beautifully written but it is the themes that elevate GEMINI far above the traditional medical mystery. Carol Cassella is interested in the duality: do we defer to scientific advances or to moral wisdom? What is the fine line between life and death and when does life become not worth living? Where do truth and emotional intersect…and divide? Or to put another way, when do we function as humans with limited knowledge and when do we play God?
As one of Charlotte’s colleagues reminds her, “You’ve forgotten your school lessons. Castor and Pollux, the twins. One the child of Zeus and one a mortal. When the mortal Castor is killed, Pollux splits his immortality to save him.”
Although the medical mystery provides the bare bones, GEMINI is, at its core, a love story. “There are all types of love: the kind that hits you like a truck hauling down a highway, the kind that needs as much nurturing as a winter campfire, and the range between.” Through her doctoring of Jane Doe, Charlotte begins to explore the manifestations of love and understand that “time will go forward with or without you, implacable and unceasing, glacially grinding down anything that won’t move it its pace.”
As the stunning answers begin to unfold for Jane Doe –and for Charlotte – it becomes evident that GEMINI is also a morality tale, filled with emotional insights and touching on the entire cycle of life and its interconnections. 4.5 stars.
The storyline focuses on a badly injured and unconscious woman – a hit-and-run victim dubbed Jane Doe – who ends up in the intensive care unit. Her physician, Dr. Charlotte Rowe, becomes emotionally involved as she races to keep her alive and locate family members…and gradually, finds herself involved in ways she never suspected. In flashbacks, we learn about the back stories of these two women…and also about Eric, Charlotte’s science journalist partner who has his own stakes in the evolving story.
The story itself is scintillating and beautifully written but it is the themes that elevate GEMINI far above the traditional medical mystery. Carol Cassella is interested in the duality: do we defer to scientific advances or to moral wisdom? What is the fine line between life and death and when does life become not worth living? Where do truth and emotional intersect…and divide? Or to put another way, when do we function as humans with limited knowledge and when do we play God?
As one of Charlotte’s colleagues reminds her, “You’ve forgotten your school lessons. Castor and Pollux, the twins. One the child of Zeus and one a mortal. When the mortal Castor is killed, Pollux splits his immortality to save him.”
Although the medical mystery provides the bare bones, GEMINI is, at its core, a love story. “There are all types of love: the kind that hits you like a truck hauling down a highway, the kind that needs as much nurturing as a winter campfire, and the range between.” Through her doctoring of Jane Doe, Charlotte begins to explore the manifestations of love and understand that “time will go forward with or without you, implacable and unceasing, glacially grinding down anything that won’t move it its pace.”
As the stunning answers begin to unfold for Jane Doe –and for Charlotte – it becomes evident that GEMINI is also a morality tale, filled with emotional insights and touching on the entire cycle of life and its interconnections. 4.5 stars.
December 20, 2013
In Seattle, Dr. Charlotte Reese has taken on the care of an unidentified woman, a Jane Doe, injured in an apparent hit and run accident. Or perhaps not an accident. For some reason, unknown even to herself, Charlotte becomes increasingly invested in what will happen to Jane. Especially as more time passes, with nobody coming forward to claim her. As her own personal life with long time partner, Eric, seems stalled, with a mysterious affliction seemingly standing between them and a future, Charlotte is willingly distracted by this new challenge.
Meanwhile, in an alternate storyline, almost as if it is a parallel universe, we follow the story of Raney and Bo, children from another time and from a place outside Seattle on a peninsula. A place called Quentin. They are unlikely friends, joined serendipitously by circumstances. It is clear that this part of the story takes place in the past, and slowly the story progresses, leading us to the present. We follow Raney through her relationship with Bo, with her husband Cleet, and finally with her husband David, who seems like a very poor choice for her. And then there is Raney's son Jake...and an affliction that seems to be a significant plot point.
Who is Jane Doe? What mysterious circumstances have led her to a deserted road where such a disaster could befall her? What is the connection between each of these characters, other than the growing attachment Charlotte has for Jane Doe?
"Gemini: A Novel" is a mystery, a family story, and a love story, and one that delves deep into the genetic secrets that connect family members. A real page turner, I could not wait to find out where each of the characters would go, and what would be their fate. I realized some of the connections early on, but there were still plenty of surprises before the tale is done. Five stars.
Meanwhile, in an alternate storyline, almost as if it is a parallel universe, we follow the story of Raney and Bo, children from another time and from a place outside Seattle on a peninsula. A place called Quentin. They are unlikely friends, joined serendipitously by circumstances. It is clear that this part of the story takes place in the past, and slowly the story progresses, leading us to the present. We follow Raney through her relationship with Bo, with her husband Cleet, and finally with her husband David, who seems like a very poor choice for her. And then there is Raney's son Jake...and an affliction that seems to be a significant plot point.
Who is Jane Doe? What mysterious circumstances have led her to a deserted road where such a disaster could befall her? What is the connection between each of these characters, other than the growing attachment Charlotte has for Jane Doe?
"Gemini: A Novel" is a mystery, a family story, and a love story, and one that delves deep into the genetic secrets that connect family members. A real page turner, I could not wait to find out where each of the characters would go, and what would be their fate. I realized some of the connections early on, but there were still plenty of surprises before the tale is done. Five stars.
November 7, 2014
A woman who was injured in a hit and run accident is brought to the hospital where Dr. Charlotte Reese works. Although she wasn't severely injured, an accident occurred during surgery on her leg which has left her brain damaged and put her in a coma. Here we have the beginning of what looks like a good story about mortality and a doctor's responsibility for her patients.
But suddenly in chapter two we are thrown into the past and a love story about two 12 year olds. And so the story goes as we alternate chapters between the present and the past. I have to tell you right now I don't particularly care for stories that do this. (By the way, has this become some kind of popular writing style lately? I am seeing this in more and more books.) Unless there is a real reason such as we are finding out what happened in the past just as the main character in the present discovers it then it is just an attempt by the author to keep you interested. In truth there is no reason to tell the story this way.
Also, how many coincidences can one story hold? OK, one or two can be accepted but three? Four? Five? And a ridiculous twist that makes no sense except to get the author out of the hole she dug for herself? I don't think I am spoiling the plot if I tell you that every coincidence is predictable especially once you see where the author is going and how she writes. And finally there really isn't much of an ending.
According to goodreads, two stars means it's OK and one star means I didn't like it so probably one and a half stars would be right. There were parts of the story that were interesting but other parts were dull and I found myself skimming through them. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend the book.
But suddenly in chapter two we are thrown into the past and a love story about two 12 year olds. And so the story goes as we alternate chapters between the present and the past. I have to tell you right now I don't particularly care for stories that do this. (By the way, has this become some kind of popular writing style lately? I am seeing this in more and more books.) Unless there is a real reason such as we are finding out what happened in the past just as the main character in the present discovers it then it is just an attempt by the author to keep you interested. In truth there is no reason to tell the story this way.
Also, how many coincidences can one story hold? OK, one or two can be accepted but three? Four? Five? And a ridiculous twist that makes no sense except to get the author out of the hole she dug for herself? I don't think I am spoiling the plot if I tell you that every coincidence is predictable especially once you see where the author is going and how she writes. And finally there really isn't much of an ending.
According to goodreads, two stars means it's OK and one star means I didn't like it so probably one and a half stars would be right. There were parts of the story that were interesting but other parts were dull and I found myself skimming through them. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend the book.
November 29, 2014
I couldn't put it down. People say that all the time about books they really liked, but in this case it was almost true. Although I did put it down on occasion, I never needed a bookmark.
Gemini is the third novel by Carol Cassella and it's the sort of novel one should read slowly. (Sorry, I just didn't have the self-discipline to saunter through it rather than dash.) Alternate chapters tell the stories of two women. First is Charlotte Reese, an ICU doctor who is struggling to save the life of a "Jane Doe" who was the victim of a hit and run accident in a rural area of Washington State. The second is Raney, a girl who grew up in a town on the Olympic Peninsula.
Slowly, as Dr Reese deals with Jane's various medical crises, the police, the hospital administration, and Charlotte's boyfriend, Eric Bryson, attempt to discover who she is and who might have injured her. And in the alternate chapters we watch Raney grow up and bond with Bo, a summer visitor to her small town.
This book isn't filled with suspense and gasps of shock, but there is one gasp on page 97 that caught me unawares. I should have seen it coming but I was so enjoying the slowly evolving friendship of the children and the quick thinking as Charlotte and her partner decide whether to treat Jane with dialysis or to take her off the machine that is breathing for her, or to do another test to determine if she was technically brain dead. The medical information that helps to explain what is happening to various characters is so interesting that it does not feel imposed on the story but rather seems to evolve from it.
Gemini is the third novel by Carol Cassella and it's the sort of novel one should read slowly. (Sorry, I just didn't have the self-discipline to saunter through it rather than dash.) Alternate chapters tell the stories of two women. First is Charlotte Reese, an ICU doctor who is struggling to save the life of a "Jane Doe" who was the victim of a hit and run accident in a rural area of Washington State. The second is Raney, a girl who grew up in a town on the Olympic Peninsula.
Slowly, as Dr Reese deals with Jane's various medical crises, the police, the hospital administration, and Charlotte's boyfriend, Eric Bryson, attempt to discover who she is and who might have injured her. And in the alternate chapters we watch Raney grow up and bond with Bo, a summer visitor to her small town.
This book isn't filled with suspense and gasps of shock, but there is one gasp on page 97 that caught me unawares. I should have seen it coming but I was so enjoying the slowly evolving friendship of the children and the quick thinking as Charlotte and her partner decide whether to treat Jane with dialysis or to take her off the machine that is breathing for her, or to do another test to determine if she was technically brain dead. The medical information that helps to explain what is happening to various characters is so interesting that it does not feel imposed on the story but rather seems to evolve from it.
March 9, 2014
This is the story of Charlotte, Eric, Raney and Bo. We meet Dr. Charlotte Reese as she accepts responsibility of a Jane Doe who was the victim of a possible hit-and-run. The patient’s injuries are serious and life threatening. Charlotte has been in a relationship with Eric for several years. For some reason she can’t figure out, they seem stuck in one place and can’t seem to move their relationship forward.
When we first meet Raney and Bo, they are very young teenagers, both somewhat misfits, and they form a very close bond. The basis of Gemini is Charlotte trying to find out what happened to her Jane Doe. We follow then Raney’s life from early teen through early middle age. At first I kept wondering - how will these characters connect? But oh, how they do.
This book is ultimately a love story, but the trip we take to get to the end is filled with heartache and sadness. The author moves the story quietly along as Charlotte works to be a voice for her patient until hopefully she can be identified and family can be found.
It did not take long for me to get caught up in this mesmerizing story. The author’s writing is descriptive and magical. She really digs deep into the psyche of her characters and I couldn’t help but become attached to both Charlotte and Raney. Ms. Cassella is a MD, and she writes the medical pieces of this story in clear, understandable laymen’s terms. Honestly, I thought this story was beautiful.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read yhis in exchange for an unbiased review.
When we first meet Raney and Bo, they are very young teenagers, both somewhat misfits, and they form a very close bond. The basis of Gemini is Charlotte trying to find out what happened to her Jane Doe. We follow then Raney’s life from early teen through early middle age. At first I kept wondering - how will these characters connect? But oh, how they do.
This book is ultimately a love story, but the trip we take to get to the end is filled with heartache and sadness. The author moves the story quietly along as Charlotte works to be a voice for her patient until hopefully she can be identified and family can be found.
It did not take long for me to get caught up in this mesmerizing story. The author’s writing is descriptive and magical. She really digs deep into the psyche of her characters and I couldn’t help but become attached to both Charlotte and Raney. Ms. Cassella is a MD, and she writes the medical pieces of this story in clear, understandable laymen’s terms. Honestly, I thought this story was beautiful.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read yhis in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 13, 2015
Who knew a medical mystery combined with a love story, genetics lesson, and the power of faith and determination could grab my attention and make me think about what I consider life and what point does one pull the plug?!?
This book instantly pulled me in despite being kind of medically "chick litty" and I never knew this kind of book existed until now.
Charlotte is a doctor and discovers herself getting deeply involved with a hit and run patient/Jane Doe. Raney and Bo are part of a parallel tale that arcs with Charlotte's tale. As the two stories unfold, we eventually discover the background history catches up with current affairs and that is when my 5 star rating becomes a 4.
Although captivating, this made me frustrated with a character and their lack of emotion, attachment and ability to step up to the plate of life. I like how the title of the book eventually makes sense and have to admit my love for astrology is what originally made me gravitate to this book. The "twin"...Geminis are sign of the twins...symbolism throughout the book was well played and I have never read anything quite like this. 4 stars in the "sky" for me.
This book instantly pulled me in despite being kind of medically "chick litty" and I never knew this kind of book existed until now.
Charlotte is a doctor and discovers herself getting deeply involved with a hit and run patient/Jane Doe. Raney and Bo are part of a parallel tale that arcs with Charlotte's tale. As the two stories unfold, we eventually discover the background history catches up with current affairs and that is when my 5 star rating becomes a 4.
Although captivating, this made me frustrated with a character and their lack of emotion, attachment and ability to step up to the plate of life. I like how the title of the book eventually makes sense and have to admit my love for astrology is what originally made me gravitate to this book. The "twin"...Geminis are sign of the twins...symbolism throughout the book was well played and I have never read anything quite like this. 4 stars in the "sky" for me.
November 21, 2014
Charlotte is a doctor who gets a Jane Doe one night while she is working the ER. All we know is that it is a woman in her thirties and she has been in some type of car-related accident. Jane's prognosis is not good.
The story then flashes back to the friendship that develops between two young kids Bo and Rainey. The two have, seemingly, nothing in common (the perfect beginning to true love), but grow close over the summers Bo spends working at his aunt and uncles store in Quentin.
What comes to be revealed is that Bo now goes by Eric. He is a writer and no longer speaks to Rainey. This is important to the plot.
I read this to the end, but found the characters thin. The relationships don't feel genuine enough to me. Everyone seems to harbor too many big secrets and that's not realistic. In the end, you have to really suspend your disbelief to buy into the story.
The story then flashes back to the friendship that develops between two young kids Bo and Rainey. The two have, seemingly, nothing in common (the perfect beginning to true love), but grow close over the summers Bo spends working at his aunt and uncles store in Quentin.
What comes to be revealed is that Bo now goes by Eric. He is a writer and no longer speaks to Rainey. This is important to the plot.
I read this to the end, but found the characters thin. The relationships don't feel genuine enough to me. Everyone seems to harbor too many big secrets and that's not realistic. In the end, you have to really suspend your disbelief to buy into the story.
May 8, 2014
For the most part, this book was rather slow, but I am glad I kept with it. The ending was really good. The way the two stories became one was done really well by the author. I also really liked the genetic information in this book as it made the medical talk really interesting. My biggest problem with the book is that I never felt connected to the characters or was ever really invested in their outcome. And to me, this was the type of book that was all about the characters and how the reader cared for them. I might try this author again. I just think I lean more towards a more fast-paced story.
September 22, 2014
2.75 I wasn't sure about this book; there were times reading it that I was fully engaged in the story and then other times when I found it hard to get through. I think it was because, at times, the pace of the book just sloooooooowed waaaaaaay down and felt like the author got way too bogged down with description. However, I thought the character development was pretty on point; you definitely felt like you were right there with Raney and Bo and the medical stuff was really interesting to read. All in all, not a bad book but I probably would only read her other books if I got them on one of those $1.99 Amazon deals...not worth full price.
November 5, 2014
This book was pretty good but it was depressing how the characters kept missing out on each other in their lives. I wanted Raney and Bo to have some kind of half way normal relationship. I'm still not sure how Raney got injured. I don't know who ran over her. The issues with Jake's paternity were way out there. I guess it is possible but it sounded like something out of Sci Fi.
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