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Chasing Rabbits

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Winner PenCraft Book Awards 2022 BEST FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR
Winner at the Literary Titan Book Award 2022
Winner at the FAPA 2022 President’s Book Awards
Winner at the American Fiction Awards
Finalist at the Maxy Awards
Distinguised Favorite at the Independent Press Award/NYC Big Book Award

“Let’s make the most of the time, because wasting time is the most expensive thing of all” — Vincent Van Gogh

With an important test quickly approaching, Rudy is sure he is more than up to the challenge. Nevertheless a forthcoming trial unrelated with his academic abilities will test his very soul.

As a driven fourth year medical student, Rudy Dell is all about numbers and school standing. Having previously scheduled a non-demanding clerkship to complete his studies; an unexpected turn of events finds him assigned to the Oncology unit of the University Pediatric Hospital. On unfamiliar territory and answering to a demanding attending physician, things are not as expected.

On a desperate struggle to find time to study Rudy is now surrounded by patients and situations very different to what he has faced before. Still confident in his abilities, Rudy believes he will tackle this new challenge as he always does, head on. Unbeknownst to him, he will face a most unexpected test, as the children of the oncology unit show him he might not be quite prepared for the upcoming weeks, and maybe not quite prepare to become a doctor.

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2020

268 people are currently reading
282 people want to read

About the author

Rodolfo Del Toro

5 books9 followers
After more than twenty years of being one; Rodo still insists he never intended to be a doctor. On the contrary, during his early teenage years, he dreamt of becoming a musician, screenwriter, or maybe a film director.

It was late in high school, while performing community service (a school requirement, not a punishment, some other community service was indeed punishment; it was a strict Catholic high school) that he was exposed to the medical field. Assigned to help a resident doctor perform his tasks at a local hospital, Rodo unexpectedly felt great satisfaction from helping others.

Making an uncharacteristically mature decision for a teenager, Rodo accepted the challenge, moving ahead after high school and spending the next twelve years between college, medical school, and residency.

Despite having a great professional life and a fantastic family, he felt an urge to do something different, to create. So, in 2015, after a particularly interesting 2014, he decided to sit down to write.

It would take four years to write and publish his first work, Departure Point, a niche piece. It’s a story he is quite proud of, despite the fact that he concedes that it is plagued with far too many mistakes.

Nevertheless, writing and publishing was a rewarding learning experience involving hard lessons learned, helping him realize how little he knew and still had to learn about writing and publishing. This knowledge, or rather lack thereof, helped him approach the writing of his second book, Chasing Rabbits. Not only did it give him newfound determination, it also allowed him to better navigate the road, or at least avoid the previous pitfalls.

Chasing Rabbits was published in March 2020, and despite the challenges 2020 brought forth, it has received great reviews. Today, Rodo continues to write and get the word out on his works when time permits it. Publishing a set of short stories unimaginatively titled Six Short Stories on late 2021, and finally published Surviving Jane, on March 2024.

When away from the word processor, he spends his professional time between his private practice and a part-time medical school teaching appointment. He cherishes the time he gets to spend with his wife and daughters, as well as the dog he emphatically asked them not to get! Funny enough the dog is sleeping on his lap as he writes this. Every so often, he steals time to pursue his writing, and what his wife believes are very unhealthy obsessions with electric guitars and old Land Rover Defenders!


You can follow him on Instagram #del_356


Disclaimer: If you do decide to follow him on Instagram be aware that his posts sometimes lack political correctness, may show lack of intelligence and give a clear glimpse at his other obsessions. His wife certainly thinks so. That been said, he does find his post funny and means no disrespect, you have been warned

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5 stars
636 (68%)
4 stars
196 (21%)
3 stars
67 (7%)
2 stars
23 (2%)
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10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
Profile Image for Deacon Tom (Feeling Better).
2,641 reviews251 followers
March 13, 2023
An Absolutely wonderful book

Chasing Rabbits will touch your emotions from tears to giggles.

It is the novel about two young medical students, on rotation in pediatric oncology

The challenge of the pediatric oncology unit makes fundamental changes in their lives. They make the change from students to caring doctors and loving men.

As a cancer patient, I internalized the story. It made me cry and hope I become as strong as the children in this book.

I highly recommend
57 reviews2 followers
May 20, 2020
A beautiful, compassionate, heartwarming book.

A very sad but inspiring story. A beautiful tribute to what medical professionals should be like. The lessons learned from the children should last forever. We could all learn to be better human beings using the examples of the children & staff. Thank you for an inspiring book.
46 reviews
September 10, 2020
I was not a fan of this book. Story line is definitely a heart tugger and tear jerker. but the dialog is stilted and sounds to me like a kid trying to talk as if they are an adult.
7 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2020
I found the child side of the story very touching and moving as most people did but the ending very odd .. don’t want to spoil it for anyone interested but fir me it didn’t add up .....
1,508 reviews2 followers
March 26, 2020
I would've liked this more if the conversations hadn't felt so stilted.....or in del Toro's characters' words, "...if the conversations had not..." Use contractions. It's how we all speak.

I lost my daughter to cancer and I understood the pain of parents, the loneliness of kids in the hospital with no one, and the emotional impact childhood cancer has on doctors and nurses. Overall, it was a good story. It just needed to relax and develop a bit more.
Profile Image for Ann Gillaspie.
177 reviews3 followers
August 5, 2020
A Touching Story

There are so many lessons to be learned from the giant wisdom of children. This moving story gives us many examples of that wisdom. Two fourth year medical students unexpectedly end up doing a rotation in a pediatric oncology unit. They were hoping for an easy rotation but what they got was much more enriching and life changing. I could not put this book down until the last page had been read.
Profile Image for Roxanne.
55 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2020
This is one of the best stories I have ever read!!!

This author catches the true emotions of the story. You feel as though you are living through the circumstances yourself. A must read!!!
Profile Image for Debra H. Wruble.
419 reviews8 followers
April 26, 2020
Tear jerker

Poignant and powerful story about a young doctor's time spent in a hospital pediatric cancer ward. I laughed, I cried, I felt every sleepless moment. Wonderful characters and great read.
Profile Image for Judith Allen.
52 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2020
Impressive

Chasing Rabbits is an interesting title for this book. While Maria might have caught the rabbits, everyone who took care of her realized that they had been caught in her web of love and bravado and each of their lives were changed from knowing her. Excellent story line.
41 reviews
November 2, 2020
I really enjoyed this book whilst finding it upsetting the feelings the doctors and nurses had for their charges was so uplifting. In these awful times it’s good to read about how brave some of these children going through such terrible tragedies are. Without thoughts for their own situation they are worried about their parents and families. All the more real because Rodolfo is actually a medical man.
Profile Image for Deena Scintilla.
730 reviews
April 22, 2024
It is hard to write a review because it was emotional, and at one point, I couldn't read because of crying. Big ugly tears. I found myself remembering certain tragic pediatric patients when I was a student nurse many decades ago There are 4 whom I've never forgotten - I can still picture them in my mind, and yes, I remember their names.

I'd like to read the other book by this author.
68 reviews
December 9, 2022
Such an inspiring and avery emotional read ,I don't want to give away any spoilers but you will def need alot of tissues. I couldn't put the book done once I started.
Friendship and life journeys .always twist and turns
Profile Image for Kim Novak (The Reading Rx).
1,100 reviews23 followers
December 9, 2022
This is a gem for those in pediatric medical/health care fields. I read on a plane, awkwardly sobbing into my mask.
93 reviews
March 30, 2023
A seemingly real depiction of a children's cancer ward. Sad, but uplifting, as the children are so caring about others. Really couldn't find fault.
485 reviews
November 25, 2022
A life-changing journey for a trainee doctor working with paediatric oncology cases.
Profile Image for Susan Weintrob.
207 reviews2 followers
October 25, 2020
Bittersweet novel about a med student in a pediatric oncology wars

What struck me most about this novel was the wisdom of child cancer patients and the emotions of the staff who work with them. Life changing growth and scars occur for 2 medical students who are kinder and stronger after their experiences.
Profile Image for Sandy.
181 reviews
October 23, 2020
Heartwarming

This book made me laugh and at times made me cry. The author has captured how precious life is on the pages within.
Profile Image for Rebecca Lloyd.
515 reviews
August 4, 2024
What a moving story! It will break your heart so be prepared. Two medical students, Mike and Rudy, get sent to do one of their clerkships in a pediatric oncology ward. What all they learn, both about the patients and themselves, is emotionally-charged and forever life-changing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Debra Radigan.
36 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2022
Keep your day job

I pray Dr Rudy is a better physician than he is an author. The underlying message is important but typical of a surgeon, Rudy had to make a common experience of deep compassion and service of which all health care providers do on a regular basis into a book. And a poorly written one as well.
108 reviews
March 25, 2020
Following a fourth year med student with his rotation on a pediatric oncology unit. Will touch your heart and give you insight you cannot imagine. Characters are outstanding. This story will stay with you.
4 reviews
May 31, 2021
Successful Tearjerker

The story of several young twits learning to be human, and several older humans using the semblance of being twits as camouflage. Not very original, but well done.
Profile Image for Sarah Martin.
14 reviews28 followers
April 23, 2020
Amazing

I couldn’t put it down! I highly recommend this book. You will experience many emotions but it is worth every one
Profile Image for Barb.
1,547 reviews39 followers
June 14, 2020
Rudy is a fourth year med student with his rotation on a pediatric oncology unit. What a sad great book. You will meet children that will inspire you.
68 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2020
Rabbits

This story was so heartwarming. It made me realize how resilient kids can be when they are so sick and know everyone around them is hurting.
1 review1 follower
August 30, 2020
Chasing Rabbits was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend reading this. I do recommend that you have a box of tissues as some if the highs and lows with move anyone with a heart.
Profile Image for Literary Reviewer.
1,296 reviews104 followers
June 29, 2022
Rudy wants to be a doctor, and more than that, he wants to be the best. As a fourth year med student about to start a clerkship, he is certain that he has his future planned to perfection. However, when dealt a last minute change in his placement, Rudy begins to face the idea that sometimes life doesn’t run exactly as planned. Immersed in the eye-opening reality of a pediatric oncology ward, he begins to doubt his plans for the first time. Instead of the studying he expected to get done, Rudy soon finds himself learning lessons about life and humanity that could never be taught from a book.

Chasing Rabbits, by Rodolfo Del Toro, is a book that is by equal turns both uplifting and heartbreaking. Del Toro, who is a physician himself, vividly depicts the stark realities of the oncology unit with unflinching authenticity and drives the story forward by doing so. Although Rudy is the narrator, the children are easily the strongest characters, written with a depth and maturity that reflect the acceptance of their own mortality. In contrast, the adults seem to lack a similar depth.

If this book could be said to have a theme, it would be one of gratitude, learning to feel it and learning to embrace it. Rudy, and the others on the medical staff, quickly learn the importance of embracing the moments and people who matter most. The book leans heavily on the idea that children are far more wise than the adults around them, but does so in such an endearing and well-written way that never feels trite. There is a fine balance between expressing that idea well and taking it to the point of absurdity–Del Toro finds that balance.

I simply could not put this book down and became deeply invested in these children and their lives. Del Toro has created them as wonderfully sympathetic and empathetic little beings who absolutely stole the show from Rudy and every other adult in the book. Chasing Rabbits, by Rodolfo Del Toro, was delightfully wholesome and enjoyable.
Profile Image for Himanshu.
598 reviews16 followers
July 23, 2022
✨The book "Chasing Rabbits" is an impeccable book penned by the author Rodolfo Del Toro. The title sounds too cute right!! I was browsing it slowly and believe me I couldn't visualize it will come up like this. I just have to say one word for it all "Phenomenal".

✨This book is a lovely example of the capability of human beings for compassion and sympathy. So basically this story is about Rudy Dell a doctor, the author himself and his life. Two final year medical scholars abruptly end up accomplishing an orbit in a pediatric oncology unit. They were wishing for a manageable orbit but what they got was much more incredible and life-transforming for them.

✨It illustrates the overwhelming job and devotion of those doctors who operate on pediatric cancer patients. It is a great insightful book about the lives of patients and doctors thoroughly. It was heartwarming, happy and sad altogether at the same time while reading about them. Hats off to the author for writing such an incredible book.

✨The author writes about the courage, strength, and wisdom of these extremely ill children very well. Also, I am extremely happy to tell you about this book that it has been a finalist in book awards, “Maxy books awards” and the “Florida Authors and Publishers Association” That is amazing right?? Yay!!👏

✨The narration method of the author is excellent. The wording of the book is lucid and easily discernible. This book is worth a read. It will make you give significance to your own life additionally. I couldn’t put it down once I grabbed it up.I enjoyed reading it, quite an exquisite read. Looking forward to read more such books from the author.
Profile Image for Bill Conrad.
Author 5 books12 followers
September 30, 2021
An Astounding Read
In the television show M*A*S*H, a line was delivered from Hennery Blake to Hawkeye. "Rule #1 is young men die. And Rule #2 is doctors can't change Rule #1." That powerful quote has been with me since I watched M*A*S*H as a kid. So it was no surprise that this exact quote kept going running around my mind as I read Chasing Rabbits by Rodolfo Del Toro.
The premise of Chasing Rabbits is simple. Two medical students care for a young patient who passes away despite their best efforts. The fantastic aspect of this story is that the patient is more concerned with helping the doctors overcome their own sorrow over her passing.
By the end of the book, I was in tears, and this has not happened since I read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Rodolfo clearly dug deep into his heart and medical experience to create this work. The characters struggle to overcome something they cannot avoid, and this inevitable outcome is clearly problematic for them to accept.
The title is perfect, and it summarizes the story. It is beautiful to be a child and do silly things like chasing rabbits. However, as adults, we get hung up in our day-to-day lives and get mad about the things that do not matter. Only when we see a reality where it is no longer possible to chase rabbits we realize what we lose and can never experience again.
I have recommended Chasing Rabbits to four friends, and two of them are halfway through and have already called me to thank me for the suggestion. This is a fantastic work and something that Rodolfo Del Toro can be proud of.
Profile Image for Arun Verma.
411 reviews8 followers
August 15, 2022
❣️A book about emotional relationship between a doctor and a patient.

‘Chasing Rabbits’ by the author Rodolfo Del Toro is about ‘Rudy Dell’, he is a fourth year medical student who wants to be the best doctor in his field, finds himself assigned to the Oncology unit of the University Pediatric Hospital.

At the beginning of the story Rudy tells the story about him and his friend Mike to his secretary Luz about their student life and how they both are doing clerkship at the outpatient dermatology clinics and their stories about children hospital.

This is the story of brave souls that will give you the strength and courage you need to understand life from a bigger perspective. It teaches lessons about life, emotions, love, and gratitude.

I was hooked till the last line. All characters are well built. The story doesn’t looses its charm even for a page and I'm very happy to tell you that the book won a recent literary contest. I truly enjoyed the storytelling and would highly recommend it.

The author is a physician with over twenty-years of experience. He has spent most of his professional life in private practice and teaching at Medical Schools, which he finds tremendously rewarding. The cover of the book is very beautiful and made by the author's daughter ‘Natalia’.
Profile Image for Nikki Houghton.
698 reviews14 followers
November 2, 2022
This book touched my heart but I must say I didn’t find any giggles, only tears for the predicament and horror for the parents.
I thought we could have done without all the external relationships nonsense; it was the children - the survivors and the unlucky - (and how the children coped with all that pain, needles, drips, suppositories and necessary medical intrusion) their parents, the Nurses and the Medics we had come to see.
Just how is it Rudy becomes a plastic surgeon instead of using his obvious skills to help the wards full of children like these; and how didn’t see his “best friend” for so many years? Until up he pops, kid and wife in tow, asking Rudy to be a Godparent? And as for the whole adoption thing….unrealistic surely?
The only time I could engage with the plot was on the ward and with Rudy’s fourth year exhaustion; the rest was highly irritating and irrelevant.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews

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