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Dilemma
Tragedy in a pub on New Year’s Eve. Even before the chimes have struck, a new widow enters a different world - the world of organ donation and transplantation. A world of dilemma, pain, desperation and risk, orchestrated by Fate, Time and their instruments: doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists. At war, in bed, on the wards, in theatre; battling with death, with each other and sometimes even their patients.
Dilemma crosses boundaries into a world where life and death interact and everything is up for grabs. But if only skill and chance play the game together and the participants have the courage to make the right choices.
Dilemma crosses boundaries into a world where life and death interact and everything is up for grabs. But if only skill and chance play the game together and the participants have the courage to make the right choices.
239 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2020
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 30, 2021
Dilemma is full of drama and kept me entertained from page one!
The book has a little bit of everything from a lady’s man to the revengeful co-worker to drama between doctors and patients. I couldn’t pick my favorite conflict because they all brought me into the characters’ lives and their situations. Same with the characters. Fergus, Heather, Betsy, Phoebe, and even JA were all well-written. Although the book has its sad moments, it was also cheerful. I found myself feeling sorry, astonished, and rooting for certain characters.
As expected, the medical drama has hospital terminology, but the authors made it easy to understand and not overdone. I think this book would have really benefitted if a proofread went through it because there were some typos that I couldn’t ignore even though the story was good.
3.5 stars (rounded up)
I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book has a little bit of everything from a lady’s man to the revengeful co-worker to drama between doctors and patients. I couldn’t pick my favorite conflict because they all brought me into the characters’ lives and their situations. Same with the characters. Fergus, Heather, Betsy, Phoebe, and even JA were all well-written. Although the book has its sad moments, it was also cheerful. I found myself feeling sorry, astonished, and rooting for certain characters.
As expected, the medical drama has hospital terminology, but the authors made it easy to understand and not overdone. I think this book would have really benefitted if a proofread went through it because there were some typos that I couldn’t ignore even though the story was good.
3.5 stars (rounded up)
I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2021
Time taken to read - 1 day
Pages - 239
Publisher - Scalpel Stories
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Tragedy in a pub on New Year’s Eve. Even before the chimes have struck, a new widow enters a different world - the world of organ donation and transplantation. A world of dilemma, pain, desperation and risk, orchestrated by Fate, Time and their instruments: doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists. At war, in bed, on the wards, in theatre; battling with death, with each other and sometimes even their patients.
Dilemma crosses boundaries into a world where life and death interact and everything is up for grabs. But if only skill and chance play the game together and the participants have the courage to make the right choices.
My Review
If you are looking for something a wee bit different then Dilemma fits that. A medical professional Betsy is visiting her dad when there is an out of hospital cardiac arrest, Norma's husband Alan is the person who arrests. From there we meet all the characters in their different settings, Betsy - her boyfriend and colleague Fergus (who happens to be an absolute creep). We move into the hospital and meet the rest of the players and more of Norma (the only character I really liked) as she deals with her grief and trying to adjust to her new normal.
There is a lot of medical stuff going on, it is a medical drama book and the front, before the story is a glossary of medical terms so non medical folk will follow it just fine. It covers medical procedures, organ transplants, "politics" within the profession and the later part of the book has more relationship stuff. Honestly, Fergus is a horror, he is a seedy, smarmy horror who Betsy thinks she is in a monogamous relationship with. She is so blinkered by him and almost subserviant I actually found myself getting annoyed with her.
A very mixed bag of characters, some very questionable ethics - I honestly wouldn't want to be working in that place let alone being a patient (on account of a certain incident!). I like a book that you learn stuff, medical dramas are always interesting and the characters are so shady it is like a soap opera you want to see what disaster is coming next. I wish it had been longer, I felt one or two of the characters I was a bit left hanging like I wanted more to have happened, justice and in one case yes but what next though. 3/5 for me this time, first time reading these authors, I would read again.
Pages - 239
Publisher - Scalpel Stories
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Tragedy in a pub on New Year’s Eve. Even before the chimes have struck, a new widow enters a different world - the world of organ donation and transplantation. A world of dilemma, pain, desperation and risk, orchestrated by Fate, Time and their instruments: doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists. At war, in bed, on the wards, in theatre; battling with death, with each other and sometimes even their patients.
Dilemma crosses boundaries into a world where life and death interact and everything is up for grabs. But if only skill and chance play the game together and the participants have the courage to make the right choices.
My Review
If you are looking for something a wee bit different then Dilemma fits that. A medical professional Betsy is visiting her dad when there is an out of hospital cardiac arrest, Norma's husband Alan is the person who arrests. From there we meet all the characters in their different settings, Betsy - her boyfriend and colleague Fergus (who happens to be an absolute creep). We move into the hospital and meet the rest of the players and more of Norma (the only character I really liked) as she deals with her grief and trying to adjust to her new normal.
There is a lot of medical stuff going on, it is a medical drama book and the front, before the story is a glossary of medical terms so non medical folk will follow it just fine. It covers medical procedures, organ transplants, "politics" within the profession and the later part of the book has more relationship stuff. Honestly, Fergus is a horror, he is a seedy, smarmy horror who Betsy thinks she is in a monogamous relationship with. She is so blinkered by him and almost subserviant I actually found myself getting annoyed with her.
A very mixed bag of characters, some very questionable ethics - I honestly wouldn't want to be working in that place let alone being a patient (on account of a certain incident!). I like a book that you learn stuff, medical dramas are always interesting and the characters are so shady it is like a soap opera you want to see what disaster is coming next. I wish it had been longer, I felt one or two of the characters I was a bit left hanging like I wanted more to have happened, justice and in one case yes but what next though. 3/5 for me this time, first time reading these authors, I would read again.
February 8, 2021
Dilemma is a medical drama following one man's heart attack and the subsequent donation of his liver. It's a complex web of characters and situation to keep track of, but luckily the authors make it easy to follow the story.
I've not read a lot of medical dramas and it was fascinating to follow the scandals of a large hospital. The terminology is not too difficult to understand and the authors provide a helpful glossary at the beginning to define any complicated jargon.
The characters were definitely a highlight. Everyone had such vibrant personalities, especially Agwe and Amber. I really felt for Betsy! This book has more of an ensemble cast, but if there was a lead protagonist, it would be Betsy. The book starts with her and her story is the most personal.
Unfortunately, the writing quality does lapse in a few places. For the most part, it's solid, but every so often there's a missed word or an oddly phrased sentence that breaks the immersion. I also felt the conclusion was a little underwhelming.
One thing I would point out is that the writing style is interesting. It consists heavily of dialogue and reported speech. Comparatively, there are few setting descriptions. In some cases, such as this one, less is more. The reported indirect speech is also an excellent choice for this novel, as all the information conveyed to patients from doctors doesn't feel like an infodump or a lecture.
In all, Dilemma is a fascinating drama and well worth a read.
I've not read a lot of medical dramas and it was fascinating to follow the scandals of a large hospital. The terminology is not too difficult to understand and the authors provide a helpful glossary at the beginning to define any complicated jargon.
The characters were definitely a highlight. Everyone had such vibrant personalities, especially Agwe and Amber. I really felt for Betsy! This book has more of an ensemble cast, but if there was a lead protagonist, it would be Betsy. The book starts with her and her story is the most personal.
Unfortunately, the writing quality does lapse in a few places. For the most part, it's solid, but every so often there's a missed word or an oddly phrased sentence that breaks the immersion. I also felt the conclusion was a little underwhelming.
One thing I would point out is that the writing style is interesting. It consists heavily of dialogue and reported speech. Comparatively, there are few setting descriptions. In some cases, such as this one, less is more. The reported indirect speech is also an excellent choice for this novel, as all the information conveyed to patients from doctors doesn't feel like an infodump or a lecture.
In all, Dilemma is a fascinating drama and well worth a read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews