Dissection

by Jacinta Halloran

Dr Anna McBride’s life is starting to unravel. The mother of two boys and a dedicated GP, she is being sued for medical negligence—a case of delayed diagnosis. Anna’s day-to-day work becomes increasingly difficult as she starts to scrutinise her every action and question her worth. Deeply ashamed of her mistake, she retreats into family life, only to find that her husband seems preoccupied with a younger colleague. As the date for mediation draws closer and the lawyers’ demands become ever more pressing, Anna also senses someone else’s cries for attention—someone who wishes her harm.

Dissection is an original and confronting portrayal of a woman facing personal and professional crises. It examines an extended moment of inner turmoil, after which nothing will ever be the same again.

Genres: Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2008

Reviews

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was an unassuming creeper. I read a couple of pages before bed a couple of nights and then finished it off in one sitting and it surprised me how much it actually packed a punch. The prose is thoughtful and considered, while also raw, observant and powerful.

[Jacquelyn Parnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Anna McBride is a GP. But she’s so much more than that. She’s a mother, a wife, a human. And, humans make mistakes, which is why Dr McBride finds herself in a solicitors office. She’s being sued for medical negligence, as a result of a misdiagnosis.

I absolutely adored Halloran’s writing style. She kept you right in the drivers seat - you feel all of the emotions that Anna is feeling - the anger, the worry, the self loathing (to a degree). You’re not bogged down by either medical or legal terms in this medico-legal thriller.

I read this book in a day - I only put it down because my children needed me.

[Liane Flynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

An excruciating read. The inner thoughts and enveloping anxieties of the main character were not an enjoyable read. Tedious and self indulgent central figure - I’m not sure where that leaves the reader. The ending of the book seemed superficial by comparison to the detail of Anna’s thoughts throughout the rest of the book.

[Text Publishing]

The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Dissection

‘For me the best books are the disruptive ones. They rattle me, but they also gift me glimpses of diamond-like clarity. Dissection is one such book.’
Melanie Cheng, Literary Hub

[Ruth Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book club read, it's well written and a good book, just not entirely my cup of tea.

[Siegrist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This drew me in. Her writing is very Chekhovian - beautifully observed ordinariness. The main character is a doctor charged with negligence and tapped in a depression. The blurb praised her "stoicism" and while there's stoicism there for sure there's also an estrangement from her husband and her children. Jacinta is admirable in the understated way she reveals this estrangement. But what struck me most was her character's passivity. Having lost all confidence she is passive in the face of her husband's infidelity and the defence of her negligence claim. At first I found the 43 year old with the lines in the mirror a little cliched and depressing but it was honestly observed. There's a moment where she accedes to her husband's lust for another woman that is very bittersweet. I wonder about this bittersweetness. Is it inevitable? I feel as I crawl along these early years of my forties a loss of sweetness and I want it back really. Could this be something to write about - this longing for sweetness? I would like to read a book like this. Perhaps it could be linked to the trip around australia idea. I'd like it not to be particularly romantic but to be infused with a love of humanity.

[Meg Dunley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dissection is Jacinta Halloran's first published novel and was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards in 2007. I found, after a bumpy start, that this novel provided a window into the lonely world of a GP who has a revolving door every 15 minutes. In those short 15 minutes they are expected to analyse, problem solve sometime very complex issues. Jacinta takes the reader through the most difficult and probably most depressing and isolating time for a GP (Anna). The reader is taken into the most introspective thoughts of a very depressed and persecuted woman.

She deals well with the issues of how much is expected of GP's in that tiny time slot in terms of diagnosis and how easy it is for things, especially the rare and more complicated cases to get missed.

I found that the novel began a little tongue tied and I was initally frustrated with the introspection of the perspective, however, as I got over 1/2 way, I understood that some of this introspection and constant self-talk was due to her sense of mental health.

The end was not too neat and quite realistic. Jacinta has done a good job writing about what I expect it probably a pretty delicate subject given that she herself is a GP.
Well paced.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacinta Halloran was a new Australian writer to me, although I see that her work has been nominated for various awards. The title suggests a thriller but it certainly isn't - rather it is a study of the effects of a negligence suit on a doctor (Anna) who up until then has thought of herself as thorough, committed and kind. Her late diagnosis has led to a young man having his leg amputated. Anna feels guilt but she feels more - that her whole professional life and indeed personal life and values have been called into question.

The dissection of the title is psychological as we follow Anna's mental agonies. She is also suffering from the emotional withdrawal of her husband and anxiety about the effects of publicity on her two much-loved sons. As a character study of a highly intelligent, altruistic but self-absorbed woman, this was excellent but because the writing was so clinical - as I guess befitted the subject and the writer - I was kept too distanced from Anna's feelings. So it wasn't quite a 4 star book for me, though I would like to read Halloran's second novel and see what else she can do.

[Anthea Carta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was colourful enough and the thoughts of the main character were well portrayed, but I started to feel less and less sympathetic towards the doctor because she just seemed to be so indulgent. But I guess if we cannot be indulgent in our own thoughts that we don't share them where can we be. I felt quite sorry for her partner as the doctor seemed to be a sad sack and that would be difficult to deal with for a long period. The dustcover promised more development and intrigue of the partner character than there was. Overall OK but probably wouldn't recommend anyone rush out and read it. Interestingly Jacinta Halloran (author) is a GP with medical one at QV so refers her pathology to us.

[Christine J Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting insight in the doctor's world from a woman in general practice facing personal and professional challenges at the same time. Her story rings true - with what little I know of that world from my brief Enrolled Nurse experience and my few years as a doctors'receptionist/nurse. It is mostly written in a run-on train-of-thought style, a lot of it in present tense which threw me at first. I prefer the authorial tense that I'm accustomed to. I borrowed this book from the library.

[Ange · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoughtfully written book. Not much occurs, and I can't really remember much dialogue, but I found it offered some valuable insights into the realities of medical practice, an occupation that often seems glamorous or cutting edge. This particular doctor's career seemed fairly humdrum, aside from the negligence/malpractice case she was involved in, and there was a distinctly gloomy tone in the writing. It was a bit more like an expanded short story, or novella.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written, elegant and sparse. Most of the 'action' occurs inside the narrator's head - there's very little dialogue or interaction. The overall effect is hugely oppressive - trapped inside the brain of someone who is filled with self-doubt. If you like oppressiveness, you'll love this.

[Olwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fictional story....but I think some elements are close to the author's actual experiences of being a GP. She relates so well the self-doubt that can come in working closely with people where the outcomes are uncertain. Not a happy story.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, highly recommended, see my blog review http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/200...

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant....you could really feel her anguish with every decision she made.......

[Oanh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not holiday reading, but very well written. And rather depressing.

[Felicity M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little sad. Depressing even. Wonderfully descriptive writing though- you can feel all her emotions. A quick easy read.

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreary, boring account of a depressed middle-aged GP in the throes of a melt-down. Yawn. Occasional spark of insight or GP-perspective, but not much more.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very exacting, very real - not sure I would have liked it at all as much if it had not been set in Melbourne.