Coma

Robin Cook

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mysterious comas

organ harvesting conspiracy

medical student investigation

hospital setting

suspenseful investigation

fast paced thriller

detailed medical intricacies

dated gender dynamics

unrealistic character portrayal

twists and turns

tense hospital atmosphere

gripping conclusion

conflicting character traits

descriptive writing style

Coma by Robin Cook is a medical thriller that follows Susan, a medical student, as she uncovers a mysterious pattern of patients falling into comas during routine surgeries. The book delves into the suspenseful investigation Susan undertakes to unravel the mystery behind these comas, ultimately putting her own life at risk. The plot is fast-paced and filled with twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. However, some readers found the character of Susan to be unrealistic and the portrayal of gender dynamics in the medical field to be dated.

Characters:

The characters, particularly the protagonist Susan, are critiqued for being unrealistic, with her conflicting portrayals as a dedicated medical student and as someone who acts recklessly.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is descriptive, often wordy, and reflects dated gender attitudes, emphasizing medical intricacies that may distract from the storyline.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves a medical student investigating a series of mysterious comas linked to hospital operations and the discovery of a sinister organ harvesting conspiracy.

Setting:

The setting is primarily a hospital, which creates a tense atmosphere where medical mysteries unfold.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow but picks up momentum near the middle, with a gripping conclusion that engages readers.

Nancy Greenly lay on the operating table on her back, staring up at the large kettledrum-shaped lights in operating room no.8, trying to be calm. She had had several pre-op injections, which she was t...

Notes:

Coma was first published in 1977 and is considered a classic in the medical thriller genre.

The main character, Susan Wheeler, is a young female medical student who faces gender bias in a male-dominated medical field.

The plot revolves around patients who fall into comas after routine surgeries, leading to a deeper investigation of hospital malpractice.

Susan discovers that an oxygen line in the operating room has been tampered with, causing carbon monoxide poisoning.

The story features elements of organ trafficking, raising ethical dilemmas surrounding medical practices.

Despite its age, the book contains surprising twists and maintains an engaging mystery.

The characterizations, especially of Susan, have been criticized for being unrealistic and unsympathetic.

Robin Cook, the author, is a medical doctor, which adds a layer of authenticity to the medical details in the story.

The book was adapted into a film directed by Michael Crichton, showing its impact on popular culture.

Readers have noted that some attitudes towards women in the book are dated and may not resonate well with modern audiences.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of medical incompetence, corruption, and the potential for tragic consequences in healthcare settings.

From The Publisher:

They called it "minor surgery," but Nancy Greenly, Sean Berman and a dozen others-all admitted to Boston Memorial Hospital for routine procedures-were victims of the same inexplicable, hideous tragedy on the operating table. They never woke up.

Susan Wheeler is a third-year medical student working as a trainee at Boston Memorial Hospital. Two patients during her residency mysteriously go into comas immediately after their operations due to complications from anesthesia. Susan begins to investigate the causes behind both of these alarming comas and discovers the oxygen line in Operating Room 8 has been tampered with to induce carbon monoxide poisoning.

Then Susan discovers the evil nature of the Jefferson Institute, an intensive care facility where patients are suspended from the ceiling and kept alive until they can be harvested for healthy organs. Is she a participant in-or a victim of-a large-scale black market dealing in human organs?

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