Saturday, September 22, 2012

Junior Intern


Junior Intern by Alan E. Nourse

Ted Coleman receives a note from Dr. Bart (Bartholomew) to meet him at his office.  Ted thinks it is because he had been dating the doctor's daughter.  It turns out that the doctor is concerned that Ted would not be able to study pre-med and play football in college.  Ted had won a football scholarship to college.  Dr. Bart has 'adopted' boys and payed all of their college and medical school expenses as needed.  He is willing to do the same for Ted if he is a "winner".  A job at Darwin Hospital working under intern Neal Tucker who is one of the doctor's boys.

Ted's job is to do heavy work as moving beds, setting up oxygen tanks and other things as being in charge of sterile supplies and helping doctors with procedures.  Ted is taught how to do blood counts and cross matching.  He learns how to take blood pressures and how to observe patients.  He even discovers uneven pupils in one patient which lead to his observing an operation and forgetting that he had a date.

During an emergency, Ted takes charge and helps move patients, supplies, and doctors from one location to another.  While helping out during the emergency situation, Ted discovers the answer to the question that Dr. Bart had asked him, "Why do you want to become a doctor?"  it is because there was nothing else he could do.  Medicine ...is a way of life.

I found this book on one of my bookcases and decided it fit in with this challenge.  Alan Nourse is an M.D. and also wrote a book called Intern under the name 'Doctor X'.  He is better known for his science fiction books.

This book describes the way things were in hospitals in the early 50's.  Blood is collected by the Red Cross or Commuity Blood Banks vs individual hospital (at least here in Tioga County, PA).  Donors are asked lots of questions and many tests are run on the blood before it is used.  People can even bank their own blood when facing surgery.

I loved the book and gave it 4 out of five stars on Goodreads.  I have not read any of Dr. Nourse's other books recently.  I enjoyed this book and wish it was more easily available for others to read.


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Allergic to Death

Allergic to Death by Peg Cochran is about Gigi Fitzgerald and her company Gigi's Gourmet De-Lites.  Reg, the dog on the cover belonged to Martha Bernhardt who winds up dead from a peanut allergy after eating one of Gigi's meals.  The death is ruled accidental.  However, Gigi does not keep anything containing peanuts in her cottage. Winston Baernhardt, Martha's ex does not want the dog but, Gigi does.  Reg plays an important part in this book.  The dog helps find a clue and is very helpful at the end of the book in more ways than one.

I certainly think I would enjoy some of the meals described in this book.  Since, I attend performances of a small theater group, I do like the theater as a backdrop for many of the scenes.  I think any fan of cozy mysteries would love this book and would like me look forward to reading more about Gigi and her friends.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Operation XOXO


The challenge for September is to read a book with a school in it.  Operation XOXO by Elle James certainly fits this challenge.  Elise Johnson (Alice Klaus) is a history teacher at a high school in Breuer, Texas.  She was married to Stan Klaus in 'South Dakota who was identified as a serial killer.  Everyone thought he had died in a fire but a body was never found.  Alice changed her name and moved to Texas with her two boys.  Much of the book occurs in the school or Elise's classroom.

One day. Elise gets a message making her think her ex is alive and will murder her if he gets the chance.  Enter FBI agent Paul Fletcher who helped her in South Dakota and who is now working in Texas.  When a girl is reported missing in Breuer, Agent Fletcher decides he needs to protect Elise.

I do not want to give away too much of the story.  This book is a Harlequin Intrigue book and there is a sex scene in it so it is not for younger readers.

It is a very quick book to read and I read the book in less than a day.

Death by the Dozen

The cover of Death by the Dozen features a small picture of Captain Jack.  Captain Jack is a kitten that is found by Mel who is one of the owners of Fairy Tale Cupcakes.  Mel lives over the shop.  One day she and Angie hear a noise that "..sounded like someone being stabbed."  The sound was coming from the dumpster.  They find a tiny white kitten with a black patch over one eye.  Being film buffs they name the kitten Captain Jack after Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean.

This kitten winds up in Mel's apartment and finds its way into her heart, 

Since there is an animal on the cover, it fits the criteria for this challenge.  Captain Jack may not be a major character but the cat does provide companionship for Mel when she needs it most.  I am sure I will be reading more books with animals but I did want to include this one because I also fell in love with a kitten that was found and now Reese is a very active member of our household.  Reese was not found in a dumpster but we saw him at a private club that we belong to and brought her home.  I don't know if she was after a cupcake when she was found but she sure likes her kitten "milk".

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Jane Eyre



Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte was a free book obtained for my Kindle for PC.  I assume I may have read it for school but did not remember the story.  I was reading a review about a sequel and decided I should read the original book.

Jane Eyre was taken in by a relative and after he died, his wife sends her to a school for the poor.  She finishes school there and teachs for two years.  Jane then becomes the governess for Mr. Rochester.  She falls in love with him but leaves after she finds that he is married.  She winds up at Moor House and finds that the family that lives there is actually her cousins.  In fact,her male cousin wishes to marry her and take her to India with him.  But, Jane still loves Mr. Rochester and goes to find him.  She finds him and they marry and have a child and the story ends ten years after their marriage.

This book is my literary fiction book.  It is still a great story.  I would certainly recommend that even if you have read it in the past it is worth reading again.