VINCENT LAM - "Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures"

Reviewed by Karen Waters Black Label Reviews
June 6, 2008

lood Letting and Miraculous Cures" is a wonderful behind the scenes look at hospital emergency rooms - not only the various epidemics which can occur suddenly and how medical practitioners often have to think on their feet and quickly deal with situations - but it also follows the more human side of doctors which is often overlooked.

While being fiction, you can't help but wonder if many of the stories and characters within the book are based on true events and real life people.  At times it's like the author, Vincent Lam, who is a practicing emergency physician himself - is telling us a lot of the warts and all things that go on - that we are not meant to know about.

The book follows a number of trainee doctors as they learn about life's lessons and how to care for people as medical professionals. While there would be instant comparisons from just that description alone to the hugely successful television program, Grey's Anatomy - the comparison stops there.  Vincent Lam has created characters who are real and who you can relate to on a more human and personal level.  They are good people but they are simply not perfect. Far from it.

"Blood Letting and Miraculous Cures" is a great read from start to finish and it keeps you turning the pages well into the wee hours. It makes you laugh but it also gives the reader a few things to think about.

Already a No.1 best seller - it also earned Lam the honour of becoming the youngest writer ever to receive the Giller Prize which is the highest literary honour given within Canada - and after reading the book it's not hard to see why.

© Black Label Reviews 2008