Helpful Score: 1
2 words that describe the book: Crazy-ass thriller
3 settings where it took place or characters you met:
* Setting: Modern-day New York City
* Dr. Peter BrownAn intern at Manhattan's worst hospital (and this is by no means exaggerated), Dr. Peter Brown is not all that he appears to be. In fact, Dr. Brown is actually Pietro "Bearclaw" Brnwa, a former hit man for the mob and currently in the Witness Protection Program. One morning at work, his past life catches up with him, plunging him into one, long crazy day.
* Adam "Skinflick" LocanoThe son of a mob lawyer whose friendship with Dr. Brown introduces him to his life as a mob hit man, Skinflick is one of Pietro/Peter's best friends ... until Skinflick starts to get a little out of control and some bad stuff goes down between them and they end up trying to kill each other in ways I'm sure you could not even imagine until you read the book.
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
* I disliked that when I first read the book, I took it way too seriously. This is a book that you take with a giant grain of salt and just hop on, strap in, and ride out into Unbelievable Actionville. This book is not a realistic portrayal of modern medicine, the Witness Protection Program, mob life or anything else. It is a crazy, relentless, fast-moving thriller that just has fun with all of these things in a twisted way.
* I liked how Bazell just one-ups himself with nutso exploits for Dr. Brown. Whether evading sharks or fashioning a weapon from his own body (so gross!!!), Dr. Brown has some over-the-top exploits that will make you laugh, gasp or vomit ... depending on what kind of person you are.
* I liked how Bazell built suspense during a surgery scene where Dr. Brown is assisting with the surgery but falling asleep during the procedure but trying to hide it. I pray to God I never get operated on by Drs. Brown and Friendly. My chances of survival would be .0000001% to nil, I suspect.
* I disliked how Bazell was so uncreative with the cursing. Dr. Brown is a liberal user of the f-word (I swear at times it was appearing at least three times per page). I really felt this became too one note. Surely Bazell could have used his considerable imagination to come up with some more creative foul language. If you ever watched The Sopranos, you know just how hilariously funny good Mob cursing can be.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 3.5 stars. Although I initially didn't like the book all that much, in retrospect I realize my overly glum and persnickety mood may have accounted for my initial reaction. I repeat: DO NOT TAKE THIS BOOK SERIOUSLY. Bazell just goes nuts imagining scenarios for Dr. Brown and the crazy action scenes are what this book is about. Like I said, this is a thrill ride of a book, and I bet big money it will made into a movie someday, probably directed by Quentin Tarantino (who would have a field day with this). And I suspect it would be a book that reluctant readers of the male gender would enjoy immensely.
3 settings where it took place or characters you met:
* Setting: Modern-day New York City
* Dr. Peter BrownAn intern at Manhattan's worst hospital (and this is by no means exaggerated), Dr. Peter Brown is not all that he appears to be. In fact, Dr. Brown is actually Pietro "Bearclaw" Brnwa, a former hit man for the mob and currently in the Witness Protection Program. One morning at work, his past life catches up with him, plunging him into one, long crazy day.
* Adam "Skinflick" LocanoThe son of a mob lawyer whose friendship with Dr. Brown introduces him to his life as a mob hit man, Skinflick is one of Pietro/Peter's best friends ... until Skinflick starts to get a little out of control and some bad stuff goes down between them and they end up trying to kill each other in ways I'm sure you could not even imagine until you read the book.
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
* I disliked that when I first read the book, I took it way too seriously. This is a book that you take with a giant grain of salt and just hop on, strap in, and ride out into Unbelievable Actionville. This book is not a realistic portrayal of modern medicine, the Witness Protection Program, mob life or anything else. It is a crazy, relentless, fast-moving thriller that just has fun with all of these things in a twisted way.
* I liked how Bazell just one-ups himself with nutso exploits for Dr. Brown. Whether evading sharks or fashioning a weapon from his own body (so gross!!!), Dr. Brown has some over-the-top exploits that will make you laugh, gasp or vomit ... depending on what kind of person you are.
* I liked how Bazell built suspense during a surgery scene where Dr. Brown is assisting with the surgery but falling asleep during the procedure but trying to hide it. I pray to God I never get operated on by Drs. Brown and Friendly. My chances of survival would be .0000001% to nil, I suspect.
* I disliked how Bazell was so uncreative with the cursing. Dr. Brown is a liberal user of the f-word (I swear at times it was appearing at least three times per page). I really felt this became too one note. Surely Bazell could have used his considerable imagination to come up with some more creative foul language. If you ever watched The Sopranos, you know just how hilariously funny good Mob cursing can be.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 3.5 stars. Although I initially didn't like the book all that much, in retrospect I realize my overly glum and persnickety mood may have accounted for my initial reaction. I repeat: DO NOT TAKE THIS BOOK SERIOUSLY. Bazell just goes nuts imagining scenarios for Dr. Brown and the crazy action scenes are what this book is about. Like I said, this is a thrill ride of a book, and I bet big money it will made into a movie someday, probably directed by Quentin Tarantino (who would have a field day with this). And I suspect it would be a book that reluctant readers of the male gender would enjoy immensely.
Beat the Reaper is as improbable as a medical intern's dream: both are satisfying and damn rare. Peter Brown is a medical intern at a fictional Manhattan dysfunctional hospital. It's going to be another brutal, surreal day of medicine until the signet cell gastric cancer patient recognizes him as "Bearclaw," former top mob hitman presently in the Federal Witness Protection Program. In order to save himself, he has to save the patient, and even practice some medicine along the way. In alternate chapters our protagonist describes his upbringing and initiation into the mafia to avenge his grandparents' home invasion homicides to his fallout with the bad guys, and how he tries to keep them away in the present day. Both storylines are peppered with informative yet cynical footnotes dispensing interesting medical information. It's a bit of House of God*meets the Sopranos written in edgy masculine text by a young doctor, so the medicine is real enough to one who has been in the trenches. Be warned, though, that there's some gruesomeness which is hard to stomach towards the end.
*a cult classic among the MD set, written by Samuel Shem.
*a cult classic among the MD set, written by Samuel Shem.
Hilarious book filled with adventures, Josh Bazell is an awesome writer and gets the reader involved in the story. I liked that the main character shouldn't have been likable, but was very much. Ok, so a short summary of the book: Pietro/Peter is doctor at a Manhattan Hospital, but also happened to be a hitman for the mob back in the day. He's a part of the Witness Protection Program and one of his patients that used to know him, just recognized him. Lots of stories about the past intermingle with the present and he finds out a ton of stuff about his family he didn't want to know. It's a great book!
I enjoyed this book - a very different and very entertaining type of 'hit man/tough guy' book. The very ending was a bit too far out there for me...but still enjoyed it. I'm going to check out his other books
Wow, this had one of the most bizarre and disgusting climactic fight scenes I've ever read. But overall, an entertaining book. The narrator's tongue-in-cheek tone distracts you from the fact that there's a lot of awful things going on. Read it in one sitting.
Interesting premise, and a very quick read. The constant profanity was a distraction, and the plot was a bit thin, but it definitely kept my interest. More violent in places than I usually like, but I enjoyed the sarcastic attitude of the narrator/protagonist. Defies genre, but similar in some respects to Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club. Overall 3.5/5
This book was a whole lot of fun to read. A cross between a medical thriller and a Mafia story, it kept me wide-eyed and amused throughout. The main character is an ex-hit man turned intern physician who is likable and easy to root for. The laughs are plentiful in this wild romp through a run New York City Hospital with burned out healers. this is a dark comedy lightened by sarcasm and wit. I give it high recommendations for a quick and lively vacation page turner.
For a first novel, I was impressed. The mix of Grey's Anatomy and The Sopranos was great. I enjoyed the characters, writing style, and the story. A bit outlandish at the end, but the squirm factor was worth it. Truly, an enjoyable read!
The title of the book initially peeked my interest when I purchased it. Once I got into the book, I realized that I was going for a ride of my life. The basic premise of this book focuses on Peter Brown, a medical resident, whose under the Federal Witness Protection Program. How did he get here? Imagine that Peter was once a mafia hit man in NYC. Between the stories of being a hitman and life in a second-class hospital, this book will leave your head a spinning. The author's use of flashbacks in this book will definitely keep you on your toes.
This is probably the first non-school fiction that I've ever read that has footnotes. The footnotes are sometimes informative and always humorous. Just like the rest of the book, may I add. The book is split between the past and the present. I thought it was a little weird that it alternated, but it turned out to work well, especially in the beginning, when I was more interested in Pietro's action filled past, as opposed to his seemingly half-a$$ed attempt at being a doctor.
A warning to the squeamish (or not so, because I was quite disturbed as well), there is one VERY disturbing scene in this book. It should not deter you from reading this book, however, just a word of caution.
A warning to the squeamish (or not so, because I was quite disturbed as well), there is one VERY disturbing scene in this book. It should not deter you from reading this book, however, just a word of caution.
I was excited to read this book, because of the description in the system. the book did not live up to expectation. I was expecting more action and more depth of character.
Excellent book. Good story line, funny, made me laugh and cry.
