Oxygen: A Novel

I am a lawyer and my father is a retired surgeon. We both read this book, so we can give views from both sides of the aisle.

I found this book painful to read for its woeful lack of any substantive knowledge of how the legal system actually works. Lawyers are portrayed very badly; essentially we are all Brooks Brother wearing, BMW driving, yacht owning sharks out to get the poor innocent doctors. As I spend more than fifty percent of my practice representing abused kids, I was offended by the caricature. It is difficult to list all the legal inaccuracies without major spoilers, but I shall divulge a few. In the book it takes an extraordinary long time for the autopsy on the girl to be completed (this was something my father also noted as unrealistic). Before the autopsy is concluded, a case has been brought, experts have been hired and deposed (which would be very expensive) and the doctors have all been deposed. It would be impossible to adequately prepare a case without knowing what the cause of death actually was.

Once it is revealed, Dr. Heaton is told that she may be facing potential criminal charges. Again, this would never happen! The only time a doctor would be charged is in the event of gross negligence, e.g., performing surgery while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. That was not the case here.

Dr. Heaton has a huge "woe is me" attitude about why this is happening to her when all she wants to do is help others. There are many references in the book of other characters (particularly her sister) telling her that her work is so much more important than anyone else's as she saves people. At one point the character refers to herself as God helping people.

My father liked the book better than I did and would probably give it three stars. He liked the use of correct medical terminology, but thought it would be a bit dense for the average person to understand. I concur with him on this point. He also liked the twist at the end which I won't reveal. However, he could not buy that an anesthesiologist was left holding the bag for a potential missed underlying medical problem. It was his position that the responsibility for a medical history lay with the surgeon and not the anesthesiologist and if there were an error, it would be on all of them.

In summary, if you are employed in either of professions, I do not believe you will be able to suspend your disbelief enough to buy this story. If you are a "layman" take everything with a grain of salt. However, ultimately the character of Marie was just not that likeable. All she did was mope about why this was happening to her. There is a subplot that involves her estranged father, but never explains the estrangement nor is the plot resolved. This was not an enjoyable book to read

This is the uncommon kind of novel. Smart, poignant, reflective and layered. The mystery component is planted so gently, it makes for a wonderful, seamless narration. The characters' foibles and flaws give depth and reality to the the story. I really, realy enjoy writing that gives the reader credit for some smarts-- too many novels spoon feed everything to the reader-- but Oxygen is the rarer gift, a more complicated and developed story that knows we can figure things out. There were so many phrases or turns of language that were especially loaded and compact, I lost track-- although at the time I savored them, then I'd get lost in the story again. A special look at a special world. Highly recommended.

"Oxygen" begins with a lyrically written contemplation of the gas that gives life to every mammal on the planet. It hooked me immediately, and also pointed out something unusual: here's a doctor who can write. Unfortunately, the writing of the rest of the book never measures up to the level of Chapter One, although first-time novelist Carol Cassella certainly does try. The problem is her main character, Dr. Marie Heaton, a Seattle anesthesiologist who has no friends, no significant other, and no close co-workers other than an ex-boyfriend. When a case goes horribly wrong (and continues throughout the book to get worse and worse), she's instructed to talk to no one. So, she follows the advice to the letter. Under pressure from lawyers, other doctors and the hospital staff, she nearly cracks up from the stress, finally walking out on a procedure that reminds her too much of the accident that got her in legal trouble.

Finally, the book takes a sharp turn, and Dr. Heaton is embroiled suddently in her family life in Texas, where her aging father is going blind. She finally unburdens herself in conversation with her sister. The book spends way too much time on the traumas of this nearly abandoned side of her life. Then the ex-boyfriend swoops in, and they return to Seattle to face the hospital and the eventual trial.

The surprise ending didn't bother me half as much as the fact that Marie cannot express herself normally. Anyone in a similar situation would consult a friend or, if she were following legal advice to the letter, hire a therapist, and pour out the story there. But she can't because she's emotionally constipated. Marie is a poster child for the yuppie woman who lives for her job. It's a pathetic picture. Regardless of how Cassella tries to sugar-coat the ending, she's created a stunted, un-healthy main character that it's hard for the reader to root for.

Before picking up Oxygen, I had just returned three books to my library, none of which I could get through. I was in a rut. So, I was completely elated when I read just the first page of this book and realized, "Oh, this is going to be good." Unfortunately I was disappointed. The medical world was fascinating to read about from the point of view of an anesthesiologist - the doctor you don't usually think much about. The writing was also good. The plot however, was what let me down.

First of all, the promised "big twist" was easy to spot, even from the beginning, and by half way through the book I was so sure I knew what the twist was going to be I had to peek ahead. I didn't want to be right, because I really didn't like the way things turned out, but sure enough, I was. The other things happening in the book, such as the family drama, didn't hold my attention at all, and so I gave up on the book at that point, and I just sort of skimmed through the rest.

The other thing that perplexed me was that in general, I didn't understand why the malpractice suit in the book was such a big deal (at first, before it gets complicated). I used to work in healthcare and from what I understand, all doctors have a couple malpractice dings against them. It's normal. That's why there's malpractice insurance, because everyone gets sued. That being said, the author actually being a doctor probably knows much more about this than me. But maybe this aspect could have been explained more.

I wish I could recommend this book, but sadly I can not. The first person present tense was awkward. The story may have been better if I was not expecting a "huge twist" promised in the cover synopsis, because maybe then I wouldn't have been looking for one and it wouldn't have been so obvious. Still, in general, outside the interesting lines about the world through doctors' eyes, the book doesn't promise much. The family drama feels like it was thrown in as an after thought just so that the book wasn't completely about the medicine. Still, I applaud anyone who is diverse enough to work in the sciences and have a book deal.

First Sentence: People feel so strong, so durable.

Dr. Marie Heaton is a skilled anesthesiologist. Her life is off track and her career at risk when a child dies during surgery and Marie is being sued for malpractice. Although she tries to keep working, she must work to find out exactly what happened during the operation in order to retain her career, finances and, possibly, even freedom.

It is also a time for her to deal with personal and family relationships with a fellow doctor, her sister's family and her father.

Carol Cassella's background as an anesthesiologist is very much in evidence. I found the information fascinating and it did add tension to the operation and hospital scenes.

While I never considered putting the book down, I kept wondering when something would start happening. The book is labeled as "a novel' rather than a mystery. Much of the story is taken up with Marie's personal life. It wasn't bad but neither was it that interesting.

The investigation of what happened during the surgery was handled as a secondary story line instead, which, for me, was the more interesting thread. However, I also foresaw one of major elements in the plot very early on and found the ending abrupt. The book was a good read but a rather forgettable one.

First Sentence: People feel so strong, so durable.

Dr. Marie Heaton is a skilled anesthesiologist. Her life is off track and her career at risk when a child dies during surgery and Marie is being sued for malpractice. Although she tries to keep working, she must work to find out exactly what happened during the operation in order to retain her career, finances and, possibly, even freedom.

It is also a time for her to deal with personal and family relationships with a fellow doctor, her sister's family and her father.

Carol Cassella's background as an anesthesiologist is very much in evidence. I found the information fascinating and it did add tension to the operation and hospital scenes.

While I never considered putting the book down, I kept wondering when something would start happening. The book is labeled as "a novel' rather than a mystery. Much of the story is taken up with Marie's personal life. It wasn't bad but neither was it that interesting.

The investigation of what happened during the surgery was handled as a secondary story line instead, which, for me, was the more interesting thread. However, I also foresaw one of major elements in the plot very early on and found the ending abrupt. The book was a good read but a rather forgettable one.

Perhaps this book made little sense to me because the author did not do a good job at explaining certain things and by using medical terminology that I could never hope to grasp. While I applaud her efforts to cast light on her profession and its inner workings (by far the most captivating part of the entire book), I found the word choice and medical jargon often difficult to follow -- I spent too many hours on Wikipedia trying to understand certain procedures and what they meant in relation to her work. Finally, I gave up because I just didn't find the story all that compelling.

Please don't get me wrong -- the author writes well, but perhaps she should stay away from the autobiographical. We all know that Mark Twain always said to write about what you know, but, in this case, I think that the author's research abilities and writing would have been better suited to a different area - one outside her sphere of knowledge that would require her to learn about something she didn't know about so that she could then convey that to the reader. Perhaps we'll see more from this author in the future (as I hope we do). I also felt almost no connection with any of her characters in the book - I found them all to be lacking any depth or complexity - at least nothing that I could relate to.

Oh, and the surprise ending that everyone keeps going on about...I won't say what it was but it was a letdown, and it took me a while to make the connection (won't spoil it for you). I have to say that I think that she gives medicine and legal professions a bad "rap" - but that's just my opinion. Seeing that others have reviewed his book so highly, I feel like I missed something in the work, but you can't please everyone. I do look forward to reading Ms. Cassella's next work and hope that it's not a continuation of the same themes.

Medical thrillers are not my favorite genre. Most are written by doctors who would rather be authors. They simply bore me. Oxygen was different.
Carol Cassella created engaging characters who I became interested in, liked or disliked. I couldn't put the book down which competed with my day job, being a doctor.

Her protagonist, Marie Heaton, a 37 year old anesthesiologist, obviously loved her work and cared deeply for her patients. This is refreshing in an era where many physicians gripe about their jobs.

Dr. Heaton's world came apart because of a medical disaster, losing an eight year old girl on the operating table. This novel told of the deconstruction of a physician's life in a way that deeply touched my senses.

The thing that kept me reading was Dr. Cassella's gift for telling a complex story with a great depth of feeling. Oxygen has become my new standard for what good creative writing should be.

I highly recommend that any physician struggling for meaning in his or her profession, read this book.

I simply loved it

I could not put this book down! It was stunningly visual, poignant, and full of suspense, twists, and turns. Dr. Heaton experiences any physician's worst nightmare; death of a pediatric patient followed by a lawsuit. Carol Cassella's first novel takes you through Dr. Heaton's subsequent journey. All the characters are believable and by the end you have empathy for them all. This novel is a must read!

As a physician, I can't help but approach any medical fiction with some hesitation and skepticism. Too often, the medical reality is twisted for the sake of a good tale. Sadly, the lay public is often caught unawares, and misleading information gets propagated as a result.
Dr. Cassella's book is definitely the exception. Based on the reviews, I took a chance and ordered a copy for my mother, who is also a physician (and even more skeptical than I) and one for myself. To my surprise, my mother did not move from her chair for more than 4 hours after opening the package with the book inside. She found the story gripping, intense, and very realistic.
My experience was identical. After reading the first few pages, I was hooked. The writing was provocative, the story very compelling, and the ending kept me glued to my chair. This is a book I truly could not put down. The description of the agony that the protagonist goes through as she realizes the horror of the Jolene's death, only to be succeeded by the pain of a law suit that persists in getting worse with each passing week...whew!! Dr Cassella describes the gut clenching experience very eloquently and with great skill. I also enjoyed the depth of the subplots with her father and family, and how well she tethered them to the plot and surprise ending.
This is a great book! I can't wait for Dr Cassella's next one!