The Doctor Stories

by Richard Selzer

Book Overview

A collection of short stories exploring what it means to tend to the sick and dying includes Avalanche, Whither thou goest, The Masked Marvel's last toehold, Pages from a wound dresser's diary, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312204035
• ISBN13: 9780312204037
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Picador USA
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

captivating writing style

As someone addicted to non-fiction for a while, this was a nice push towards the fiction genre again. Having read the entirety of Selzer's bibliography at this point, I've come to appreciate his light style of conveying the subtle intricacies of the doctor-patient relationship, and how those most vulnerable moments in life can shed light on the valuable ones.

Interesting book, but not all "doctor" stories

When I bought this book I was expecting stories of a primarily doctor's point of view. Though all of the stories, detail various medical conditions, they are not always from the perspective of the doctor. This is also a mostly fictional work. (I'm sure if I read the back cover I would have found that out). However, it is not dissappointing. It is interesting how the author has woven a story very detatched from a medical format around a specific condition in each case. I found it very interesting and plan to buy more of this author's books. Some of the stories have a melancholy side that I'm sure effects the medical community as a whole in hopeless cases or ones where the patient does not seek care beyond diagnosis. It was a good read none the less.

Beautiful

I was enthralled by his words. They flowed and moved with each character.....and the story he unfolded. Wonderfully smooth like silk. And thoughtful, like a brief snag in your emotions. I could not put this book down.