Fiction_L Archives fiction with medical or health settings Dates: 3/16/01,7:16 PM  through  3/20/01,10:24 AM  (21 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to March 2001 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: "Waznis, Betty" <[removed]@sdcl.org>
REC'D: 3/16/01, 7:16 PM

Our library just hosted an excellent workshop on consumer health
information. The presenter, an R.N. with an MLS, mentioned to the class that
sometimes fiction can be more illuminating about health issues or medical
problems than non-fiction. One book she specifically mentioned was The
Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman, as giving a realistic look at the
dirty surroundings and oppressive working conditions of health workers in
medieval times. I told her I would try to get some more titles for her. I
looked at the Fiction-L booklists. We have lists on file titled "Fiction
dealing with illness", and "October is National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month", which I will forward to her.

I am hoping that you all may have some additional suggestions of fiction
that would give a realistic look at health issues, medical practice or
medical workers, either historical or contemporary, that might not be
related to a particular disease. I will be happy to compile.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Betty Waznis
San Diego County Library

FROM: Madeline Guzman <[removed]@CapAccess.org>
REC'D: 3/16/01, 7:36 PM

Is this what you're looking for?

I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)--treatment options for schizophrenia
Motherless Brooklyn (Jonathan Lethem)--living with Tourette's syndrome
Jewel (Brett Lott)--parenting a child with Down's Syndrome
Enduring Love (Ian McEwan)--being the victim of a person afflicted with
de Clerambault's Sydrome
One True Thing (Anna Quindlen)--addresses the emotional effects of caring
for a person dying of cancer

Madeline

> I am hoping that you all may have some additional suggestions of fiction
> that would give a realistic look at health issues, medical practice or
> medical workers, either historical or contemporary, that might not be
> related to a particular disease. I will be happy to compile.

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/17/01, 1:43 AM

A few titles that might help:

Kathleen Korbel. A ROSE FOR MAGGIE (verymoving; deals with a child with
Downs Syndrome)

Mary Jo Putney. SHATTERED RAINBOWS. (One of her "Fallen Angels" books. Army
officer Lord Michael Kenyon falls in love with a beautiful battlefield nurse
who saves his life, but can never be his. (Historical - regency period)

Are these the kind of titles you mean? I have many more examples of romance
books which deal with a specific kind of illness, but not nececssarilty with
one of the characters being a doctor or nurse.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

In a message dated 3/16/2001 8:07:49 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[removed]@sdcl.org writes:

<< Our library just hosted an excellent workshop on consumer health
information. The presenter, an R.N. with an MLS, mentioned to the class that
sometimes fiction can be more illuminating about health issues or medical
problems than non-fiction. One book she specifically mentioned was The
Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman, as giving a realistic look at the
dirty surroundings and oppressive working conditions of health workers in
medieval times. I told her I would try to get some more titles for her. I
looked at the Fiction-L booklists. We have lists on file titled "Fiction
dealing with illness", and "October is National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month", which I will forward to her.

I am hoping that you all may have some additional suggestions of fiction
that would give a realistic look at health issues, medical practice or
medical workers, either historical or contemporary, that might not be
related to a particular disease. I will be happy to compile.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Betty Waznis
San Diego County Library >>

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/17/01, 2:03 AM

Some additional titles, all romance:

Sandra Brown. Unspeakable.
Medical Issue: Deafness.

Browning, Pamela Handyman Special
DOWN'S SYNDROME. Heroine's daughter has Down's Syndrome.

Cates, Kim The Wishing Tree
KIDNEY DISEASE. The mother of a child with kidney disease gets involved
with a superstar athlete (who, she wrongly believes is too full of himself
to care about anyone else).

Davis, Justine The Morning Side of Dawn
DISABILITY (AMPUTATION) It was love at first sight for Cassie - who
unfortunately fell in love with Dar, a drop-dead handsome double amputee who
didn't believe in love at all. Extremely intense, as well as consciousness
raising.

Glick, Ruth. The Close We Get.
Deals with the spectre of Huntington's Disease.

Kingsley, Katherine A Natural Attachment.
IMPOTENCE. The hero has to cope with mumps and its aftermath
(impotence). (Regency novel)

Kinsale, Laura Flowers from the Storm
I believe the medical issue in this book is stroke. A very powerful,
unusual book. She really knows what to do with a rake - and how to impose
almost impossible hurdles for the hero to overcome.

Moon, Modean An Uncommon Hero
STROKE. Heroine is recovering from a stroke and its aftermath

Smith, Karen Rose Abigail and Mistletoe
SCARS. Abigail Fox is a unique and compassionate artist whose canvas is
the human face. Smith very effectively interweaves the romance with the
issue of cosmetic camouflage for facial injuries. To my knowledge, this is
the first time the subject has been explored in the romance genre.

Syril, Binnie. Out of the Darkness
DISABILITY, DISFIGUREMENT. Scarred, disabled hero retreats from society
because of adverse reactions to his looks, even from his own family.

Ward, Lynda Precious Things
DOWN'S SYNDROME. Heroine discovers that child she is carrying has Down's
syndrome.

Weger, Jackie Beyond Fate
TERMINAL CANCER. One plot element deals with terminal cancer in a child.

Wilhelm, Terri Lynn Shadow Prince
DISFIGUREMENT/SCARS. A young cosmetic surgeon learns that her
prospective patient has a very good reason to take refuge in the shadows.

Wilson, Mary Anne Echoes of the Roses
DEAFNESS. The hero, a country and western singer, retreats to a
tropical island to get away from it all - especially the sociopath who is
stalking him. On the island, he encounters a beautiful artist, who's also
seeking retreat - from her deafness. Hero and heroine have to face the fact
that she will never hear his music - not to mention the death threats which
may end up silencing him forever.

Hope the above helps.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: "Bessie Makris" <[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 3/17/01, 8:44 AM

Gus in Bronze by Alexandra Marshall
The last days of a long battle with cancer

Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
The heroine refuses to give up hope when her husband
is injured by a piece of falling debris.

The House of God by Samuel Shem
Behind the scenes in a hospital.

Bessie Makris
Allen County Public Library
P.O. Box 2270
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

FROM: "Melissa Norton" <[removed]@bridgton.lib.me.us>
REC'D: 3/17/01, 8:44 AM

Oprah's latest selection, ICY SPARKS by Gwyn Hyman Rubio, is about a young
Appalachian girl with Tourette's.
Melissa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melissa Norton [removed]@bridgton.lib.me.us
Asst. Librarian & Webmaster www.bridgton.lib.me.us
Bridgton Public Library
65 Main St.
Bridgton ME 04009
207-647-2472
-----Original Message-----
From: Bessie Makris <[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us>
To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Date: Saturday, March 17, 2001 9:34 AM
Subject: Re: fiction with medical or health settings


Gus in Bronze by Alexandra Marshall
The last days of a long battle with cancer

Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
The heroine refuses to give up hope when her husband
is injured by a piece of falling debris.

The House of God by Samuel Shem
Behind the scenes in a hospital.

Bessie Makris
Allen County Public Library
P.O. Box 2270
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

FROM: Jeanne Etling <[removed]@ccs.nsls.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 3/17/01, 12:24 PM

The Protocol by April Christofferson has a lawyer whose husband died
during or shortly after surgery who learns that her husband died because
the doctor was selling organs to people who would pay any price.

Jeanne Etling
Dundee (IL) Township Public Library District

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 3/18/01, 12:21 PM

For historical titles: Ellis Peters's "Brother Cadfael" mysteries. We have
listed them as giving a great "sense of place" or "zeitgeist."

Arthur Hailey's "Strong Medicine," though it might be somewhat dated now,
is, like all his books, the result of much research.

And, of course, the medical thrillers of Robin Cook.
_________________________________________________________________
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FROM: "Laura McCaffery" <[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 3/18/01, 1:02 PM

Avvery oldie but a very goodie is Morton Thompson's The Cry and the Covenant.
It is the story of Semmelweis and the fight to eradicate childbirth fever,

>>> [removed]@hotmail.com 03/18/01 13:21 PM >>>


For historical titles: Ellis Peters's "Brother Cadfael" mysteries. We have
listed them as giving a great "sense of place" or "zeitgeist."

Arthur Hailey's "Strong Medicine," though it might be somewhat dated now,
is, like all his books, the result of much research.

And, of course, the medical thrillers of Robin Cook.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

FROM: "Anne Baker Jones" <[removed]@nslsilus.org>
REC'D: 3/19/01, 10:36 AM

Dear Betty,

Try these titles:
The Physician by Noah Gordon
The Plague Tales by Ann Benson and the sequel The Burning Road
The Healers by Henry Denker
The Midwife by Gay Courter


Hope this helps!

Anne Baker Jones
Adult Services Librarian
Vernon Area Public Library
Lincolnshire, IL

----- Original Message -----
From: Waznis, Betty <[removed]@sdcl.org>
To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 7:10 PM
Subject: fiction with medical or health settings


> Our library just hosted an excellent workshop on consumer health
> information. The presenter, an R.N. with an MLS, mentioned to the class
that
> sometimes fiction can be more illuminating about health issues or medical
> problems than non-fiction. One book she specifically mentioned was The
> Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman, as giving a realistic look at the
> dirty surroundings and oppressive working conditions of health workers in
> medieval times. I told her I would try to get some more titles for her. I
> looked at the Fiction-L booklists. We have lists on file titled "Fiction
> dealing with illness", and "October is National Breast Cancer Awareness
> Month", which I will forward to her.
>
> I am hoping that you all may have some additional suggestions of fiction
> that would give a realistic look at health issues, medical practice or
> medical workers, either historical or contemporary, that might not be
> related to a particular disease. I will be happy to compile.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
>
> Betty Waznis
> San Diego County Library
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/19/01, 10:47 AM

And there's always Lloyd C. Douglas's THE MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION. Also, Frank
G. Slaughter wrote DAYBREAK, which primarily deals with mental health issues
- but I found it fascinating.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: Vicki Novak - LIBRARYX <[removed]@MAIL.MARICOPA.GOV>
REC'D: 3/19/01, 10:57 AM

Midwife's Apprentice made me think of these, which also have a historical
perspective on disease and/or the practice of medicine:

"Pope Joan" by Donna Woolfolk Cross
"Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis
"A Vision of Light" and "In Pursuit of the Green Lion" by Judith Merkle
Riley
"The Plague Tales" and "The Burning Road" by Ann Benson


Vicki Novak
[removed]@mail.maricopa.gov

Adult Services
North Central Regional Library
Maricopa County Library District
17811 N. 32nd St.
Phoenix, AZ 85032-1201

http://mcld.maricopa.gov

FROM: Kathleen Stipek <[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us>
REC'D: 3/19/01, 11:08 AM

Also check out the Sector General novels by James White--science fiction
with a medical twist.

........................................................................
.....................
Kathleen Stipek, Adult Services/Interlibrary Loans, Alachua County
Library District (FMG), 401 E. University AV, Gainesville FL 32601
[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us)
352-334-3938 (v) 352-334-3948 (f)

"Non, merci."--Cyrano de Bergerac


-----Original Message-----
From: Vicki Novak - LIBRARYX [[removed]@MAIL.MARICOPA.GOV]
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 11:47 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: RE: fiction with medical or health settings


Midwife's Apprentice made me think of these, which also have a historical
perspective on disease and/or the practice of medicine:

"Pope Joan" by Donna Woolfolk Cross
"Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis
"A Vision of Light" and "In Pursuit of the Green Lion" by Judith Merkle
Riley
"The Plague Tales" and "The Burning Road" by Ann Benson


Vicki Novak
[removed]@mail.maricopa.gov

Adult Services
North Central Regional Library
Maricopa County Library District
17811 N. 32nd St.
Phoenix, AZ 85032-1201

http://mcld.maricopa.gov

FROM: Jean Langlais <[removed]@linc.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 3/19/01, 11:19 AM

The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis-Medieval times
Dead March by Ann McMillan-Civil War medical issues, healers

> ----------
> From: Waznis, Betty[[removed]@sdcl.org]
> Reply To: Fiction_L
> Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 10:50 AM
> To: Fiction_L
> Subject: fiction with medical or health settings
>
> Our library just hosted an excellent workshop on consumer health
> information. The presenter, an R.N. with an MLS, mentioned to the class
> that
> sometimes fiction can be more illuminating about health issues or medical
> problems than non-fiction. One book she specifically mentioned was The
> Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman, as giving a realistic look at the
> dirty surroundings and oppressive working conditions of health workers in
> medieval times. I told her I would try to get some more titles for her. I
> looked at the Fiction-L booklists. We have lists on file titled "Fiction
> dealing with illness", and "October is National Breast Cancer Awareness
> Month", which I will forward to her.
>
> I am hoping that you all may have some additional suggestions of fiction
> that would give a realistic look at health issues, medical practice or
> medical workers, either historical or contemporary, that might not be
> related to a particular disease. I will be happy to compile.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
>
> Betty Waznis
> San Diego County Library
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: Heidi McCraw <[removed]@monroe.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 3/19/01, 11:19 AM

As an old medical librarian, I would caution your reader on some of these
titles. I believe the original post dealt with accurate, true-to-life
medical stories that could take the place of hard science. Some of the
older titles, the science fiction titles, etc, might not reflect current
medical practice!
--------------------------------
Heidi K. McCraw
Head of Collection Services
Monroe County Library System
3700 S. Custer, Monroe, MI 48161

On Mon, 19 Mar 2001, Kathleen Stipek wrote:

> Also check out the Sector General novels by James White--science fiction
> with a medical twist.
>
> ........................................................................

FROM: Kathleen Stipek <[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us>
REC'D: 3/19/01, 11:40 AM

I thought the science fiction angle might be interesting not only from the
perspective of humans dealing with non-human diseases and vice-versa but the
problems of medical ethics and their implications for treatment from one
planetary race to another.

........................................................................
.....................
Kathleen Stipek, Adult Services/Interlibrary Loans, Alachua County
Library District (FMG), 401 E. University AV, Gainesville FL 32601
[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us)
352-334-3938 (v) 352-334-3948 (f)

"Non, merci."--Cyrano de Bergerac


-----Original Message-----
From: Heidi McCraw [[removed]@monroe.lib.mi.us]
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 12:17 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: RE: fiction with medical or health settings


As an old medical librarian, I would caution your reader on some of these
titles. I believe the original post dealt with accurate, true-to-life
medical stories that could take the place of hard science. Some of the
older titles, the science fiction titles, etc, might not reflect current
medical practice!
--------------------------------
Heidi K. McCraw
Head of Collection Services
Monroe County Library System
3700 S. Custer, Monroe, MI 48161

On Mon, 19 Mar 2001, Kathleen Stipek wrote:

> Also check out the Sector General novels by James White--science fiction
> with a medical twist.
>
> ........................................................................

FROM: "Linda Lundquist" <[removed]@mediaone.net>
REC'D: 3/19/01, 8:18 PM

Well, since you refer to Midwife's Apprentice, I'll mention Karen Cushman's
newer title, Matilda Bone. It takes place in medieval England, where Matilda
is apprenticed to a bonesetter. Lots of details about medical practices of
the time. Unfortunately, I did not find Matilda herself to be a particularly
engaging character.

Linda Lundquist
Bartlett Public Library

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 3/20/01, 8:28 AM

>From: "Anne Baker Jones" <[removed]@nslsilus.org>
>Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: Re: fiction with medical or health settings
>Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 10:30:30 -0600
>
>Dear Betty,
>
>Try these titles:
>The Physician by Noah Gordon

...and his "Shaman," which is about a 19th-Century doctor who goes West and
lives with the Indians. (My mother thought this was great, though I have
yet to read our copy.)

"Doc Travis," by Lou Cameron, is a Western but gives a really great picture
of what it was like for a frontier doctor dealing with an epidemic of
cholera.
_________________________________________________________________
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FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 3/20/01, 8:28 AM

>From: [removed]@aol.com
>Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: Re: fiction with medical or health settings
>Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 11:35:21 EST
>
>Also, Frank
>G. Slaughter wrote DAYBREAK, which primarily deals with mental health
>issues
>- but I found it fascinating.

Slaughter, who was a doctor in private life, wrote numerous other books
dealing with medical issues, such as "Epidemic" and "Women in White." His
writing can, in fact, be divided neatly into two categories: historical
novels that range from Biblical times to the Civil War, and "modern" ones
focusing on medicine.

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 3/20/01, 8:39 AM

If nonfiction is okay, try "Cyclone in Calico," by (I believe) Nina Baker.
It's the biography of "Mother" Mary Ann Bickerdyke, the "Bulldog of the
Sanitary Commission," who was also a licensed Doctor of Botanic Medicine and
a practitioner of the Physio-Medical Reform System. I learned some
fascinating things from this book.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

FROM: aaron smith <[removed]@oplin.lib.oh.us>
REC'D: 3/20/01, 10:24 AM

Another title which may meet your needs is _A prayer for the dying_, by
Stewart O'Nan (New York: St. Martin's, 1999), in which the small town of
Friendship, Wisconsin is beseiged by diphtheria and wildfire at the same
time. Beautifully written (in the second person!) from the standpoint of
the town's sheriff/undertaker/parson, it is very dark, with existential
musings. It also crosses all sorts of genre lines, which appeals to some
patrons (I am among them) ...

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