Product details
- Publisher
:
Grand Canyon Press (December 18, 2020) - Language
:
English - Paperback
:
418 pages - ISBN-10
:
1951479106 - ISBN-13
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978-1951479107 - Item Weight
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1.34 pounds - Dimensions
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6 x 1.05 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,025,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,460 in Medical Fiction (Books)
- #9,368 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
- #52,024 in American Literature (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Maggie S. –
This bitter-sweet story of first love holds an edge, as finely sharpened as a scalpel.That’s no coincidence, because Gene Hull, the young protagonist, shadows his father’s medical colleagues in “the Heart Room,” as he considers whether he too, wants to be a doctor. When his college girlfriend has a crisis, Gene, immersed in exams, obsessed with his own future, cannot take a few days off to help her. The cost of ambition and the moral choice involved is nicely explored in this story, set a generation ago. Riveting scenes of the life of a medical student. Thanks to Grand Canyon Press for an advance reader copy of this fine book.
ArizonaGryb –
I received an advanced review copy of this book from Grand Canyon Press. Greg’s rich detail paints a wonderful picture of a brief period in a young man’s life using the heart as a metaphor mixed with the realities of a real “open heart” team’s experiences. Against the backdrop of Phoenix in the 1970’s Greg captures the intensity of loves won and lost, of a father’s legacy carried in a son’s heart and the gravity of repairing hearts broken by illness or disease. In the latter Greg reveals his knowledge and experience as an anesthesiologist conveying the seemingly lite-heartedness of the OR team and the seriousness with which it engages its task. Wonderfully written and engaging, Greg’s novel will touch your heart too. “Open Heart”, is a tribute to the man: a father, a husband, a friend and a colleague.
Kate –
*I received a copy from Bookish First in exchange for an honest review*Open Heart is a multi-genre story that stays with the reader long after finishing the book. I was not exactly sure what to expect going into the story, and it is not in my usual reading genres, however, I found a thoughtful, emotional, and gripping tale.The reader watches Gene grow up, make difficult decisions, and push through uncomfortable situations. It is an excellent coming-of-age story, and fits within the genres of Historical Fiction, Coming-of-Age, and Medical Drama. Personally, I skimmed the more detailed medical parts; while they certainly added depth, authenticity, and color to the story, I was just not very interested. I would certainly recommend this book, however!On a more somber note, I was sad to hear that the author had passed away last year in 2020, and the richness of his writing in “Open Heart” makes me wonder if he knew or suspected it might be his last book and love letter to the medical world. May he rest in peace.
kateslettery –
This novel takes place in the 1970’s and is a moving historical read that follows Gene and talks of the power of love, triumph, and family relationships.I was admittedly harsh on this book because I was not familiar with the author, nor have I ever read a book from a male POV. I was genuinely shocked as I worked my way through this page turner though. It has quickly come up in the ranks on my top 10 list of books I’ve ever read. I couldn’t set this book down. One of the aspects that I believe made this book so enjoyable that there was so much content and I felt like I really got to ‘know’ the main character on a personal level. I am right at the age where I am still trying to figure out the meaning of life and what I’m meant to do with mine, along with meeting the expectations I have set for myself and others have imposed upon me. This book gave me the feeling of being understood, and I couldn’t have read it at a better time.
vickimarie2002 –
Wow. It took me a little while to get through this book. It captured my attention enough but yet, I just had a hard time really caring at first. Once Gene and Patty broke up, I was enraptured! Gene then started working at the hospital and wow, I learned so much! I was so impressed by all the details Gregory D. Williams provided about what goes on in the Heart Room. I could really picture it. Then, I realized how incredible this whole story was! Gene’s struggles with his father’s death, the breakup with Patty and everything he goes through. He was such a great character and I really felt for him so many times. He discovers that everyone has secrets and he really grew up during that summer at home and working at the hospital. I was pretty shocked when I read the blurb on the back about the author and realized, this was based on him! He is a Doctor and he lived in Arizona and loved baseball. I then continued to devour the book. When I got to the end and read his bio, it broke my heart to read that he passed away in 2020, before this book got published. It was such a great read and it will stick with me.
Kpat –
Open Heart: A poignant and gripping historical novel about the enduring power of love by Gregory D. Williams is one of the best coming-of-age stories I have read. Williams nails the atmosphere of the early 1970s. The book moves between 1971 and 1974. Set in Phoenix, Gene McClellan is a senior in high school who has a summer job painting fruit trees white to keep the heat from the sun off of them. On the job, he meets Patty who has moved into the neighborhood and he falls in love. She has a medical problem on their first date, and he immediately calls his father who is a doctor. Gene’s quick actions saves Patti’s life.In 1974, we find his father had died in an accident and he is hoping to get a summer job shadowing a heart surgeon at the hospital where his father worked. I loved the quirky characters at the hospital (especially Jessie). The author is gifted in writing about Gene’s feelings about Patty and moving back and forth between the two time periods. My nose was in this book from the moment I started this book until I finished. I laughed. I cried. I found myself having conversations with the author.When I did finish the book, I looked up the author and discovered that he was a doctor, but unfortunately he passed away in 2020. I want to thank Grand Canyon Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.
Athena (OneReadingNurse)Athena (OneReadingNurse) –
Thank you so much to Grand Canyon Press and Bookish First for the finished copy of Open Heart in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own! I just want to say first how real this book felt – this is why I love books about medicine and life written by medical people! Williams really touches on what it means to trust each other and lean on your family / “family” in healthcare. I feel like every hospital has a Jesse. And an Irene. And heck, there’s a Dr Harrington too. I feel like there’s something in the book that every medical person out there can relate to.There is a lot of medical talk (1970s style) about heart surgery and bypass that I am not sure laypeople would get through without skimming, but I found it fascinating. Gene’s life, growing up, taking ownership of your mistakes, and learning all about love should be enough to keep anyone interested in the book. Being accountable and owning your actions are hard concepts for young folks to learn.I obviously liked the OR chapters the best, and the parts about forgiving yourself for mistakes, growing up, moving forward, letting your heart “come off bypass” so to speakJesse the tray guy and Rui’s bad elephant jokes were more perfect additions. Honestly the doctors and nurses were really great characters and I liked the parallels between the OR family life and Gene’s family. Reconciling what you think your parents are like and learning the truth is always a hard lesson. 100% recommend Open Heart for anyone in medicine, and anyone looking for a good coming of age story as well. This is a superbly written novel for anyone that likes reading about characters learning hard and real life truths.
Amazon Customer –
Greg Williams was in my Med school class. That makes the book even more engaging! It is very well written.
Amazon Customer –
In this book Gene learns much about family, himself, and life as an adult through challenges, love, joy, and heartache. He sorts out what is important and plots a life course for himself. Very clever writing that will make you laugh and cry. Thoroughly enjoyed it and wish we had the chance to read more books by Williams. AH
Amazon Customer –
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and reading the young adult’s journey to “grow up, Gene.” It was a poignant story of love, loss, learning and how to cope and grow from it all. I’m not in the medical field but found it fascinating to read about the machinations of the “heart room” and the teamwork therein. Living in Arizona since 1968 just as I was entering high school, Gene’s story was set in the same era and I enjoyed picturing the places that were referred to in the book. I knew the author personally and the great man he was. I’m sorry we will not have the pleasure of hearing more of Greg Williams’ stories and thank him for giving us this one.