A good read. Interesting to note how much Seattle has changed since this was published. The viaduct, for example. ( )

Very disappointing ( )

Excellent book. I wonder what would have happened if the genders of the main doctors were reversed. ( )

Anesthesiologist Marie Heaton might be responsible for the death of one of her patients. It's a winningly simple, inherently emotional premise, and author Carol Cassella takes the pathos three steps further. Said patient Jolene is eight years old, mentally retarded, and the only child of a lower-class, single mother. Marie is, of course, driven to find the cause of Jolene's death. Could she have prevented it? Did she miss something in her preliminary evaluation? Stakes rise when the girl's mother files a lawsuit.

The author is herself an anesthesiologist, so it's not surprising that the hospital scenes are detailed and seem accurate (disclaimer: I'm a mere layman). The book's main characters are sympathetic, if sometimes simplified. Marie is a controlled analyst at the core, which lends more resonance to the book's earthquake of uncontrollable events. Best friend and love interest Joe is a boyish lost soul who tends to trigger Marie's nurturing instincts. Both Joe and Marie are more than just types, though, possessing endearing quirks like amblyopia and a penchant for chocolate tortes and vinyl records.

Unfortunately, the book isn't as good as it ought to be, due to several broken fiction rules. Telling (not showing) happens on nearly every page, eliminating the chance for reader discovery. The author provides detailed physical characteristics and brief personal history for nearly every minor character, so the reader can't know who to pay attention to and who to disregard as a one-scene walk-on. Characters tend to speak in paragraphs, not lines. Marie's introspection, though sometimes compelling, also sometimes runs rampant.

In summary, more white space would have really improved this book.

However, though the style and mechanics beg for streamlining, the story itself held my attention. I wanted to find out what happened to Jolene and what would happen to Joe and Marie. The lack of resolution regarding a certain character's fate got under my skin (which means I cared, which is a good thing). Overall, while Oxygen didn't compel me to rush out for the author's next book, I found it worth the read. ( )

Highly recommended by a library patron, I listened to this book. Agree with another reviewer that it's amazing a practicing physician and mother of twins writes books as well! I was drawn into all the drama about a malpractice suit -- details of the world w/i the hospital, other staff, fear of blame, placing blame. The romantic element wasn't compelling but the twist at the end was a huge surprise., Enjoyed details of Seattle. 31/2 stars. (can't get my little stars to free up. ;) )