Random Winds (original 1980; edition 1987)

by Belva Plain

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Fiction. Literature. HTML:A tragedy on a cold Adirondack day robbed country doctor Enoch Farrell of his three oldest children. Then all his hopes rested with his son, Martin, who dreamed of becoming a doctor too. Intelligent, gifted Martin could have a brilliant future. All that stood in his way was his family's poverty�??until he met wealthy, beautiful Mary Fern Meig and her sister, Jessie, and everything changed forever. Moving from a teeming New York hospital to the elite operating theaters of London, Martin Farrell is about to learn the price of success�??a secret bargain with the Meigs that could resonate into the next generation . . . and test the strength of a man and a woman's passion across the coming years . . . Praise for Random Winds "Wonderful . . . A convincing, sweeping novel . . . A real page-turner."�??The Philadelphia Inquirer "Impossible to put down."�??South Bend Tribune "Engrossing."�??Publishers Weekly "Richly woven. . . . A twisting and complex story that touches the lives of everyone.… (more)

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Member:	bibliophileofalls
Title:	Random Winds
Authors:	Belva Plain
Info:	Dell (1987), Paperback, 528 pages
Collections:	Your library, To read
Rating:
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Random Winds by Belva Plain (1980)

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Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)

A family saga beginning in the early 1900's apparently, with the father Enoch as a rural doctor. Continues with his son Martin, a famous neurologist, and probably ends with Martin's daughter, Claire. However, I didn't finish the book, & set it in the free rack rather than waste anymore time. Much too long for the amount of interest Martin, the main character for much of the book, generates. The first half was fine as an average romance. It's somewhat unusual in having a male main character. He spent too much time bemoaning the fact that he was always marrying the wrong woman. Too much time thinking, in general.
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juniperSun | Feb 26, 2017 |

This is an early Belva Plain but boy is it good. The story concerns a young man who wants and then becomes an outstanding surgeon. However, the real plot involves his love for a woman, marrying her sister, marrying another woman and his continuing love for that first woman. It is well written and keeps you reading to find out what happens. I really enjoyed it.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To Whom It May Concern" and "Tell Me About the United Methodist Church" (

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whoizme8 | Nov 14, 2015 |

Sage 3 generations of Doctors of Farrel family - 3 generations love Martin + Mary Fern

From a quiet turn-of-the-century village in upstate New York to war-torn London, from the bedsides of the rural poor to the life-and-death urgency of a great New York City hospital, this is a powerful epic of three generations of doctors in one magnificent family. The Farrells-dedicated, brilliant.. and driven to the edge of destruction by a love no human force could suppress.

christinejoseph | Aug 26, 2015 |

Spanning from a quiet turn-of-the-century upstate New York community to a war-torn London, from the bedsides of the poor to a bustling New York emergency room, this book follows three generations in a family of doctors - the Farrells. The Farrells are brilliant, dedicated...and subject to a love that will bring them to the brink of destruction. I enjoyed this book from one of my favorite authors. I give it an A+! (

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moonshineandrosefire | Feb 5, 2012 |

Heartfelt family melodrama wound around the life of a New York neurosurgeon who grew up in the Adirondacks as the son of a country doctor, fell in love with the daughter of a local factory owner, but married her humpbacked sister to secure a professional opportunity. That marriage inevitably sours but he is soon reunited with his daughter, who follows him into medicine. A man of great professional probity, the protagonist is a romantic trainwreck. The plot may be overblown but the narrative and the style are skillful and pleasing. (

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TheoClarke | Sep 6, 2010 |

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Is contained in

Evergreen [and] Random Winds by Belva Plain

Evergreen / Random Wings / Eden Burning by Belva Plain

Is abridged in

Reader's Digest Condensed Books 1980 v03 by Reader's Digest

Reader's Digest Condensed Books: Fortress • Random Winds • The Gentle Jungle • Trojan Treasure by Reader's Digest

Readers Digest Condensed Books: Reflex / One Child / Random Winds / In the Sign of the Bear by Reader's Digest

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New York Times bestseller (Fiction – 1980)

Publishers Weekly Bestseller (Fiction – 1980)

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1980

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Epigraph

For where there is love of man, there is love of the art. --Aesculapius

Dedication

To my children, and to the memory of my parrents

First words

On Adirondack lakes ice boomed and cracked.

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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

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▾Book descriptions

Fiction. Literature. HTML:A tragedy on a cold Adirondack day robbed country doctor Enoch Farrell of his three oldest children. Then all his hopes rested with his son, Martin, who dreamed of becoming a doctor too. Intelligent, gifted Martin could have a brilliant future. All that stood in his way was his family's poverty�??until he met wealthy, beautiful Mary Fern Meig and her sister, Jessie, and everything changed forever. Moving from a teeming New York hospital to the elite operating theaters of London, Martin Farrell is about to learn the price of success�??a secret bargain with the Meigs that could resonate into the next generation . . . and test the strength of a man and a woman's passion across the coming years . . .
Praise for Random Winds
"Wonderful . . . A convincing, sweeping novel . . . A real page-turner."�??The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Impossible to put down."�??South Bend Tribune
"Engrossing."�??Publishers Weekly
"Richly woven. . . . A twisting and complex story that touches the lives of everyone.

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