On the Ravine: A Novel

It comes through clearly that this novel is written by a medical doctor. The dilemmas faced by doctors dealing with patients who use websites and message boards to self diagnosis, treating addicts with empathy while protecting themselves, their staff and other patients, and negotiating the perceptions of the public and investors in regards to the vulnerable population that is his patient base that the physician main character does everyday ring true to life.

There were times that I had to put the book down and walk away as the scene was so true to life that it was painful. There were other scenes designed to make the reader uncomfortable, or assess their own privilege. One of the latter takes place in an expensive restaurant that is show more chosen to woo an investor. The menu has " the sustainability, the minimal footprint, sprinkling a kind of virtue to garnish and balance the richness of the meal."

During this meal the investor continues virtue signaling by "talking about the role of pharmacology in confronting, "systematic bias", "trauma", "colonialism""

In another paragraph he brings to mind the current problems with shortages of medications for those who need it by the privileged few who have the funds, or connections to access the limited supply. Ozempic is currently one of those medications. It also questions the disadvantaged who are part of drug trials, in this case, addicts, and who benefits the most from those medications.

There are many more themes to unpack in this book that can lead to a few hours of discussion. It is a short easy to read story for all of that.

I highly recommend. show less

I think the depiction of drug abuse is harrowing but the relationship between the doctor and Claire strained credibility. Visiting her frequently at her place of work,paying for her rent,loaning his condo to her-if every doctor treated one patient with this much particular care than the rest of the world would never receive treatment. I just couldn’t believe it.