Jacinta Halloran

This was a good book for me. It's an account of the consequences of a serious mistake by a general practice doctor. It appealed to me because I'm often very troubled by my own errors at work - the self-examination, the feelings of guilt, the difficulty in moving on. I'm also somewhat interested in the practice of medicine (because I encounter so much in my role as a patient) so it was good to read the view from the other side of the desk. Further, I liked the way Halloran incorporated marriage and family relationship issues into the story. Those without an interest in medicine might find the book a little too 'clinical', and I did feel that it finished rather suddenly. Nonetheless, the completion was quite satisfying in the sense that enough loose ends were tied up, without leaving the future events completely clarified. I listened to an audiobook version, and I reckon the reader (Jane Nolan) did a pretty good job.… (mais)

The Science of Appearances is Jacinta Halloran’s third novel, and although it’s less intense than its predecessors, I enjoyed it very much.

Dissection (2008, see my review) was Halloran’s debut: it tells the story of a doctor in personal and professional crisis when a malpractice suit is lodged against her. Pilgrimage (2012, see my review) is also an exploration of self-doubt, tracing the psychological journey of a paediatrician with a secular-scientific view of the world who is suddenly confronted by her mother’s desire to make a pilgrimage to Romania, seeking a miracle cure for her terminal illness. Both these novels focus on relationships in the lives of professional women and how they make things messy. The Science of Appearances has a broader canvas and a sunnier tone despite some confronting episodes. And this time the two central characters are non-identical twins, Dominic and Mary.

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2016/10/10/the-science-of-appearances-by-jacinta-hallor...… (mais)

I really liked this book. Halloran has written an insightful and realistic story of a mother's response (a pilgrimage) to her development of a terminal disease. The involvement of her daughters and the impact of the mother's pilgrimage on her daughters and all their relationships is explored. Lesser authors (I'm looking at you, Jodi P) would have ended this book in a predictable, emotive and melodramatic way, but Halloran avoids that in a very intelligent and thoughtful conclusion that kept me interested right up to the last word.… (mais)