Coma: A Novel: Amazon.ca: Robin Cook: Books

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Patients undergoing routine surgery fail to awaken from anesthesia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Several small flakes of snow danced down Longwood Avenue in the half-light of February 23, 1976. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

41 Reviews

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (41 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best of the Genre, Aug 31 2004

By A Customer

I consider this novel to be one of the best examples of the 'medical thriller' genre.
I read it before I read 'Sphinx', so unlike some reviewers, I was unable to compare the two novels. However, this is THE book that turned me into a Robin Cook fan. He keeps writing and I keep coming back for more!
I disagree with other reviewers who claim that Cook's books are too technical and that the reader requires a medical background to understand the lingo. I think that the context of Cook's words render that unnecessary. I don't have a medical background and I've never had any difficulty in understanding the terminology. Cook's medical background lends an tone of authenticity to his novels.
Coma is highly suspenseful. I wouldn't recommend the book for a late night read if you're at home alone.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Dec 4 2003

By	pos3000 "tasidarr" (somewhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coma 25th Anniversary Edition (Mass Market Paperback)

One of the most amazing books ever it grabs you and wont let go it's just that good

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1.0 out of 5 stars Glad I borrowed it from the library rather than buying it., Jun 10 2003

By	Pheebie "pheebie" (Kenner, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coma 25th Anniversary Edition (Mass Market Paperback)

Cook's writing in this novel is mediocre, at best. Yes, his in-depth knowledge of medicine is evident, but maybe a little too evident. Case in point, when he's describing the main character, Susan Wheeler, he says of her physical appearance that she had, " . . . that American, Californian style that made eyes turn and hypothalamuses awaken." Oh, please! That description is, for lack of a better word, cheesy. Who describes someone in such medical terms? It's the kind of comment one doctor might make to another, but for the general reading public, it's just bad - laughably bad. This is only one example. There are several others where it seems the author wants to ensure the reader recognizes his abundant medical knowledge, when his energies would have been better spent focusing on character- and plot-development.
Another hurdle I couldn't overcome was his writing style. He often introduces a character, then repeatedly refers to the character by name when a simple pronoun would suffice. "To Bellows it was incomprehensible how an individual could do so much bodily damage to himself and still keep it up. Bellows did not smoke; Bellows had never smoked. It was incomprehensible to Bellows . . . " I felt like screaming, "Yes, I understand you're talking about BELLOWS!"
I know it sounds as though I'm being petty, but bad writing really bothers me, and this book seems to be chock-full of it. Maybe when I return this book to the library I'll check out another one of Cook's novels, just to give him a fair shot.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Suspensful
Susan Wheeler is a third year medical student who stumbles upon a series of "coincidental" deaths. Many patients who go into routine surgery come out in a coma. Read more

Published on May 25 2003 by Katherine H. Youngblood

5.0 out of 5 stars Coma
Robin Cook's Coma is a gripping medical thriller with lots of surprises. It all starts with some patients having surgery on minor injuries. Read more

Published on May 7 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars The Original Medical Thriller, Still Going Strong

This book, the original novel that propelled the author to the top of the medical thriller genre a quarter-century ago, is a gem. Read more

Published on Dec 13 2002 by Robert D. Steele

1.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK PUT ME IN A COMA!!!!
I'm actually a semi-fan of Robin Cook, especially for books on tape for long car trips (which is how I heard this one). Do not listen to the other reviewers. Read more