Monday Mornings

A Novel

By: Sanjay Gupta

Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Every time surgeons operate, they're betting their skills are better than the brain tumor, the faulty heart valve, the fractured femur. Sometimes, they're wrong. At Chelsea General, surgeons answer for bad outcomes at the Morbidity and Mortality conference, known as M & M. This extraordinary peek behind the curtain into what is considered the most secretive meeting in all of medicine is the back drop for the entire book.

Monday Mornings, by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, follows the lives of five surgeons at Chelsea General as they push the limits of their abilities and confront their personal and professional failings, often in front of their peers at M & M. It is on Monday mornings that reflection and introspection occurs, usually in private. It is Monday Mornings that provides a unique look at the real method in which surgeons learn - through their mistakes. It is Monday Mornings when, if you're lucky, you have a chance at redemption.

©2012 Sanjay Gupta (P)2012 Hachette

monday mornings. i enjoyed listening to this book

i will look forward to listening to another by this author it was hard to stop listening to once i got started

Good not great

Narrator took some getting used to - story line was a little shallow. There were so many characters that there could have been a lot of deep development but all were surface...

RN Review

If you could sum up Monday Mornings in three words, what would they be?

Enlightening, well-paced, eye-opening.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Monday Mornings?

Wrong site surgery at the end of the book.

What about Christian Rummel’s performance did you like?

Excellent interpretation. Two areas in need of improvement: a more defined pause between scenes - sometimes two distinct scenes ran into each other. I'm sure this was editing and not Mr. Rummel's performance. But the second area for improvement is Mr. Rummel's interpretation of female voices. Almost without exception, they brought to mind Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie. This was a significant annoyance for me.
However, overall, very enjoyable listening.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Too much to think about.

Medical terminology

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Readers understand that Dr. Gupta is a physician. The use of extensive medical terms irritated me as a medical professional. I found this use unnecessary to the story.

If you???ve listened to books by Sanjay Gupta before, how does this one compare?

What does Christian Rummel bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

Good voice changes for each character

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

NO

Truth in Medicine

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I wait avidly for new medical mystery fiction. I found the realism of so many areas in medicine refreshing. I would definitely recommend this book

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Several of the plot twists hinged on the fallibility of human judgment.

Any additional comments?

As a retired anesthesiologist, I questioned where the anesthesiologist was during the anesthesia history and physical which might well have elicited a red flag for the first brain surgery. I decided they must have shared negligence. I also wondered where the entire operating room team was for the

Reality

This book serves to remind us that doctors are only human, just like the best and the worst of us, who have home lives and past experiences that affect what they do every day. It wasn't one of those books you could not put down but you did want to come back and hear more about their lives. And there were a few surprises, just like in life.

Engaging

The story is very interesting and flows well. Great character building. I know doctors similar to the ones in the book. I a worked with one that could have been "El Gato Grande". He died of a heart attack at the early age of 48. Knowing the author is a physician makes the medical procedures and diagnosis very believable. I am looking for to Dr. Gupta next book.

The narration by Rummel was good but slightly dramatic at times. I personally could do without the music at the beginning and end. I found it distracting.

fast-paced fly on the wall read

great story with interesting characters. Fast-paced ER action keeps the story moving. Multiple story lines weave together to create the tapestry of hospital life

Was really disappointed in this book

Is there anything you would change about this book?

There were too many characters that were underdeveloped and uninteresting. He should have developed a few characters more in depth. Also, I don't think the author brought any drama to the M&M conferences. Flat and uninspiring.

Would you ever listen to anything by Sanjay Gupta again?

I might

Which character – as performed by Christian Rummel – was your favorite?

Vinueva (sorry if spelled wrong---audio, you know)

Did Monday Mornings inspire you to do anything?

Go back to my regular favorite fiction authors

Any additional comments?

I was disappointed. This sounded like it was going to be a great book. I've worked in the medical field, and it could have been really interesting, given the topic. I've also known real neurosurgeons, and they are usually more arrogant and not so friendly to each other.
An interesting theme wasted.

Exciting

An exciting listen. Stay focused, stay woke always. No one is infallible.
The end so poignant.
I loved it.