With Heart About the Heart
The Wet Engine is a book with heart about the heart. This book is not only homage to his son's surgeons, it is a wild and ponderous exploration of that which is miraculous in creation and in our very souls. Yes, we hear about the particulars of his terrifying and then triumphant experiences surrounding his son's heart condition, but we also have the heart exposed to us in all of its metaphorical, allegorical, and literal glory. Like Annie Dillard at Tinker Creek, Brian Doyle muses poetically about an amazing array of facts and figures about our hearts. And, like Brian Doyle, he plumbs those facts and figures and evokes awe and laughter and tears and he gives little nods and gestures to suggest that some amazing creator-genius may be lurking in those details. Are they the finger prints of God? Thank you Mr. Doyle. A great read.
Brian Doyle has an absolutely unique voice...
No one writes quite like Brian Doyle. He is lyrical, literate, unpredictable, unafraid, kind, and damned funny. In this book, he is also incredibly moving, as he writes about his son's wounded heart and the doctors who save him. As he explores all the emotions and science leading outward into the world from his family's journey, we share in his curiosity and his reverence and his joy. A fine book.
Walk in his shoes before criticizing!
This is definitely a beautiful tribute to his son AND his surgeons!
To those who may feel as though the author has resorted to "simple hero-worship", I must tell you that you will NEVER fully understand the author's position. He does, in fact, worship those surgeons. He puts them on a pedestal and will never be able to thank them enough.
I know this because those same surgeons, (Dr. McIrvin, Dr. Iguidbashian, Dr. Hagup) also performed surgery on my son who was born with the same heart defect of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. They are the epitome of pure genius.
I bought this book in part because it IS a tribute to those men. How would you feel about someone who gave your precious child the gift of life and hope?
Thank you, Mr. Doyle, for this moving story of hope, strength, inspiration, and admiration.
Didn't quite live up to its potential
This book could have been so good. There are moments where it becomes richly profound and genuinely moving - such as when Doyle considers the place of his son in his life, heart troubles and all - but then he slips back into what felt like simple hero-worship of the (admitedly talented) surgeon who saved his son's life.
I really wanted to love this book, but when I finished I felt more disappointed than truly moved.
The books only get better
I saw this book listed on your suggested items several months ago. I had purchased several of Brian's previous books and always found them uplifting and thought provoking. It was only a few days after I purchased this book, The Wet Engine that my wife had a heart attack so it brought home to me the frail qualities of our most important engine. Doyle writes with a very sensitive but yet funny style that kept me turning the pages even though I needed sleep. As his books go, I would recommend this one as a leap forward in his style and insight.
My highschool writing teacher told me that you need to write about something you know or are close to. Evidently Doyle understands this as all his writing is deeply personal and close to home.
