Toxin

Rating:
Summary: Weak stomachs beware
Review: Robin Cook did a great job of trying to make all of us vegetarians but the story fell short. The main character is so obnoxious! His daughter shows him her hamburger is uncooked and he is so unconcerned he tells her to eat it anyway. She gets sick and he tells her she is going skating anyway. He takes her to the emergency room and DEMANDS special treatment ahead of priority patients. He knows more about what should be done than doctor workings in their specialty. He is so out of control it is ridiculous. Robin Cook doesn't like the way medical care is going in this country or the way our government agencies are in bed with the people they are supposed to monitor. He brings this out loud and clear, but it would have been nice to have had some decent characters to go along with his soap box.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: TOXIN is a gripping read. It is not just a page-turning Robin Cook novel, but probably the most critical popular book about the meat industry since Sinclair Lewis's legendary novel THE JUNGLE. (It's actually better than THE JUNGLE, I think!) And as page-turning suspense, it's the most thrilling read I've had since THE SHAPE by Craig Furnas. TOXIN could only be written by someone who is a medical doctor as is Robin Cook. Read it and enjoy the book. But don't expect to enjoy your next hamburger afterwards!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: How Disappointing
Review: A book to put down. This latest work of Cook started out as just boring, soon escalated to annoying and ended up thoroughly disappointing. Cook needs to stop producing books from the same tired mold. (strong, competent yet mistreated female Dr.; poor little sick child; neanderthal-thinking men; profit obsessed & ruthless hospital administrators and insurance companies as the villians) We have all seen this in his past works and Toxin is yet another churning out of the same old theme. It worked well before but its time to move on. Has Cook's fame and notoriety have left him out of touch with his reading public?

Rating:
Summary: Too rich to think?
Review: From the past experience, Robin Cook's books are entertaining to a point, not usually the best character developer, and almost all stories were formed from a same mold, but, nevertheless, entertaining... This book was first came from the same model; second, out of charcter characters; third, single, one-dimentional storyline; fourth.... I'm sorry that I can't say enough unpleasnt details in such a small space. Also, the abridgement of the audio book was poorly done. It has kind of top heavy, chop off the tail to fit in to 4 cassetts flavor. Very disappointed was the review from me.

Rating:
Summary: A great read that will convince most readers to give up meat
Review: Robin Cook does an excellent job of involving the reader in the story of a meat industry and inspection team run amok. The situation of his only daughter's death is realistic in a world where mad cow disease and E. Coli make headlines frequently. The big problem with the book comes with the interpersonal relationships, but Cook does a fantastic job of convincing the reader that the USDA should not be in charge of inspecting and grading meats. As usual, the book leaves the reader wishing he could do something to change the situation, other than read about the deaths of innocents.

Rating:
Summary: Well written, but disturbing subject matter!
Review: This is not a book for those with weak stomachs, it is at times a very difficult read- particularly for a parent whose child might eat at a fast food restaurant. Dr. Cook gets his usual digs into the current status of the Health Industry, specifically HMO's. Throughout Cook maintains a high level of suspense as we've come to expect.

Rating:
Summary: No burgers for me!
Review: I have read most of Cook's novels and this is the firsxt one that affected me like this. Others in the room were cracking up as I let some "ewwww's" and "gross" escape my lips. I was thoroughly disgusted by the descriptions of the meat industry. However, I did finish the book cover to cover in one day. It is definitely a page turner!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: In spite of what should have been riveting subject matter, this book fails. You get tired of the author fighting his battles through his characters. I'm sorry but when I'm reading escapist fare, I don't want to hear repeated whinnings about how the health care system is ripping off these several hundred thousand dollar a year specialists. Too much of Cook's own agenda repeatedly spilled through to his characters. Too much preaching, too little character development!

Rating:
Summary: BETTER THAN CHROMOSONE 6
Review: I enjoy Robin Cook's books - I think I've read them all. This book is one of his better ones. The plot kept me interested throughout and the descriptions of the slaughterhouse bothered me, but not enough to give up beef. I think there is nothing more tragic than having to bury one of your children, especially the way Kim's daughter Becky died. (By the way, the synopsis of this book says that Kim's SON gets sick and dies. Where did that come from?!?) I didn't buy the sudden reconciliation of Kim and Tracy, though, and the ending was pretty weak. All in all, it was an interesting book, a little above average, and I would buy his next book without hesitation.

Rating:
Summary: Great read up to end but the end was worthless
Review: I've read every Cook-book written. Toxin was one of the fastest I've ever read, it was intriging and fast-paced but left me looking for answers at the end of the story. I want some closure with the characters. I actually thought they may have left out a few pages or a chapter! Its not like Cook to leave us hanging. The meat-industry pounding was a bit heavy handed. However, the old boys club mentality portrayed among the meat industry movers and shakers was as accurate as ever. After Oprah, the book only reiterated how chummy these old boys are and how they'll stop at nothing to keep their rear ends covered! Good read but truly lousy ending!