The Fourth Procedure

Rating:
Summary: An interesting idea defeated by one dimensional characters
Review: The book is a look at the politics and policy issues raised by the contest over legalized abortion. The author poses one interesting idea, although not new, and several minor ideas. Unfortunately, every character is one-dimensional and all appear to be political cliches from NARAL literature. I would like to see a book that somehow combines the competing virtures and vices in both sides of this controversy. The best I can recommend is a reading of this book with an equally-flawed pro-life novel, such as Deadline by Randy Alcorn. In each, the authors tend to present their side as being more human, with the other a mere cliche.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting, great read
Review: There are lots of characters but once you get them all straight the plot that involves them all is without equal. The book is thought-provoking, ironic, sad, amusing, heart-stopping. It delivered to the last page. Refreshing creativity. Pro life, pro choice, something for all.

Rating:
Summary: Oh! The Irony!
Review: There is not much of a medical thriller here as the novel revolves around the pro-life - pro-choice debate, pitting Jack McCloed, a pro-choice Congressman, his live-in Significant Other, and surgeon Rachel Redpath against the new Chief Justice, Abner Titus and his pro-life allies against one another. Where Pottinger excels here is toward the end when the parties are forced into a reversal of roles revealing the ironic potential in the lives and staked-out positions of these characters. The author, an old "Wahsington hand" does not deal as well - I should say, as realistically - with the Washington scene, as witness the seeming lack of fall-out for Jack when his past misdeeds are revealed. Nor do his characters seem to be real; had they been more realistic, or better drawn, they might have evoked a deeper caring from this reader. Their childhood traumas seemed too coincidental, their stances on the single issue of the book too stark, especially the pro-life characters. Pottinger might in fact be charged with writing a pro-choice tract here. What is missing is the suspense angle as the outcome began to telegraph itself early on. In fact, given the book's length (562 pp in paperback) one had to wonder if and when the thing would ever end. But, it was, for all that, a fairly quick and easy read. Good for planes and trains, but short on thoughtful introspection.

Rating:
Summary: Wild, clever, hilarious
Review: There's nothing original or insightful here about the abortion debate, and if you're tired of that whole set of hackneyed issues, you might not care to pick up another genre novel centering on the issue--it isn't exactly a rare theme. I did find the "treatment" of the abortion issue here tiresome, because completely unoriginal. But pick this up this book anyway. This is one of the funniest, most inventive books you'll ever read.

I'm not sure it means to be that. But it is so ludicrous, yet so well carried off, that I found myself thoroughly captivated and unable to stop laughing.

Psychologically, the book makes absolutely no sense whatsoever--none of these characters is remotely believable outside the fantasy world of murder mysteries. But in this case, that just doesn't really matter. If you can suspend disbelief and treat the thing like a very elaborate, brilliant farce, you'll love it.

Rating:
Summary: A Mystery and an Ethical Dilema
Review: This book definitely made me think. Fundamentally the book focuses on the lives of a Supreme Court judge, and an attorney, both male, on opposing sides of the abortion debate. The mystery throughout the book focuses on the deaths of several women who seem to have bled to death during or shortly after what appear to have been emergency hysterectomies. In addition there is a slight focus on the attorney and his relationship with his long time girlfriend. The romance and the mystery alone were quite intriguing to me. However the ethical question is what sticks with me despite having read this book three years ago. All I can say without revealing too much is, the book ends up placing the two men in the position of feeling sympathy for the other side's view, in a personal, somewhat suprising way.

Rating:
Summary: the fourth procedure
Review: This book is not well written, has too many uninteresting, stereotyped characters and, while very dense, is not worth the time it takes to make your way through all his words. I will not finish it and could not recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: great book but where is he now?
Review: This is a great story by an author who has done an incredible amount of research prior to his writing. I am waiting for a new release but have yet to see it. Sort of sci-fi but could happen.

Rating:
Summary: A Stirring Novel
Review: This novel is exciting and inspiring. I feel it expresses the view of the pro-choice female well and without being too preachy. The story itself is also complex and interesting enough to hold any readers intrest. I especially enjoyed Rachel's speech to the court. I recommend this book to any reader, and look forward to more of Pottinger's work.

Rating:
Summary: Ethical dilemmas provide fertile ground for suspense.
Review: This solid debut novel from the lawyer once named one of Time magazine's "Future Leaders of America" focuses on the highly personal, highly controversial issue of abortion. It is billed as a story of medical suspense, but it also combines political and legal elements into a fascinating, thought-provoking, and gripping plot.

Several characters share center stage in "The Fourth Procedure." The most interesting of them is Congressman Jack MacLeod, a pro-choice politician who finds himself the center of attention when anti-abortionist protesters focus their efforts on his home turf of Syracuse, New York. There the pro-life leader Eli Graves, a rather unsympathetic character, digs up the dirt from Jack's past, threatening to expose his dark past.

The medical aspects of "The Fourth Procedure" appear to be well-researched and accurate, a definite plus. In addition to providing a well-crafted and exciting story, Pottinger does an excellent job of showing both sides of the abortion issue, placing his characters in soul-searching situations that prompt the reader to wonder, "what if it were me?" 

If you like a book that challenges you to think a little while it entertains you, then you should enjoy this remarkable debut from a very promising writer. I look forward to what he does next.

Rating:
Summary: Ethical dilemmas provide fertile ground for suspense.
Review: This solid debut novel from the lawyer once named one of Time magazine's "Future Leaders of America" focuses on the highly personal, highly controversial issue of abortion. It is billed as a story of medical suspense, but it also combines political and legal elements into a fascinating, thought-provoking, and gripping plot.

Several characters share center stage in "The Fourth Procedure." The most interesting of them is Congressman Jack MacLeod, a pro-choice politician who finds himself the center of attention when anti-abortionist protesters focus their efforts on his home turf of Syracuse, New York. There the pro-life leader Eli Graves, a rather unsympathetic character, digs up the dirt from Jack's past, threatening to expose his dark past.

The medical aspects of "The Fourth Procedure" appear to be well-researched and accurate, a definite plus. In addition to providing a well-crafted and exciting story, Pottinger does an excellent job of showing both sides of the abortion issue, placing his characters in soul-searching situations that prompt the reader to wonder, "what if it were me?" 

If you like a book that challenges you to think a little while it entertains you, then you should enjoy this remarkable debut from a very promising writer. I look forward to what he does next.