Brain

Rating:
Summary: Worth Reading
Review: Although this novel is over 20 years old, I found it interesting, intriguing, and shocking.

Dr. Martin Philips,Assistant Chief of Neuroradiology at Hobson University Medical Center is thrilled and intrigued with the new computer program that his colleague Michaels, a genius working in the Department of Artificial Intelligence presents to him. Eager to test his new program, Philips begins to try it out on a series of x-rays, and soon discovers some strange abnormalities in several patients, some whom have recently expired, and one who went missing. Soon, Dr. Philips begins to suspect that something very strange and unethical is taking place at Hobson Medical Center. As he pursues his investigation, he faces threats of losing his position, and inadvertantly discovers that the FBI may likely be involved in the illegal activities that are taking place at the Medical Center.
Although parts of this story dragged a little at times, I never lost interest, and found it to be a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Average But Not His Best
Review: From the back of the book "Martin Philips and Denise Sanger were Doctors, Lovers-and desperately afraid. Both of them suspected that something was wrong - terribly wrong - in the great medical research center where they worked." What is causing so many patients to die on the operating table? Why is it only females? Read this book to find out. However; don't be disappointed, as this is not one of the better works by Robin Cook.

Being an avid fan of Robin Cook, this book was definitely not his best work. Though enjoyable, I didn't find it as gripping as some of his other works and can only give this an average rating. Normally once I start a Cook novel I have a hard time putting it down but I didn't have that problem with this one. Not boring, but not as gripping and fast paced as some of his other works. In his usual manner, Mr. Cook is successful in describing the characters and setting the scenes with minimal words and doesn't drag it out as many authors do.

I found this book to be plausible yet was able to see through the plot from the very beginning. However, like most of his novels, this book will have you thinking hard about some of the goings on in the medical world today. When I hear or see something on the news regarding a medical breakthrough, I immediately begin thinking about the many Cook novels I have read.

For all of you Cook fans, like his many other novels, keep the dictionary handy for looking up those various medical terms. If you are new to Mr. Cook, I recommend starting with one of his other novels; but the same holds true for you as well about the dictionary. If I had to list one thing about the works of Robin Cook that drive me crazy, it would be that he has a tendency to forget that many of us are only lay people who are not familiar with much of the medical jargon he uses. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy his novels greatly.

My favorite novels and I have read many by Mr. Cook and the ones I would recommend for new comers to his works are:

Outbreak
Blind Sight
Contagion
Harmful Intent

The one I don't recommend for those new to Mr. Cook is:

Godplayer

Rating:
Summary: The best ever by Cook!
Review: I know some people have found it too technical but for me it was the best ever. For someone on the medical field who understands the terminology, the book is great. I was very surprised at the end since I had no idea who was behind all that was happening. I have read several of Cook's books as well as other medical thrillers but I think this was one of the best that I had ever read!

Rating:
Summary: Just as the doctor ordered
Review: If you see all my reviews of all RC's books that I have read, you will see that they are almost alike, when you finish one of these books you'll not want to go to any doctor at all, I have read many books written in this century (21st) that involve killing people to obtain their brains to make an "intelligent" computer, so if you think that this book is a "fairy tale" because it was written 25 years ago and it couldn't be possible you will get disappointed, maybe the explanation of how the computers work with the human brain is an easy way to explain it but you have to remember that this book was written in 1979, If you like these kind of books you can read Fountain Society by Wes Craven or Shadows by John Saul.

Rating:
Summary: Like many of his other books, needs a better ending...
Review: Interesting book when it comes to the idea of the medical field experimenting on humans. In this case, it's women who are patients at the GYN clinic. Heavy on the medical terminology, and Cook seemed to lose his focus for the ending which was disappointing. I wouldn't recommend the book to first time readers of Cook, as he's done better.

Rating:
Summary: Average But Not His Best
Review: Robin Cook is truly a classic writer of our age. His medical thrillers are surpassed by no one - except Michael Crichton, perhaps. I thought the pace of this particular novel was electrifying, and the romantic subplot one of the most emotionally gutwrenching that I have ever read.. Bravo!, Mr Cook - keep on writing !!!

Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: This books beginning and middle are good. What ever happened to the ending? There is no real ending. I expected more from Robin Cook. This book is all right, but I would recommed the other ones.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: Well ... this is another medical thriller that Mr. Cook get used to the readers. Even though this story is not so intense as the others thrillers I read to the point of boredom in some segments of the story because of the extreme medical descriptions that make us think that we are reading a textbook chapter, the plot is intriguing and attract attention.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: Well ... this is another medical thriller that Mr. Cook get used to the readers. Even though this story is not so intense as the others thrillers I read to the point of boredom in some segments of the story because of the extreme medical descriptions that make us think that we are reading a textbook chapter, the plot is intriguing and attract attention.