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Summary: Anatomy of Addiction and Relapse
Review: Dr. Vergesse has great powers of observation and uses them in a powerful way to record the demise of his young friend through cocaine addiction.For persons (especially medical Doctors) without intimate knowledge of the power of addiction this should be very informative. For those with personal knowledge (especially medical Doctors) it should also be helpful.
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Summary: For the Love of Tennis
Review: For any student of the game of tennis who is madly in love with the game and its ability to completely take over your life, 'The Tennis Partner' will ring true in many ways. Verghese understands the passion behind the game and how it can draw two men together despite the difficulties in their relationship. Written with a lucid prose, the book sometimes feels a bit raw in its emotion, but you can hardly fault the author for baring his soul about his love for the game of tennis and his desire to share it with his friend, despite his friend's struggle with drug addiction. The book also treads fragile ground by venturing forth into intense relationships between heterosexual men. The book is risky in its integrity as well as its intensity in the author's descriptions of his emotions for his tennis partner. But, best of all, he desribes beautifully what many of us love so much - the game of tennis.
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Summary: A Powerful Story of Searching and Harsh Truths
Review: Having been personally trained by Dr. Verghese, I can say that his talent is truly remarkable. It is rather interesting how he describes all the events and scenes of El Paso so vividly and true, that when you are actually at the many locations in the book, one can recall and relay the exact details he describes in The Tennis Partner. He is very poetic, with an incredibly eloquent touch of deepness in his writing. With his worldly experiences as well as his vast knowledge of medicine, Dr. Verghese truly treats his patients with 'culture and sensitivity.' Some may say that I am biased for having known him, but if you could meet him and actually be trained by him, you would be able to see his incredible compassion for his patients, his students, medicine, writing, and the world itself. Very admirable.
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Summary: Painful and Moving Study of the Dark Side of the Soul
Review: Having just finished this book for the second time, I feel compelled to write down my feelings. Verghese has that effect on you - a journal writer at heart, he brings out the writer in the reader. I see far too much of myself in David - for those in the know, the ease of relapse is both understandable and horrifying familiar. In the end, Verghese fails to understand the demons that haunt his best friend - but thankfully for him, this is due to a lack of walking in his shoes, rather than a deficit of compassion or intellect. I can't say that this book makes me feel good - but it does impart valuable knowledge on a variety of subjects. Recommended, but only to those who don't mind a little pain with their pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Painful and Moving Study of the Dark Side of the Soul
Review: Having just finished this book for the second time, I feel compelled to write down my feelings. Verghese has that effect on you - a journal writer at heart, he brings out the writer in the reader. I see far too much of myself in David - for those in the know, the ease of relapse is both understandable and horrifying familiar. In the end, Verghese fails to understand the demons that haunt his best friend - but thankfully for him, this is due to a lack of walking in his shoes, rather than a deficit of compassion or intellect. I can't say that this book makes me feel good - but it does impart valuable knowledge on a variety of subjects. Recommended, but only to those who don't mind a little pain with their pleasure.
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Summary: Second Verghese book as good as the first one
Review: Having read both of Dr. Verghese's books, I am an admirer and a fan of this writer. Both are intiguing and well-written and I didn't want to put them down. "My Own Country" and "The Tennis Partner" would be most enjoyable and interesting if they are both read. Waiting hopefully for Dr. Verghese to find the time to write a third book when his medical director's duties allow it.
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Summary: More literary that first book
Review: I am a huge Verghese fan; I have both books and try to keep up with his freelance work. This book is better crafted than his first, giving more insight into his emotional journey and that of his tennis partner. But I have to admit, I skimmed the parts where waxes on about tennis. If you check the credits at the back, you'll find many of these "mini-essays" began as magazine articles before he folded them into his story. But his indulgences don't ruin the read--there was more than enough to enjoy.
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Summary: A friendship?
Review: I am amazed that someone can consider type of relationship discribed here to be one of very close friends....the book title more aptly displays the depth of feeling, in my opinion. This book might be enjoyed by someone who adores tennis; as one who has no specific interest in it, those long segments of the book have no appeal...they might as well be discussing bowling...anything physical. This allows the writer to skirt issues instead of allowing close human interaction. I am amazed that what most women would consider an aquaintance, this writer considers to be a close (only?) friend. I think he has emotionally arrested development, though he seems kind, and most likely is an able physician.
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Summary: powerful, well written, insightful !
Review: I found this book hard to put down even though you know from the cover of this book that he loses his friend. As a retired R.N., Verghese's observations regarding physicians is astute and accurate. As a person who loves the game of tennis, his metaphors for life based on tennis are absolutely stunning. I will always remember the last sentence of this very well written book and I look forward to reading his future endeavors.
Rating: 
Summary: a big disappointment
Review: I had looked forward to this book, expecting an inciteful analysis of friendship and drug addiction. I loved "My Own Country", and lookd forward to enjoying this book as much. I was sorely disappointed; irritated by travel book descriptions of El Paso, smug case histories of patients, egocentric self-analysis of the author's relationship with others. I found little to explain WHY the two men were friends, outside of being tennis buddies, and almost no incite to the problems faced when a friend has a drug addiction. Perhaps my expectations were too high, you can't always hit a home run.
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