Dreaming Awake

SamuelShem'snovelaboutmedicalinternship,THEHOUSEOFGOD,isaclassic,notedinTheLancetasoneofthetwomostsignificantAmericannovelsofthe20thcentury,praisedbyJohnUpdike.Ithassoldmillionsofcopiesandisrequiredreadinginmedicalschoolsthroughouttheworld.It,MOUNTMISERY,andFINEarecelebratedfortheirauthenticdescriptionofmedicaltrainingandpractice,fortheirdazzling,Rabelaisiancomedy,andfortheirhumanismandvision.THESPIRITOFTHEPLACEisShem'smostambitiousworkyet.Itgoesbeyondafocusonyoungdoctors-in-trainingtothatofaworld-traveleddoctorcalledhometobecomethedoctortothesmalltownheranfrom,tofacehisownhistoryandthatoftheplace.Itisanovelofloveanddeath,mothersandsons,ghostsandbullies,doctorsandpatients,illnessandhealing.Afteradivorceandayearofwanderingtheworldwith"DoctorsWithoutBorders,"OrvilleRosehassettledintoanewlovewithanItalianBuddhistteacher,CelestinaPolo.Atelegraminformshimthathismotherhasdied.HereturnstoColumbia,"aHudsonRivertownplaguedbybreakage",andisstartledbyhismother'swill:shehaslefthimanenormoussumofmoneyandherhistorichome.Thereisacatch:hemustliveinherhouseontheCourthouseSquarecontinuouslyforayearandthirteendays.ButOrvilledesperatelywantstoreturntoEuropeandCelestina.Ashestruggleswithhisdecision,here-connectswiththemanwhohadbeenhissurrogatefather,BillStarbuck-thekindofsmalltowndoctornowextinct.Bill'sdustyofficefeaturesaprominent'YESSMOKING'signandacacheofhishomeremedy'"Starbusol."Billtreatstheworkingpoor,peoplethatthemedicalandinsuranceindustryhaveshutout.Nowinhisseventies,Billneedsabreak,andtalksOrvilleintohelpingout.HetakesoverBill'spracticeandplungesintothegrimrealitiesofAmericanlife-asperhapsonlydoctorsaresubjectedtowithsuchgrindingregularity:"Alcoholandviolence.MurderasgrislyasAngola.MalnutritionasbadastheThirdWorld.Acornucopiaofdrugs.Epidemicsmokingandobesity.""History"isoneofthecentralthemesofthenovel,elaboratedinaromancebetweenOrvilleandaremarkableyoungmother,MirandaBraak,whoaspirestobetheColumbianhistorian.HerdeepknowledgeofthepastchallengesOrvilletogetperspectiveonhispresentcrisis;herloveandintegritychallengehimtogrow.Inastorytoldwiththeineffable"Shem-humor",pointedinsightanddrama,Orvillefaceshispatients,hispastfriendsanddemons,andthefloatingpresenceofhisdeadmother,learningtobea'healer'andapartof'thespiritoftheplace.'THESPIRITOFTHEPLACEisShemathisfinest-compassionate,capacious,funny,fullofbigideasandmemorablepersonalities.Itoffersanauthentic,unvarnishedportraitofthemedicalprofessionandunderscoresthecruciallinkbetweenthehealthofindividualsandthehealthofcommunitiesatacrucialperiodofAmericanhistory.Thisistrulyagreatnovel.