false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1256057739m/3180195.jpg 3180195 1 A new novel from the author of The House of God Samuel Shema??s classic novel about medical internship, The House of God, is required reading in medical schools throughout the world and is celebrated for its authentic description of medical training and practice, for its Rabelaisian comedy, and for its humanism and vision. His new novel, and most ambitious work yet, The Spirit of the Place, tells the story of an expatriate doctor called home to Columbia, New York, in the early 1980s to face his own history and that of the place. It is a novel of love and death, mothers and sons, ghosts and bullies, doctors and patients, illness and healing. Settled into a passionate relationship with an Italian yoga instructor and happily working in a European spa, Dr. Orville Rosea??s newfound peace is shattered by a telegram informing him of his mothera??s death. On his return to Columbia, a Hudson River town of quirky people and a??plagued by breakage,a?? he learns that his mother has willed him a large sum of money, her 1981 Chrysler, and her Victorian house in the center of town. But therea??s a catch: he must live in her house continuously for a year and thirteen days. As he struggles with his decisiona??whether to stay and meet the terms of the will or return to his love and life in Italya??Orville reconnects with Bill Starbuck, the town doctor who mentored a young Orville and who practices a long-ago kind of medicine that treats the working poor, people neglected and forgotten by the medical and insurance industries. Now in his seventies, and in need of help with the practice, Bill convinces Orville to stay. During the course of his year and thirteen days, Orville reacquaints himself with Columbia and Columbians. He reunites with his sister and niece and comes to terms with old rivals and bitter memories. And he doctors a community in desperate need of care. He also meets Miranda Braak, a remarkable young single mother who aspires to be the town historian. Her knowledge of and reverence for the past challenges Orville to examine his own history, and her courage, integrity, and love challenge him to grow. In this story filled with wit, pointed insight, and drama, Orville learns what it means to be a healer, and to be healed. The Spirit of the Place is Shem at his finesta??compassionate, capacious, funny, full of big ideas and memorable personalities. It offers an authentic, unvarnished portrait of the medical profession and underscores the crucial link between the health of individuals and the health of communities. 3212909 15 6 2008 The Spirit of the Place total:21|5:5|4:10|3:5|2:1| 21 82 52 7 4 0 false false Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun May 03 17:43:03 -0700 2009 Sun May 03 17:43:47 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Apr 17 09:50:06 -0700 2008 Thu Apr 17 09:52:22 -0700 2008 Samuel Shem

'The Spirit of the Place is written with a large heart, a healing touch, wry and wise insight into the human condition. Worthy of the Best of Samuel Shem, which is worthy indeed.'
James Carroll, National Book Award Winner and author of House o...more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 31 08:48:41 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 31 08:51:50 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Mon Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 07 17:10:58 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 14 14:24:11 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri May 30 04:24:40 -0700 2008 Fri Jun 20 16:01:33 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Jul 30 11:39:19 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 07 14:13:58 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Aug 18 16:17:03 -0700 2009 Thu Nov 12 06:47:21 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Thu Nov 19 10:25:00 -0800 2009 Thu Nov 19 10:25:00 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sun Nov 15 18:00:03 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 15 18:00:18 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Mon Oct 05 10:58:24 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 05 10:58:24 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Sep 05 19:15:00 -0700 2009 Sat Sep 05 19:15:00 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Aug 13 12:42:30 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 13 12:42:30 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Thu Aug 13 02:55:56 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 13 02:55:56 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Thu Jul 30 20:26:04 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 30 20:26:04 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jul 27 21:49:15 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 27 21:49:15 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Sat Jul 11 09:14:42 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 11 09:14:42 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Jun 13 19:37:15 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 13 19:37:15 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Jun 12 12:26:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 12 12:26:08 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue May 05 03:42:00 -0700 2009 Tue May 05 03:42:00 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Fri Apr 24 18:37:45 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 12 17:37:22 -0700 2009 Fri Apr 24 18:37:45 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=3180195