Paul Alkazraji's Blog - Posts Tagged "medical-students"

Baby, Baby by Mari Howard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars






Max’s microscope. His father confesses his errors.

The story in ‘Baby, Baby’ follows the course of the relationship between two Cambridge medical students, Max Mullins and Jenny Guthrie, as the oddest of circumstances throws them back together. Jenny’s stepsister, Daisy, has given birth to a stillborn dysmorphic baby, and intrigue is raised as to just how - given that Jenny’s father has an embryo research clinic and that Daisy has visited its Colombian laboratory. Can they maintain detachment in the mutual magnetism as they investigate together?

As their relationship progresses they must deal too with the reactions of their families as Jenny, the Cornish secular humanist, encounters Max’s kin: Max is a devout Scots minister’s laddie. The author nicely raises questions about bigotry and broadmindedness and who in reality is guilty of what.

‘The course of true love never did run smooth’, and I liked the moment where Jenny bolts from Max’s engagement proposal by hitching a ride to the West Country in an AA recovery vehicle leaving Max temporarily dumped in the service station car park. There is nice descriptive writing such as a reception with ‘…stiff white cloth, porcelain army of tiny white cups and saucers – where delicately boned girls are serving real coffee from wide-bottomed Pyrex jugs.’ There is dialogue that will bring a knowing smile to any hospital patient’s face. ‘Everything they do here they do in kiddies’ medi-speak,’ says the no-nonsense Daisy. ‘Let me just pop this into your vein, can you cough for me, have you had a wee this morning?’ They laugh.’

‘Baby, Baby’ is a novel: not a genre medical romance. The writing is brisk and witty and Mari Howard has an astute awareness of people and their relationships that enables her to immerse the reader in an authentic and intelligent slice of family life.

By this reviewer:








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