The Mystery of Breathing

by Perri Klass

An impassioned and gifted neonatal physician, Dr. Maggie Claymore fights for the lives of her newborn patients with a fierceness that has gained her the devotion of worried parents and sometimes the ire of her colleagues. Maggie is just shy of forty, and her career is on the she is on the verge of receiving a coveted promotion at a prestigious Boston research hospital. That is, until an anonymous hate campaign calls her credentials and her ethics into question, threatening to destroy her professional reputation. Suspicion and doubt begin to shade all of her relationships, from her professional connections to her own blissful marriage. Worst of all, the rumors surrounding her begin to shake her deepest sense of who she is.
Psychologically riveting, The Mystery of Breathing explores modern personal and ethical dilemmas in a story of one woman's struggle to mainatain her identity.

Genres: Fiction, Medical, Medicine, Novels

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Perri Klass is a pediatrician who writes fiction and non-fiction. She writes about children and families, about medicine, about food and travel, and about knitting. Her newest book is a novel, The Mercy Rule, and the book before that was a work of non-fiction, Treatment Kind and Fair: Letters to a Young Doctor, written in the form of letters to her older son as he starts medical school.
She lives in New York City, where she is Professor of Journalism and Pediatrics at New York University, and she has three children of her own. She is also Medical Director of Reach Out and Read, a national literacy organization which works through doctors and nurses to promote parents reading aloud to young children.
source: www.perriklass.com

Reviews

[Deanna Lack · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book. You think it's a mystery and then BAM! Three quarters thru you're suddenly in the perpetrator's head with no lead-up. Odd syntax. I just thought it was very poorly written. If I'm going to give up on a book I normally do it pretty early on but I got maybe 7/8 through this and just ditched it.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this author because she's a fairly well-known knitter, as well as a doctor. Since I'm kind of familiar with her through articles and patterns she has designed, I thought it would be interesting. I actually loved the book! There is a lot of profane language--well a lot for me--but in spite of that distraction I found the look into the thoughts and feelings of the characters really intriguing. It was also an interesting glimpse into the medical world that didn't require a medical degree to read and understand. The drama, the relationships, the stress, and the sheer aggravation of some of life's "injustices" made me unable to put it down until I finished it! If you're looking for complete resolution to a mystery, you might find this unsatisfying, but if you like subtle resolutions and good character development, you'll like this book!

[Michal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished it. It wasent a painful read. BUT I definitely agree with the people who said the book went downhill somewhere in the middle. The end was unsatisfying, some of the characters were just overly annoying in a very unlikable way. I do believe it tackled sexism in a very real life and subtle way. The writing was decent. I didn't suffer through this but it took me a really long time to finish because I just wasn't so interested.

[Understateddiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think of this book often because it was different than many other books I've read. While there are dramatic happenings on the surface, a lot of the book looks into the internal life of this doctor, who is stuck in a time of limbo in her life, and does a lot of reflecting about the professional her versus the personal her. If you've ever worked in any form of the medical field, or many professions where you connect with or help people, you're familiar with this push-pull. I loved that there was so much realism/subtlety; you don't usually get with fiction books that deal with medical or legal situations.

[Olivia Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the book at first, and was interested in the motives behind the antagonists actions; this is why the book completely tanked when it was revealed that the motive was… just that Hank was misogynistic and mildly annoyed by Maggie. The nail in the coffin was the fact that Maggie never learns who the perpetrator was. Maybe the joy could have been taken from the reader figuring out the mystery, if it weren’t for the fact that you just get told the answer with no prior clues. Completely unsatisfactory.

[Bridgette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disjointed, weak plot, little action, unsatisfying conclusion. Haven't disliked a book this much in a while...

If I wasn't so determined I would have abandoned this book.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome. This book was a new experience

[Lisa Marino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confusing - would not recommend.

[Maggie Fechner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the story of Maggie, a type A NICU doctor who comes under attack by a jealous colleague. The story was a quick read and interesting, but in the end, I didn't love the characters. It was fun however, to read about a Maggie and Dan, since my husband and I are a Maggie and Dan.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Most of the story takes place inside a hospital where I someday hope to work. While this was a fictional novel, I learned a lot of fun little trivia facts a long the way, such as that a fetus's skin is almost like a gel until 24 weeks. The author, Perri Klass, is herself a pediatrician and I like how she expressed her knowledge through Maggie, the main character. There was controversy in the book, like when the doctors were at a disagreement with what they should do with a severely sick baby. I am glad that Klass put this her book because I am sure it is a common occurrence inside hospitals.

There were a few things that I didn't like about the book. At the beginning it was really hard to read since it seemed to ramble and be all over the place. For example, in chapter 1 it says "Her baby, single-handedly and handily snatched away from death-are they taking proper care of him? Paying full and proper attention to his many needs? And anyway, who would send her an anonymous letter?" I understand that this is part of the author's character development since we are getting a glimpse into Maggie's mind to see the thoughts that flow from it. Elsewhere in the book, Klass doesn't use any distinguishing grammar to designate what is being spoken and what is being thought. It gets a little bit confusing. Especially in the beginning of the book, Maggie didn't seem like a real character. She seemed almost too perfect as we were told how she is organized, orderly, takes care with her appearance and is the best neonatal doctor around. She also cusses every once in awhile and I don't think it fits with Maggie's character. For somebody who cares so much about her reputation and appearance, she doesn't seem like the type of person to cuss.

The perpetrator does not get punished at the end. I am sure that bothers a lot of readers, but I actually praise Klass for ending her book like that. Not only is it an ending that reader's weren't expecting, it also makes the story more realitic. Every day people do harm to others and go unpunished for it.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was rather disappointed by this book, as I read a few of Klass' nonfiction books and had high expectations for this work of fiction. It wasn't a horrible book, but from an author I previously enjoyed, I was looking for more. The plot seemed weak, plodding along, and I felt like the resolution to the main conflict could have been better. That said, I suppose the resolution was probably closer to real life than most of the fiction books I read that have a tidy, if less than believable end.
Klass' protagonist, Dr. Maggie Claymore, is a neonatologist pushing 40 who has had no success having babies of her own and thus devotes herself fully to the high-risk babies she sees at work. When an anonymous source begins circulating posters calling into question her capability as a doctor and her commitment to the babies, she takes it very personally. The harassment escalates when another set of posters implicates her in the death of a patient on another unit, a child she only barely knew of and wasn't even able to get into the room when the code was called. Everyone in Maggie's life, from her colleagues, to her husband, even her college lover, are called into question by the detective investigating and skeletons from people's closets are revealed.
Midway through the book, Klass reveals who is harassing Maggie and why, but I was enjoying thinking it was someone else, someone unlikely but plausible, so I was disappointed to be wrong, as I thought having this person as the 'bad guy' could have lead to an interesting ethical and personal storyline. Perhaps that's why I was less than thrilled with the book, that the plot didn't initially engage me, and just when I was getting into it, Klass shot down my theory.
Overall, it wasn't horrible, I just thought it should have been better. Because of her history of writing good books, I'll probably give Klass' fiction one more try, but won't have such high expectations next time.

[Christi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. The plot was compelling enough to keep you interested and the character development rich enough but it was just missing something. prose? likeability? I like to like my main character. I respected her, I was along for the ride with her, but I didn't really like her. Funny, that was the point of the book -- lots of other characters didn't like her either. That was the driving force of the action -- someone not liking her so much he was trying to ruin her life. But it would have been great to see some of what the other characters who did like her saw, so the reader could like her too.

[Allyson McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of Mysteries of Breathing is a pediatrcian, whose columns and magazine articles I've sometimes run across and enjoyed. When I saw that she'd written a novel, I wanted to read it, and I'm glad I did. Howevever, Klass plays with the narrator, who is omniscient and not above judging the novel's protagonist, a woman pediatrician in a major city hospital who becomes the target of a smear campaign. For about the first third of the book, I wasn't sure how I would like it, but by the time I finished it, I very much admired Klass's story and am still thinking about it.

[Karen Benson · Rating 1 out of 5]

First, let me begin with the fact that it took me at least four months to read this. This was one of those books that you set aside to read something much more interesting, and pick it up every so often to read a few pages here and there.

I finally forced myself to sit down and finish it so I could move on and I think that the last 30 pages were the worst of the book. I should have stopped where I was.

Time to move on.

[Christi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read a book quite like this one, but I enjoyed it. This was a very quick read and more of a psychological study than a mystery. I understand the author is a pediatrician, which explains the many medical-specific descriptions which served to back up the real feel of this fiction rather than take away from it. Enjoyable overall, but I'm not certain I'd read another novel by this author.

[Diane Eskridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was left a bit confused, it was not at all what I was expecting, in the beginning or the end. I am not sure what I think at all based on that. It was not a bad book or a bad story by any means, but I am left wondering how the title is connected to the story. I cant quite find words and wonder if it is me...it would be nice to have someone else read the book and discuss it to see if anyone else feels this way after reading it.

[Metinperu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while I was working nights in the NICU, and it was very fitting. I really love working in the NICU, and this book shares some of that world with readers. It was an easy, fast-paced read and engrossing.

I am such a sucker for people who can write well about medical experience. It makes me feel understood, or something.

[Britta · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When you stomp out on a domestic scene, leaving your sparring partner behind, shocked by your sudden and decisive action, what you really want, of course, is to hear the running feet behind you, to be chased and caught by a penitent and guilt-stricken fellow who has realized with sudden, drastic force as the door slammed behind you that you are the sweetest and most precious thing in his life."

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was wholly unsatisfying. I rarely say that I wish I had not spent time reading a particular book, that I got nothing out of it, but this would be the exception. While the premise was promising, the story is all over the place. The writing is awkward, editing poor. Good concept turned bad.

[Tomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't care for books written in this tense...seems like you are always expecting an event that never happens. I did get more interested in it for a while, as the mystery part began; but that didn't last. There were loose ends left, several sections didn't seem to have anything to do with the story, and the author wimped out on the ending.

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the book is fiction, the author is a pediatrician. Writes about Maggie Claymore, a specialist who works in the NICU in a hospital in Boston. Someone begins posting flyers around the hospital, saying that she is a fake and harms patients. Is a good mystery that is revealed in the middle of the book. I enjoyed learning about the NICU and also about the relationships between doctors.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it I think to like it you have to read it more as a novel then a suspense book.

The heroine Maggie Claymore is a very dedicated neonatologist who is receiving threatening letters at work. This plot is not the best. However, it was interesting reading about Dr. Claymore, her life and her work.

[Suzanne Macartney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of female physician who works in the neonatal unit of a Boston hospital. Bumpy read in some place but smart and thoughtful. She works through a personal-professional crisis. I love workplace stories and enjoyed this one.

[Carmen Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I originally rated this a three, but the more I thought about it, I decided to change it to a two. It took me a while to get into it, and I'm not all that sure I ever did. And the end was unsatisfying. I guess I prefer my books all wrapped up and tidy with no loose ends sticking out.

[Andy Plonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though not much of a mystery this is quite a good tale. The main protagonist is a neonatal nurse and you learn a lot about care of premature infants. The title refers to the change in the way babies get oxygen when the become independent beings rather than "paracites" in their mother's body.

[Cranky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting book for the glimpse of NICU care. The end didn't satisfy me, though--I like my loose ends tied up.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was expecting more of a mystery not the best.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been beside my bed for a while. Another excellent novel by the great Perri Klass, perhaps her best.

[Elvira Millar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pediatrician writing about a neonatologist It made for a good read and a look into the NICU. A bit disjointed in parts but some good suspense.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been 4 stars until the end. I just felt like there were too many loose ends. I wanted more closure.