Have a Heart

by Antonio Gomes

It is the month of May, the year, 1998, the place, Lincoln Center. Ali and his mother attend the premiere of the ballet Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera House, where Anna, the Russian ballerina, is making her American Ballet Theatre debut as Odette/Odile. While dancing in the ballet, suddenly and unexpectedly, Anna, the Swan Queen, collapses, and the story begins. The next day, Dr. Ali is called to consult on Anna. He finds her in heart failure due to weakness of her heart muscle. Anna undergoes a barrage of tests and is crushed that her dancing days are over. During Anna's hospital stay, and subsequently, Anna and Ali, take a liking to each other and when her heart condition improves, they became lovers. Several months later, Ali meets Nancy, an investment analyst who works at the World Trade Center. He remains torn for his concern for Anna's health and his blossoming relationship with Nancy. In Have A Heart, Gomes explores the intertwined romantic and professional lives of three individuals, a torpid romance between a patient, Anna, and her doctor, Ali, the clash of cultures, the political upheavals of our times, the tribulations of waiting for a heart transplant, and the search for inner truth.

328 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2020

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Books Forward and Serving House Books for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Breathtaking descriptions of the ballet Swan Lake are the opening of this multifaceted novel. The beautiful, but flawed ballerina Anna is attention-seeking and not a very likeable character. The ongoing religious and cultural tensions between Ali and and his 2 relationships was very central to the novel.

It is helpful that the book contains a glossary of both ballet and medical terminology. Although Gomes writes with much eloquence, the novel does contain multiple spelling and grammar errors which will hopefully be worked out in future editions.

The topic of heart transplants is what initially attracted me to the novel, but I quickly became immersed in the cultural differences of the key players. As well, I enjoyed the ending which I thought was realistic.

[John Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading Dr. Antonio Gomes’ latest novel “Have a Heart.” It is highly readable. I had to make myself put it down as I was tempted to read it in one sitting. It flows and draws you into the narrative as well as offers introspection and learning by the characters. You care about each of the main characters. You delve into the intersection of the lives of doctors, performers, bankers and their families.

The politics and institutional complexities of medicine and hospitals depicted are real to anyone who has worked in organizations. I very much appreciate Dr. Gomes’ observations about social issues and some recent events in the life of the city. Have a Heart has credibility as a depiction of our time. In the context of the developing story we see Dr. Gomes insights into the dynamics of relationships and into how we develop as individuals. Having had some exposure to the medical world and the ailments in the book, I felt familiar with what and how the medical professionals and lay people deal with these issues.

Especially as we are at present not fully socializing, it was thrilling to (in the book) attend parties, go to restaurants, and walk in the streets and experience the richness of New York, the plethora of characters, personalities and different classes that we encounter. Like few other books I have read, Have a Heart provides a great depiction of the social and street life of Manhattan as well as other boroughs and the suburbs.

Have a Heart is a great read with depth and insight into character and our world.

[Melissa MacMaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have a Heart was a book that caught my heart and didn’t let go. This well written book danced on in my head and my heart, leaving me breathless. The book flows seamlessly, and it was hard to not digest the book in one sitting. I was tempted to but I wanted to savor the mastery of words and stories. I found out the author is a cardiologist, a master of knowing the heart and he shows it in a different way here with his book. The books shows love, character, determination, and how we overcome difficult times. We have people to rely on, a support system and they are there, even when we don’t see them.

[Courtney Halverson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story sounded intriguing but there was just something with the characters or the way the story was written that was not to my taste.

[morallyblackchaos · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF.