I took a chance with this book. I liked it, it dragged on in parts, but it was a great story all around. I my not be familiar with most of the medical terms, and procedures that were described in the story but it doesn't leave you going what the heck is she talking about?! Not a quick read.

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I just finished reading Oxygen and it it certainly worth reading, espcially if you are a member of a pediatric medical care team. Very well written and heart reaching. A good and educational read.

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Good first novel, though it does get off to a slightly slow start with two chapters of day to day things before any of the action really begins. The first two chapters could have been easily eliminatd without affecting the story.

Overall good story about a tragic incident and the painful aftermath. Written in first person - done very well. Very good literary novel debut.

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"Oxygen" is narrated by Dr. Marie Heaton, a Seattle-based anesthesiologist whose young patient dies on the operating table. Dr. Heaton struggles to forgive herself for the child's death while she navigates the world of malpractice suits, hospital bureaucracy and untrustworthy colleagues. Interwoven into the novel are Dr. Heaton's relationships with her on/off lover, sister and her aging father.

The highlights of the novel: Knowing that the novel was written by a practicing anesthesiologist added to its appeal; it's not exactly a medical novel, but Cassella did a beautiful job describing medical details and relationships between doctors and patients. She showed that there is a whole other side to malpractice suits, and that doctors can suffer just as much as the family whose loved one died or was injured. In Dr. Heaton's case, it was almost as if she was guilty until proven innocent, and not the other way around. The hook or climax towards the end of the book pulled me back in just as I was getting slightly disinterested with the story. Overall, I think Cassella has a very readable writing style and I look forward to her future novels.

Now for the pitfalls: The novel was too predictable; Cassella's use of foreshadowing was all too obvious and even the final twist was not that surprising. I think much of the fault lies with the book summary on the back cover - it's too detailed, leaving nothing to the imagination. Also, the end of the novel is too tidy, too rushed. Cassella could have delved further into Dr. Heaton's relationship with her family members; her feelings post the malpractice suit, etc. Instead, she forced a perfect ending that just did not feel real.

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