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Reviews tagging 'Murder'
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner by Judy Melinek, T. J. Mitchell
19 reviews
micksland's review against another edition
5.0
This memoir by Dr. Judy Melinek details her time as a medical examiner in New York City. People find a lot of creative ways to die in the Big Apple, and Dr. Melinek describes the process of autopsy and investigation with empathy and macabre humor. Americans really hate to think about death, preferring to see it as something that happens only in hospitals, separate from the "real world". The author encourages us to look at death in a more realistic and humane way, and I think that's a very valuable thing for readers to experience.
The memoir is told out of chronological order; first, we get more humorous anecdotes that draw the reader in and acclimate us to Dr. Melinek's narrative style. The stories get progressively darker as the narrative moves on, culminating in her work doing autopsies on victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and, immediately afterwards, on an anthrax attack victim. The book pulls zero punches and is a much stronger work for it. Overall, highly recommended.
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I would be remiss in writing this review if I did not speak about the surgical training aspect of the memoir. Dr. Melinek initially went to residency to become a surgeon before transitioning to pathology, but was driven out of the field by the inhuman working conditions. EVERY SINGLE MEDICAL MEMOIR that I have ever read has talked about the inhumanity of the working conditions in American surgical residencies. As a medical student, I was kept awake multiple times for 36 hour shifts, and that is nothing compared to the shit that surgical residents endure. Think about that: it is illegal to keep prisoners awake for 36 hours, but surgical training demands this on a regular basis. The cruelty is the point. It is an inherent part of the system for training surgeons in the United States. Everyone in the medical field knows this, and nothing will change until we call it out and demand better working conditions for residents. Call your Senators and Representatives and demand change - prevent the abuse that happened to Dr. Melinek and that is still happening to surgical trainees all around the country.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Suicide, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Blood
siobhanward's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Medical content
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Violence, Car accident, and Murder
grayraincurtain's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
hail_archangel's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide
There's an excellent chapter dealing with 9/11 and the immense nature of the rescue and recovery operation. Be warned, it is very graphic and intense.gracehunt1's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
dromedaryreader's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
coatpocketcreature's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Gore, Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Murder
Moderate: Grief
kimmy0__0's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
psychuhdelic's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
markitherainbowreader's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder