35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must-Read, Even If You're Not A Doctor, December 1, 2003
This review is from: Testimony of Two Men (Hardcover)
I chose Testimony of Two Men from a list of choice novels in my English class. Having never heard of Caldwell previously, I decided to give her "medical novel" a try in hopes that it would shed some light on my future profession. In this particular novel, Caldwell applies her understanding of the Christian Bible to depict the absurdity of a popular American conviction - that the testimony of two men is true (John 8:17). This obvious allusion serves as one of the novel's prominent themes, hence its title. The main character, Jonathon Ferrier, affirms the prevalence of truth in the most unlikely forms. Other themes include the traitorous nature of humanity when "the going gets tough" and its reluctance to accept change, even if for the better.
Caldwell subtly employs symbolism in her acknowledgement of a nearby island known as "Heart's Ease." While one character asserts that only a woman could have named the tract with such sentimentality, the reader can assume that the name merely stands for a place of respite, quite possibly heaven. A motif of "the future" develops as the characters begin to weigh the long-term consequences of their actions. This device plays into the novel's stream-of-consciousness effect and offers some coherency regarding Ferrier's occasional flashbacks. Caldwell's fascinating authorship exhibits impressive medical accuracy, and her in-depth character development capture the imagination. Just when it seems that matters could not worsen for Jon, she incorporates an unexpected plot twist and further heightens the reader's interest.
As an aspiring physician, I found inspiration in Ferrier's quest to modernize the medical field. Some chapters tended toward redundancy, but this one negative aspect is overshadowed by Caldwell's extraordinary use of drama and conflict as she unveils an intriguingly darker side of society's advancement into the modern medical era. After reading Testimony of Two Men, anyone would be as adamant as I am about locating a copy of the 1977 film adaptation.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and inspirational book---, August 20, 2002
This review is from: Testimony of Two Men (Hardcover)
This book, which I originally read in the seventies, at the age of 12,completely mesmerized me. I still remember finish the book, and immediately turning to page one to begin reading it again. To this day it is one of the most satisfying reads of my life. Idealistic, intellectual challenging, romantic, this book is intensely honest about the human creature and their foibles and passions. Detailed in it's character development, and with an intricately laced story line, it is truly one of the great novels ever written. I have spent the past 15 years looking for a copy of the mini-series, and only hang on to my dog-eared copy for solace. Does anyone knows if a VHS copy of the mini-series is available? Could anyone be contacted to air the mini-series again? I will wait patiently.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Testimony of Two Men, December 28, 2005
I have a few books that I will never part with and which I read over and over again - Testimony of Two Men is one of these books. It is also on my recommended reading list to friends and family. Every few months I check to see if the mini-series has "finally" been released on VHS or preferably on DVD. This is a terrific book and worth the time spent reading it. Enjoy.
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