TELL ME WHERE IT HURTS

A day in the life of Boston veterinary surgeon Nick Trout is one thing after another. His memoir squeezes some of his most dramatic and unusual cases into one day, starting at 2:47 a.m. with an emergency call for a dog with a bloated stomach. Within that framework, Trout leaves room for flashbacks to his early career and reflections on what life is like for a modern vet. Simon Vance adeptly captures the mixture of pulse-pounding drama, heartfelt emotion, and sarcastic humor in Trout's lively writing and balances it with the facts and background that flesh out the portrait. Even if his life is more Jack Bauer than James Herriot in its urban demands, Trout's dedication and love of animals come through. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2008]