Rothman conveys in a superb manner Agnes' feelings of being in no
man's land. I like Agnes and I felt like cheering her on. I also
like Jakob Hertzlich, her assistant, especially later on in the
story; at first, he appeared snobbish (but only slightly, and with
good reason). This book is well written and it is true to the times
and settings of the story.
The Heart Specialist is the best literary novel I've read thus far
this year. Even after I was done reading it, I was left to ponder
about it. It's an enjoyable read with believable characters
(although a particular part at the beginning might not be suitable
for the faint of heart). It's a book with a grand message about
humanity.