Harvest - 張儀安

A very good friend of mine had strongly suggested that I read this book, “ Harvest” by Tess Gerritsen, ever since she started the book. She told me that it was the first book in so many years that made her felt that she would rather die of exhaustion than put the book down. I just had to see for myself. And after the first few chapters, I can tell that my friend is not exaggerating at all.

This book revolves around a second-year medical resident, Abby Matteo, who seemed to have a bright future because she was just tapped as a potential recruit for the hospital’s cardiac transplant team. But all dreams for a great future popped like a bubble when she made the decision to give the only available heart to a poor fourteen-year-old boy who was the first alternative rather than a rich old lady whose husband has seemingly all the power in the world. This move started all her troubles, and the dirty truth behind the whole system is unveiled. Abby and her friend vowed to discover the truth. However, just like every dirty system in the world, this doesn’t allow anyone disturbing its existence either. And as the main characters dig deeper and deeper into the core, they’re also digging their tombs bigger and bigger. Finally, they’ve uncovered the shocking truth, all the people that they trusted, even the husband of Abby, are the masterminds behind the whole scheme. Even though both of the main characters survived at the end of the day, it still leaves me panting and gasping at every turn of a page.

After reading this book, it leaves me thinking. Is it really true that rich people can get away with everything just as long as they chuck in stashes of cash? Although in the very end, the rich wrongdoers were rounded up, but if it wasn’t for Abby Matteo and her friend’s determination to dig up the truth, it wouldn’t have happened. What if in real life, there really are places where dirty activities is happening and there is nobody there to speak up for us? Will we, people who are less financially powerful, become sitting ducks when we accidentally get in the rich and wealthy’s way? These are all very scary thoughts, however, it is very likely that these things really are going on around the world, and yet, there’s hardly anything we can do to change it. After reading this book, I’ve grown more certain of my decision to major in law, and I’ve vowed to dedicate my career to uncovering the deepest and darkest secrets of mankind.

All in all, this book is definitely a wonderful read. It didn’t become “the phenomenal New York Times bestseller” for nothing. I would most certainly recommend it to anyone who has a lot of time on his or her hands. Why? Well, this book isn’t one that you can stop whenever you want. You would stop only when you finish it, plus, there is no guarantee that you would read it only once. Trust me, this book, is just that good!