I liked this third book in the Cole trilogy, but it was my least favorite of the three. First of all, it took place in the 1990's, which is a bit too comtemporary for me. The story seemed a bit more laid back than the other 2 novels in the trilogy. Nothing terribly exciting happened to the main character R.J.,and I just didn't care as much about her as I have cared about the main characters in the previous books. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book. It was easy to read. I did think that the book could have gone a bit further...I wondered about RJ's baby at the end and what happened to the baby. And did she ever tell David that he was going to be a father? I guess we'll never know.

This is the third book in the Cole medical dynasty series. This book was in the present day about a woman doctor in the Cole line. She becomes a country doctor. Abortion was an issue. It explained my feelings well.

I had previously read Gordon's The Physician which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was intrigued by this jacket because I thought he only wrote historical fiction, and this book is set in contemporary times. It's the last in the Cole family trilogy. Gordon never simply has his characters act; he always lets you into their thoughts as they struggle with choices they have to deal with in life.

“I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard” (Col. Slide’s speech in ‘Scent of a Woman’). Matters of choice, in general. But there are also matters of a rather specific choice, and there are armies out there, “Pro-life” armies, to take it away from us (yes, from all of us, my ladies, because often it is a matter of our joint choice, not only our partners’). Now, in the last book of the Coles’ trilogy, we are back to our own time.Yet another descendent of Robe Cole and the last owner of Avicenna’s lancet is Roberta Jeanne d’Arc Cole, M.D., a successful Bostonian doctor. Roberta shares persistence and perseverance with Robe, as well as the medical gift, and another gift, the gift to make the right choices, with Robert “Shaman” Cole of the Illinois Territory in the 1850s. So when she makes the choice to stand up for the lives and well-being of other women, and remains one of the last abortion providers in Boston, it will cost her dearly.
As a piece of literature, it is less well written than the previous two. But its relevance and humanistic message ensure the 4 out of 5 grade for this book.

Nebolo to az take zazivne ako predosle dva diely, ale snaha sa ceni.

Leído en 1996.

Fin de la trilogía y digno fin. Trama ya en tiempos “actuales”, Gordon cierra la saga con las virtudes y los defectos de los dos anteriores.

Fue por esta trilogía por lo que cogió fama este autor no muy prolífico.

(Aunque las notas en GR no sean muy buenas a mi me gustó mucho La Bodega, tb de este autor)

While I appreciate the author's efforts in bringing his saga about generations of Cole family physicians into the 20th century, this book sure seemed like a novel in search of a plot. The ending just sort of ran out of steam as though Gordon got really, really tired of RJ & everyone else. I know I did.

Once again, Noah Gordon wraps a sense of modern reality in the story of the Coles. For me, personally, this wasn't the brightest of the trilogy, but that is most likely due to the fact that it is set in 'today's world. My knowledge is deeper about the issues, so R.J's experiences were not unexpected as it relates to the practice of medicine. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Matters of Choice is the third book of Noah Gordon's successful trilogy. This part takes a jump of several centuries, focusing on the life of one of the descendants of the protagonist of the first novel. Like the first part, the medicine will be the thread of the plot, but this time, the main character is a female that will have to confront gender bias in a difficult time to be a woman doctor. For me, this book is even better than the first, especially for the realistic atmosphere of the time and the strength of the main character. It’s a fiction book that mixes adventure, drama and above all, a journey through the exciting world of science.

Spanish version:
La doctora cole es el tercer libro de la exitosa trilogía de Noah Gordon. Esta parte hace un salto de varios siglos para centrarnos en la vida de una de las descendientes del protagonista de la primera novela. Como en la primera parte, la medicina será el hilo conductor de la trama, pero esta vez se e añadirá el hecho de que la protagonista femenina deberá enfrentarse a los prejuicios de sexo en una época difícil para una mujer médico. Para mí este libro es aún mejor que el primero, sobretodo por la genial ambientación de la época y la fuerza de su protagonista. Es un libro de ficción que mezcla aventuras, drama y sobretodo un viaje a través del apasionante mundo de la ciencia y las personas.

Encerrou essa trilogia com chave de ouro, embora, ironicamente, não tenha um final tão "fechadinho" assim. Definitivamente, não é o melhor dos três livros - o primeiro é de longe meu preferido - mas, ainda sim, uma leitura bem gostosa.
Essa trilogia está super indicada para todos os leitores que tem interesse na parte histórica da evolução da medicina e seus diversos impactos na sociedade.

To end the trilogy, Gordon offers us a current story, whose protagonist is a woman who faces the problems of today's society, Dr Roberta J. Cole, who after suffering a series of traumatic personal experiences makes the decision to completely change her lifestyle and become a rural doctor.
An entertaining story with a bittersweet ending (such a coward, David).
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Para poner fin a la trilogía, Gordon, nos ofrece una historia actual, cuya protagonista es una mujer que se enfrenta a los problemas de la sociedad de hoy en día, la Dra. Roberta J. Cole, quien tras sufrir una serie de traumáticas experiencias personales toma la decisión de cambiar totalmente su estilo de vida y convertirse en una médica rural.
Una historia entretenida con un final agridulce (qué cobarde, David).

Es un libro que me ha entretenido, fácil de leer, y ha conseguido que me ponga en el papel de la doctora Roberta Cole.

"La doctora Cole" de Noah Gordon