When I was a little girl, my father was an employee of the Wilson Meat Packing Company in Oklahoma City. Armour foods had a meat packing plant there too. Daddy was a member of the Wilson security force.
Every Wednesday was payday. Generally our whole family would get in the car and make the trip to "Packing Town", also known as Stockyards City.
We would wait in the car for Daddy to go in and get his check. Often, he would let me accompany him when he went inside. I will never forget the day that we rode on the freight elevator that served the "kill floor"!
The nauseating stench on that elevator was indescribable. If you once smell it, you will never forget it, but if you have never gotten a whiff of the odor, you can't begin to imagine the intensity of it. I was gagging and holding my nose, much to the amusement of the other passengers. Daddy told me to quit making such a show, and made me take my hand from my nose. Apparently, the plant employees had all become used to the smell and didn't notice it. (I think that some of their sense of smell had been destroyed!)Never again would I go in the plant with Daddy without making sure
we would not ride that elevator again!
In his book, TOXIN, Robin Cook has a passage describing slaughter house procedure. It explains why the stench was so strong and nauseating. This passage brought back vivid memories to me.
TOXIN is the first book I have read in a couple of months that I wanted to write a review about. Actually, I didn't read it. I listened to it
on audio cassettes I had checked out from the library. I have found that listening to stories helps me relax and go to sleep at night.
This is a gripping tale right from the start. In essence, it is the story of a cardiologist whose daughter develops E.coli poisoning from a hamburger she has eaten at a local fast food restaurant.
His ex wife and he are devastated by the terrible illness of their daughter. The doctor, Kim Regis, begins a one man campaign to expose the slaughter house practices which allow the spread of this toxic bacteria. Eventually, his wife becomes involved too.
Their investigation puts both of their lives in extreme danger. Several attempts are made to assassinate Kim. His near escapes will leave you breathless.
Whether you listen to the tape or read the novel, this fast paced thriller will keep you clinging to the edge of your seat. Warning! The slaughter house passages are graphic and not for the weak. You will be appalled at the descriptions. You may never want to eat ground beef again! And I can practically promise you that you will never eat any that isn't fully cooked.
This tale is a work of fiction, yet it has a feel of total reality. The trend toward government controlled health care is also highlighted. This book is an eye opener.
A week or so ago, my son asked me if I had ever read any books by Robin Cook, and highly recommended the author. When I saw this one available on audio, I decided to give him a try. Robin Cook has just acquired a new fan!
You may love this book or hate it, but you definitely will not be bored by it! Happy Reading!
A gripping tale of bacterial poisoning, product tampering, and corporate malevolence by the dean of medical thrillers. After his son dies from poisoni...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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