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In Stitches
by Anthony Youn

Published: 2011-04-26
Hardcover : 288 pages
6 members reading this now
2 clubs reading this now
1 member has read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members
Tony Youn grew up up one of two Asian-American kids in a small town of near wall-to-wall whiteness.  Too tall and too thin, he wore thick Coke-bottle glasses, braces, Hannibal Lecter headgear, and had a protruding jaw that one day began to grow, expanding Pinocchio-like, protruding to ...
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Introduction

Tony Youn grew up up one of two Asian-American kids in a small town of near wall-to-wall whiteness.  Too tall and too thin, he wore thick Coke-bottle glasses, braces, Hannibal Lecter headgear, and had a protruding jaw that one day began to grow, expanding Pinocchio-like, protruding to an unthinkable, monstrous size.  After high school graduation, while other seniors partied at the shore or explored Europe, Youn lay strapped in an oral surgeon's chair as he broke his jaw, then reset it and wired it shut for six weeks.

Ironically, it was this brutal makeover that led him to his life's calling -- and the four years of angst, flubs, triumphs, non-stop studying and intermittant heavy drinking that eventually earned him an M.D. Thanks to a small circle of close friends and an obsessive drive to overachieve, Youn transformed from a shy, skinny, awkward nerd with no confidence and no clue into a renowned and successful plastic surgeon.

In Stitches is a heartfelt, candid, and laugh-out-loud memoir of one man's bumpy road to becoming a doctor and learning to be confortable in his own skin.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

Prologue: The Face in the Ceiling

What a pair. Double D’s. Poking up at me like twin peaks. Pam Anderson, eat your heart out.

Too bad they’re attached to a fourteen-year-old boy.

I ease the black marker out of my lab coat pocket and start drawing on my first surgery patient of the day. Phil. An overweight African-American boy. Phil has severe gynecomastia—in layperson’s language, ginormous man boobs. Poor Phil. Bad enough being fourteen, awkward, ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. How do you think Tony's father shaped Tony as an adult?
2. Has the book and Tony's experiences influenced your take on plastic surgery in any way?
3. What is your favorite med school story and why?

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

Note from Dr. Youn:

Five years ago I set out to write the definitive book about growing up Asian American, going through four years of medical school—all true, unadulterated, unfiltered, behind the scenes, warts and all—and becoming a doctor. I think, ultimately, In Stitches represents real life. Real life can be laugh-out-loud funny, shocking, heart-breaking, and heart-warming. That’s what I wanted In Stitches to be. I’m gratified by what readers and reviewers have said so far. They’ve called it “disarming,” “fast-paced,” “hilarious,” and “touching.” According to Publisher’s Weekly: "Youn’s description of his journey from high-school outcast to rock star plastic surgeon is full of fascinating stories and laced with self-deprecating humor in the midst of dark desperation, providing a refreshing insight into medicine." I hope the Book Clubbing members findIn Stitches to be an enjoyable, enlightening, and worthwhile read that they can recommend to their friends and fellow readers.

Note from the author:

For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, a hilarious fish-out-of-water memoir about a young Korean-American nerd turned renowned plastic surgeon that will make readers stand up and cheer. Heartfelt, candid, and laugh-out-loud funny, In Stitches is one man’s bumpy path to finding his passion—and learning to be comfortable in his own skin.

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Member Reviews

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  "In Stitches"by Linda G H. (see profile) 11/01/11

Tony Youn's book "In stitches" is a delightful read, filled with humor and descriptive of a young Korean American man's journey to becoming a top flight plastic surgeon. The author paints a picture that... (read more)

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