Sheri Fink’s “The Deadly Choices At Memorial” was definitely a good read. Fink immediately grabs the attention of readers with her lead, which states, “The smell of death was overpowering the moment a relief worker cracked open one of the hospital chapel’s wooden doors. Inside, more than a dozen bodies lay motionless on low cots and on the ground, shrouded in white sheets. Here, a wisp of gray hair peeked out. There, a knee was flung akimbo. A pallid hand reached across a blue gown.” In just a few sentences, Fink is able to paint a picture about her surroundings and the severity of the environment she is in.

But not only is Fink descriptive in her words, she has also done an extensive amount of research, which makes her article even more captivating. Fink includes specific times and numbers in her article, which adds to her credibility and intensifies the story. For example, “By the time Katrina began lashing New Orleans in the early hours of Monday, Aug. 29, some 2,000 people were bunking in the hospital, including more than 200 patients and 600 workers. When the storm hit, patients screamed as windows shattered under a hail of rocks from nearby rooftops. The hospital groaned and shook violently.”

Another intriguing factor of Fink’s article is her ability to tie in several interviews without sounding confusing. She includes interviews with nurses and investigators, to name a few.

The combination of descriptive language, precise reporting, and interviews with people from several different perspectives makes “The Deadly Choices At Memorial” a must read for anybody, especially those interested in writing.