Book Review on The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee

The first question that the layman would ask before reading this book is: “Will I be able to understand what he’s talking about?” The answer to that question can only be found out once you decide to give it a read. The gene is a word that is heard frequently enough, yet there are so many levels of misconception surrounding its very concept. Most students of science fail to define it precisely. The time is ripe for the general population to be made aware of what the gene is and why it is important; because we are living in an age when the gene is revolutionizing every sector of life, from domestic to industrial. Never before has it been more important for us to understand the scope of the field that is based on the discovery, manipulation and regulation of the gene. The stage is set for biotechnology to take over, and unless the layman understands the science behind the technology, we will only be cultivating a fear of the unknown.

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee is a cancer biologist whose debut novel The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer brought him to the attention of scientific literature readers. The genre is dominated by Isaac Asimov, Carl Sagan, Richard Dawkins and other scientists of acclaim. One often wonders if a scientist has the flair to write literature that would be comprehensible to readers of non-scientific background. And Mukherjee achieves excellence in getting his point across. With meticulous dedication, he has compiled a history of the search and discovery of the gene, from the early Greek theologian beliefs to the modern day application and future implications of the same. He combines scientific information with literary grace, in a truly rare style. The cherry on the cake is his family’s back story which brings the intimacy that the reader needs to connect with this discussion on the gene. Readers realize that we have all encountered this enigma in our bloodlines one way or another, and that helps us develop a better understanding of the author’s work.

Perhaps my review of this book is somewhat biased, because I have a better understanding of the field than the average reader. But I have had many a difficult moments in getting my peers to understand what my area of interest is all about. To top it off, there is an apprehension among the masses when they hear the word genetically modified, like it is a taboo to consider buying genetically engineered food because it is “unnatural”. Without even realizing it, we have been reaping the benefits of biotechnology for centuries. Some of the most common examples that introductory biotechnology courses cite to beginners is about the fermentation of Baker’s yeast to make bread, alcohol fermentation and, of course, the use of the Lactose converting bacteria to make curd.

With beautiful storytelling skills, the author tells us the story of the discovery of the gene as the hereditary unit of life. Simultaneously, he tells us the story of his family being blighted by hereditary illnesses of the mind. Once he has brought us up to date on where the gene stands today in terms of social understanding, he takes us on a journey to the future where the scope of genetic engineering can lead us. Another important part of history that he artfully addresses is the experimentation by Nazi scientists on humans during the period of the Second World War, horrific events that led to the establishment of the Nuremberg code. The era of inhumane human experimentation had smeared the entire field of genetics for decades. And even now, experiments/ studies on humans and animals are considered dangerous and unethical. There are many social, ethical and legal conundrums surrounding the genetic manipulation of not only humans, but plants and animals also.

This is an essential book to read and one that I would suggest to my peers so that they have a better, a clearer understanding of what it means when they say, “It’s in my genes.” Heredity and its implications are very often misinterpreted by even the most literate individuals. It isn’t unusual to find well-read people considering hereditary illnesses in a child the explicit fault of either or both of the parents. In most cases, people blame the mother for not eating well enough (for example) for having given birth to a child with some form of rare genetic defect such as an extra chromosome. This is because people do not understand the complex mechanism that goes into the making of a living being. And it’s very easy to slander what one doesn’t understand. Another important reason to read about the gene is to begin understanding cancer, for cancer is a result of genes malfunctioning, one way or another; albeit the triggers may vary.

Readers will enjoy this book because of Mukherjee’s style of writing, his references to contemporary and classic cultural influences and his well timed sense of humour. One certainly hopes the author continues writing, because the genre of scientific literature could use authors such as Mukherjee to keep the flame burning and illuminate the masses.  

Book Review on Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

This was my first dalliance with the Young Adult novels of today. I had seen this book being flashed excitedly by bookstagrammers and had therefore decided on giving it a read to judge for myself what the fans seem to like.

I hadn’t read any of Sophie Kinsella’s previous works. In fact, I was completely unaware of her as a writer. I assumed that she was a young author and this was perhaps her first book. On opening this gloriously bright covered copy of the book, I found out that Kinsella had previously written a series of novels about the life of a shopaholic. Meaning, she was a writer of some standing among the pop readers of today.

Coming to the book, it was an easy read. And I don’t mean that as a complement. The story was not challenging in its concept, nor was it spectacularly written. The writing style was plain and painfully repetitive whenever the author could not express the complexities of teenage emotions. Some pop readers like this style of writing because it is easy to comprehend. It is the kind of book which you can easily multi-task with. I imagine one can even keep up a riveting conversation while having the audio-book version of this novel playing in the background. The protagonist, Audrey suffers from social anxiety and the story revolves around her family life while she is recovering from an episode at school. Her mother is described as paranoid and easily influenced by the print media. She fears that technology will make her children unhealthy and shorten their life spans. The father’s presence in the story is only of relevance when he is present with the mother. Otherwise, he is mostly non-existent. The family has three kids; the elder teen Audrey, her brother Frank and their much younger baby brother. In the most predictable manner of plots, Audrey’s life at home changes when a boy enters her life. The knight in shining armor here is Linus, Frank’s friend and gaming partner.

The best portrayed character, in my opinion, is Frank. His characteristics and appearance in the plot draws the interest of the reader and you wish he had a story of his own that you could delve into. At times, one desperately desires to reach across to Audrey and tell her that her fears, excitement and anxiousness around Linus are completely normal and felt by almost every teen; the butterfly feeling. Perhaps her condition prevented her from differentiating good excitement from actual danger. But could her therapist have been blind to these obvious feelings too? There was no clear message on the author’s take on social anxiety. We get to see how Audrey’s family, friends and neighbours treat her and that’s about it. The plot moves through Audrey’s transition with respect to her relationship with Linus. And one wonders if that is all it takes to feel normal and accepted in society: a boyfriend.

I would have loved reading about Audrey finding herself instead of Audrey finding a boyfriend. That would have been the kind of message that needs to be sent out to young teenagers who actually read and follow this genre. The fact that it didn’t only goes to show why our society and teen culture is as it is. Kinsella had started out by developing a character that had a lot of potential. But Audrey remained unfound at the hands of her own creator.

Book Review on Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This is the story of Sierva María de Todos los Ángeles, a maiden of twelve who had the misfortune of getting bitten by a rabid dog. Garcia Marquez describes her as being inspired from a legend his grandmother had told him about. But he brings the character to life by peppering her with attributes characteristic of his writings. Spoilers ahead, tread with care. 

To understand the circumstances of the protagonist, we are given a generous peek into the lives of her parents. Her father Ygnacio, who was the Marquis of the small but rich town of Casalduero is described as a romantic. He fell in love with the enigmatic Dolce Olivia but was forbidden from marrying her because she was an inmate of the loony house next door to him. He was then forced into marrying the reputable Doña Olalla who brought music into his hitherto dull life. Just when life was looking up for him, Doña Olalla was struck down by a lightning bolt that not only killed her but also his faith. Bernarda Cabrera then stormed into his life, the reaping of their vicious lovemaking being the unfortunate Sierva María. Cast aside by parents who wanted nothing to do with her, she was brought up by the many black slave-women of the house. The formidable Dominga de Adviento took over her upbringing as well as the overseeing of the house, for Bernarda had busily engaged herself in the trade of slaves for flour and Ygnacio had submitted to reclusion.

Consequently, Sierva María grew up to be a mystical creature with habits that were deemed nothing short of strange to a person of her color and birth. The rabid dog’s biting her, however, brought her peculiarities to be diagnosed as demonic manifestations. She was then subjected to a horde of treatments which only resulted in inflaming the bite on her ankle. Her protestations were perceived as the work of the devil. Misunderstood even by her father, who feared she was indeed infected with something far worse than rabies, she was handed over to the Convent of Santa Clara. The nuns there, especially the abbess Josefa Miranda, exaggerated her actions, adding fuel to the fire of the rumours surrounding the girl.

Father Cayetano Delaura then entered the scene as the Bishop’s choice for the exorcism of the poor girl. The events took a turn however when Delaura ended up falling in love with the accursed girl. The lovers engaged in a feverish romance, despite the barriers in their path. Love, the worst of the demons known to man, tormented their souls in parting as well as in unison. The only character who seemed to have uderstood the lovers’ anguish was Abrenuncio, the incredible doctor. Over the love of knowledge and books, Delaura and Abrenuncio bonded. Unfortunately, neither of them could make those blinded by superstition see the cruelty accorded to Sierva María. She succumbed to the exorcisms and the lovers remained parted forevermore.

The most enchanting attribute of Sierva María was her long hair. The hair on her head had been sworn off to the gods by Dominga at the time of her premature birth with the umbilical cord suffocating her. Her hair had thus grown to trail behind her by the age of twelve. She was on the precipice of womanhood when Delaura had met her. And subsequently she had bloomed at his touch. In trying to keep their faiths undeterred, the lovers had refrained from indulging in the very act of sex until the day of their wedding. Contrary to all their aspirations, that day never arrived. But Delaura’s nightmares did turn to reality as Sierva María died in the very manner he had foreseen; a tragic end true to Garcia Marquez’s style.

 It is a passionate tale of love and hatred of a girl who remained an enigma throughout ages. The author has once again created an unforgettable character simply by adorning a folk legend with the brush strokes of his artful imagination. The readers enjoy the exquisite writing of Gabriel Garcia Marquez even as he fills their hearts with lugubrious tales of love. 

Book Review on The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman weaves nothing short of magic by his mighty pen. This is a known and widely accepted fact. His imagination puts many a folk fairy tales to shame. One can think of this book as a fairy tale though. There’s a little boy who gets into trouble with unknown forces, three ladies who pamper and protect him like godmothers and a queer sort of ending that leaves you both happy and sad.

Through the voice of a middle aged man reminiscing about his boyhood, Gaiman transports his readers to the magical days of youth. The narrator, while going through a mid-life crisis, finds himself retracing his path to the old neighbourhood where he had lived as a child. The lane has changed much since then, but the Hempstock farm at the end of the lane remains almost untouched by time. The epitome of grandmotherly-ness, Old Mrs. Hempstock lets him in and sit beside the pool in the backyard to contemplate his life. He remembers that Lettie Hempstock used to call that little pool her ocean. The narrator experiences a unique kind of peace pondering beside that water body. He finds himself drowning in memories, and then learning to swim through them to the sanity of the shore.

He remembers his lonely seventh birthday, the financial trouble that led his parents to take in tenants and the opal miner moving in, accidentally killing the narrator’s precious cat. The opal miner runs into debt and commits suicide in the narrator’s father’s car. The little boy sees the dead body at that tender age and is scarred thereafter. Lettie Hempstock and her family offer him a safe haven at their farm. The opal miner’s dying wish sets off events that result in a supernatural being its way into the narrator’s reality. And all of it is fixed, time and again, by the wise Hempstock ladies. Their household is described as a warm, comfortable place where food is always aplenty and danger always far outside the walls. There is old magic binding the story together. And it is described in a manner that makes one think that there’s no other way the world would rather be.

In reading the book, one remembers the games every child has made up to occupy time, the friends little children make that parents can never understand and the monsters whose real faces only the clarity of childhood can see through. The readers find themselves believing the children’s side of the story for once. The story features the evil incarnate Ursula Monkton, who takes over the narrator’s home as the perfect housekeeper. The author very clearly defines the differences between good, evil and the nature of beings. One of the best parts in the story is when the narrator takes a dip in Lettie’s ocean. He experiences a state of enlightenment that can best be described as moksha.

Possibly the best thing about the story is how everyone can relate to it in one way or the other. All of the enchanting experiences of childhood are captured here in the timeless abode of Gaiman’s penmanship. He ends the story on a bittersweet note where the readers are left hoping for the best to happen to the narrator and for Lettie to someday return.