Customer Reviews

Mary Modern: A Novel

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Oh, I liked this book. I read it in a day, and have been thinking about it all weekend. The author has a nice touch in her writing style; its almost a bit old fashioned, which is really perfect for this book. The characters were very well drawn, and I came to care about them. The plot moved along quite well, with some interesting twists that I didn't see coming. I would compare this to some time traveling books as it deals with some of the same issues. It also brings up many issues that Mary Shelley addresses in Frankenstein, but in a way that is not quite so horrifying. The only caveat I'd have for readers is to make sure you are able to stretch your sense of belivability. It might be rather hard to do, but if you can, if you accept the unbelievable, you will enjoy the ride

I am giving it four stars only because of the political asides she gives. While I happen to agree with them, they really do nothing to furture the story, and the character writing them, while interesting, wasn't really necessary. But I'd recommend this, and look forward to reading her next book!

While the author has done a good job putting an interesting spin on the whole notion of cloning, the book as a whole is like an automobile engine out of tune. The twists at the climax of the book are too rushed and inadequately explained and she has an annoying habit of throwing in harsh political commentary that has nothing whatsoever to do with the narrative. I ended up having the nagging feeling that the story wasn't adequately wrapped up because the author wanted to leave the door open for a sequel.

The writer's premise is interesting. But the execution is flawed. A number of plot elements were left essentially unresolved. I also became increasingly annoyed by the author's insertion of vehement (and irrelevant) political comentary. It detracted greatly from the flow of the story. Some of her characters were well-drawn, but others, especially those the author disagrees with, are crude stereotypes.

I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I work at a library and just randomly picked it up when it came in. I am a huge gothic literature fan. And if you are a big Frankenstein fan you will instantly see some links in this book!!!! The book does make you think about where our world and science is heading to. I really wanna know more about Godfry!!! I will be reading more by this author!!!

This is a fun read that keeps you turning pages. I'd certainly recommend it, as long as the potential reader realizes that the depictions of human cloning are completely unrealistic. In reality, a cloned human (if it ever were to occur) would be born as an infant with a fresh brain waiting to be filled up with new memories. Consequently, the "ethical issues" that other reviewers have claimed are brought up by this book are irrelevant. There are certainly other ethical issues about cloning that are not at play in this novel. The book also paints a somewhat ridiculous and cliche mad scientist image. In general, I do enjoy science fiction and fantasy for their own merits, but it's unfortunate that such works can cause readers with little science background to mistake fiction for reality.

I liked this book-a new twist on the Frankenstein story complete with Dr. Frankenstein (Ambrose) and his cat hair attracting henchwoman (Megan). Camille's prose is beautiful and refreshing but there are a few logic flaws as other reviewers have pointed out.

Unfortunately the spell Camille weaves is broken by some unnecessary political diatribes. Her Christian villains are so one note, underdeveloped, and ridiculous that my disbelief was shattered a few times and I wondered if she'd decided to opt for satire instead of a gothic romance.

Mary, the centerpiece of this story, is finely wrought. Very beautiful descriptions of the mad professors house and the secrets within it walls. The house is a character in this book and gives the tale a delicious creepiness.

Definitely worth reading but I would check it out at the library. Still, it would be nice to see more authors take risks like Camille does in this book. This is her first book and a product of a Masters program. I hope she continues to write and expand her ideas.

This is the rare kind of novel that really interests me! I would not say it's perfectly written, but it's a pretty unique plot---a woman clones her own grandmother, who is born at age 22 (with the help of an artificial womb), and this causes a lot of complications in her life, of course. We are kept wondering what is going to happen until the end, and also what hints of a further mystery are going to play out. There are a lot of plot aspects which don't really resolve themselves---what of the hint of romance between Gray and Mary? Who is the man who wrote a book about the future, and how did he do it? Why is Megan so nasty? But a lot of the important plot questions do resolve, and in an interesting way. I didn't really feel like I got inside the head of Lucy, the woman who does the cloning, and the house boarders were a bit of an odd touch. I would like to have another book clearing up a lot in this book, but I guess it's a sign of a good book that I care enough to want that sequel!

Welcome to 25 University Avenue, where a romantic old mansion, filled with memories, hides lab equipment capable of cloning the dead. Meet Lucy Morrigan, a bright scientist and her professorial boyfriend, Gray. When Lucy finds she cannot conceive she uses her father's womb simulator to clone her dead grandmother, hoping to create the daughter she cannot have from the woman she loved. But when the experiment goes awry, it's not just Lucy's hopes that are susceptible to destruction, but her job, her boyfriend's trust, her mentor's friendship, and her very memories...

Mary Modern is a fairy-tale story, splendidly gothic in setting and scope. With beautiful details and deft humor, the author drew me in to a page-turning tale whose ending had more twists and turns than the story mansion's labyrinth. A fantastic debut. I look forward to reading more from Ms. DeAngelis.

First, I have a lot of trouble with an author who names her leading male character Grey Poupon. This man is supposed to be a professor of Latin studies. I don't think it's funny.
Second, the idea of bats being flushed from hedges in the middle of the winter is absolutely ridiculous. For all sorts of reasons.
Third, neither this author nor her editor have a rudimentary understanding of biology. The idea that a placenta in any setting could pulsate is just stupid. The idea that a placenta could be removed intact from a uterus while keeping it attached to a fetus the size of a four year old child and then be hooked up to the inside of a metal tank makes me want to scream. That is was supposedly accomplished by a lab technician without even an assistant doubles me over in hysterics.
And oh, I really love the boyfriend's first attempt at intrauterine insemination. How he managed to find her cervix, insert the probe, plop in the embryo while she guides him is rich indeed. To think Lucy survived this entire procedure without any anesthesia.
On her web page the author states that the accuracy of the science is insignificant. She claims that Mary Shelley cared nothing about scientific knowledge when she wrote the story of Frankenstein. The author claims that her idea of DNA having memory is the driving force behind her plot. Who is the monster here?
Who, indeed?

Even though I enjoyed the storyline in this book, I could only rate it three stars due to the authors need to overstate her liberal political beliefs. There is nothing more irritating than trying to enjoy a story when someone is constantly interrupting you with their ignorance at every turn.