The Evolution of Jane

I was surprised by some of the negative reviews Cathleen Schine's new book had the misfortune to garner. I enjoyed _The Love Letter_ very much and found _The Evolution of Jane_ to be a further evolution of the author's skill and talent. Jane's parents treat her to a trip to the Galapagos islands after her divorce is finalized. Rather than escaping from one failed relationship she is faced with another--her best friend from childhood, Martha, picks Jane and her group up at the airport and announces that she will be their tour guide. Here, where the whole concept of evolution began, Jane faces a more difficult puzzle than why "a husky is not the same species as a wolf but is the same species as a Pekingese"--why her relationship with Martha ended. It goes into a complex discussion on the nature of friendship, whether it is necessary to the human species and if it is why did Martha forget her? Jane's whininess is amusing and any one who likes Darwin will like the description of the Galapagos. A more-than-enjoyable read!

My book group read this book and will meet next week to discuss it. I found it to be a welcomed break-away from a conventional novel. The balance of Non-fiction/fiction was superbly crafted. Ms Shine's wit and wisdom is both provocative and entertaining. Don't we all know a Jane somewhere? Or perhaps have a little of Jane's quirky narcisism lurking in ourselves that we cringe to acknowledge? I would venture that it's this dark truth, along with the risk-taking departure from conventional format, that readers find disturbing. But if you shake off preconception, it's a terrific read. Bravo!

Maybe it's because I have a son living in Ecuador. Maybe it's because I just ended a 20 year friendship. Maybe it's because I'm interested in tracing my ancestors. Or, maybe it's just because it was so well written, that anyone could find themselves in it. With the last word read, I turned back to the beginning, and couldn't wait to read it again...something I have never done before. I'm not usually a fan of fiction. But, this books makes me feel these people are, or were, alive and well.

I teach psychology and evolutionary theory at at a small university in the mid-west. This novel is a wonder as it elucidates evolutionary principles as they are manifest in "genes, mind and zeitgeist". I have long told my students to look to their own lives, the evolution of their own personalities, to understand the evolution of sepecies and cultures. The principles of change are the same in all three worlds and any one of the three reflects the other two. Schine breaths life into this maxim, for which I say thanks.

I absolutely adored this book. The central character, Jane, is an endearing heroine, and her exploration of the Galapagos -- and her intellectual and emotional dissection and analysis of a childhood friendship -- make for a fascinating journey. All the characters are beautifully drawn, and the central question of how a friendship can inexplicably dissolve is explored with great insight. A very entertaining and affecting book -- I highly recommend it.