The Girl Pretending To Read Rilke

I loved this book. I picked it up and was unable to put it down. The writing is straightforward, funny, and meaningful to any woman who grew up in the 50's or 60's. Sometimes the hardest thing to write seems to rest easy on the page. That's the mark of good writing, and this book has it.

This beautiful Roman a Clef is must reading for all my female students who are entering science or academic medicine. It gives a wonderful and true flavor of the time and situation of a young woman who wants to become a scientist in the early 1960's [before Betty Friedan's book and the women's movement]. The book is almost painful in its honesty. The author describes an exciting summer of research after her junior year in college, in which she has the thrill of making a novel and important discovery ... all the while juggling a very unsupportive (even crushingly competitive) graduate school boyfriend/wunderkind, and trying to be respected as a developing researcher in a very male elite and sexist (Harvard/Boston) environment. On top of that, the problems of dealing with an unwanted pregnancy make an interesting epiphany to the book ... giving a flavor of the 1960's before abortion was legal. The book is great history, but with lots of lessons for both men and women in science or thinking of going into science (especially biomedical research) today. It probably would also have strong resonance with women seeking to break the glass ceilings in science and medicine today.

From the moment I settled into the book, I was hooked. Great characters - some you want to shake, some you want to hug and buy new shoes! Loved it.

This is a wonderful book. Full of humor and insight... about the trials of a bright young woman entering the almost entirely male scientific community in the l960's. As a woman physician I could easily understand and empathise with Bronwyn's difficulties and triumphs. The book describes a pivotal, difficult, and disturbing summer internship and Bronwyn's struggles and growth in both her personal and professional life. A sexy, funny and smart heroine with whom any woman can identify.