|
Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about Allegra Goodman's INTUITION.
Chris from Albany, OR
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No.
What other authors do you read?
Amy Tan, P.D. James and Ruth Rendell.
What did you think of INTUITION?
The book had a slow start but it was great story with excellent detail and well-developed characters --- a real page-turner.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes.
Diana from Green Brook, NJ
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
Unfortunately, I have never previously read a book by Allegra Goodman. I am happy that I [have] now and look forward to reading others.
What other authors do you read?
I like to read a variety of books from different authors. The authors that I tend to read repeatedly include Jodi Picoult (my personal favorite), Dan Brown and Anita Shreve.
What did you think of INTUITION?
I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed my interest very quickly. In the beginning of the book, I was curious how she was going to keep it interesting throughout the rest of the book. She definitely did this by adding some twists and building on the complicated relationships we all face in life. I especially like the way she presents the characters. She describes them so well; I could actually picture them and felt like I knew them. I think one of the measures of a good book is that you think about the characters while you are not reading. This book definitely had me doing that.... I was thrilled to be a part of the One to Watch advanced reading.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Absolutely!
Dixie from Stoughton, MA
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No, this was the first time I've read Ms. Goodman's work.
What other authors do you read?
Michael Crichton, Robin Cook, John Grisham and many others. I named these authors because this novel reminded me of them.
What did you think of INTUITION?
I enjoyed this novel. The characters were well-fleshed out and the plot moved rather fluidly. The subject was intriguing, but heck, I would have preferred a more catastrophic resolution. At times, I did not feel sympathetic to Robin and actually disliked her. My favorite character was Marion. I think that out of them all, she persevered in the end.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes, definitely!
Harry from Raleigh, NC
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No.
What other authors do you read?
Stuart Woods, Robert B. Parker, David Baldacci, Umberto Eco, Jim Lehrer and Michael Connelly.
What did you think of INTUITION?
It was an enjoyable read. An insightful look in to the world of medical research laboratories and companies --- and the discover-or-perish mentality of those firms.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes.
Kate from Gray Creek, BC
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No. This is my first book by this author.
What other authors do you read?
Too many to list. Jane Urquhart, Anita Diamant, Jane Buchan, Jonathan Kellerman and John Irving. Anyone who piques my interest.
What did you think of INTUITION?
INTUITION was an intense read. The characters were clearly drawn, and clearly at odds with their partners. The moral question faced by Robin, and never clearly addressed by Cliff, is one we all face in our lives at one point or another: the issue of right and wrong, and where we each draw our own lines. Marion and Sandy, each seized by their own tortoise and hare agendas, inexorably wound ever closer to their own face-off, as well. I especially liked the hazy resolution of the book, again much like life.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes. Her characters leap off the page and I’m sure whatever situation she next approaches in her fiction will be equally as compelling as INTUITION.
Libby from New York, NY
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes --- KAATERSKILL FALLS, THE FAMILY MARKOWITZ and PARADISE PARK.
What other authors do you read?
Anita Brookner, Alexander McCall Smith, Mary Kay Zuravlev, John Murray, Lynn Freed and Keith Ablow, to name just a few.
What did you think of INTUITION?
It was an engrossing novel of ideas with fascinating complex characters about topical situations. It made me think about the nature of truth and the true cost of scientific research, as well as its validity. Also, I loved the intertwining of literary allusions and her obvious love of language.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes.
Maddi from Sunnyvale, CA
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No, but I read her short fiction in The New Yorker.
What other authors do you read?
A lot of them. I tend to read genre fiction more than straight, and I am assuming you are more interested in the straight fiction authors I like. I like T.C. Boyle and I just spent three weeks reading THE CHOSEN by Jerome Karabel, which I just loved.
What did you think of INTUITION?
I quite liked it, very hard to put it down.
Goodman's new book examines the relationships between a group of scientists working at a research lab. This institute, a thinly disguised version of the Whitehead in Cambridge, Mass, harbors people working in pursuit of grant dollars, the big discovery, fame, support, or enough money to pay for music seminars. Goodman convincingly illustrates life among the scientists, their post-docs and lab techs, plus their families.
What I enjoyed most about the book was Goodman's ability to take all these very different personalities and yet have the reader keep sympathy for just about everyone. From the precocious genius who decided to just back off and enjoy himself, to the larger-than-life partner who prefers writing grants to doing research, to the golden boy accused of research fraud, to the ex-girlfriend doing the accusing, the resentful specialist and the bitter outcast from the lab, all the characters remained fully drawn out. And Goodman also succeeds in making these over-competent achievers have the same personal problems we all do, thus making them sympathetic rather than callow or irrelevant.
The later section of the book did not quite fit with the rest of the work. At this point events spun completely out of control due to political intervention and [the pacing] seemed more like something in a John Grisham novel than the deliberate thoughtfulness Goodman used throughout the rest of the book. Other than the oddity of the pacing toward the end, the book held together well and I finished wanting to know more about the characters and how everyone fared with their decisions.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Absolutely!
Marlene from Scottsdale, AZ
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes, I have read Allegra Goodman's previous novels.
What other authors do you read?
Some of my favorite authors include Marge Piercy, Jodi Picoult, Joanne Harris, P.D. James, Matthew Pearl, David Liss, etc., etc., etc.!
What did you think of INTUITION?
My interest in the characters and the plot of INTUITION progressed as the novel moved along. I appreciated the change in character viewpoint as the plot advanced.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes, I will read future books by Allegra Goodman.
Martha from Wallingford, CT
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No. Thank you for the opportunity to read INTUITION.
What other authors do you read?
A whole bunch! The last few books I've read are: THE IVY CHRONICLES by Karen Quinn (very funny; glad I didn't listen to the negative reviews); FREE LOVE by Annette Meyers (an engaging murder mystery set in 1920s Greenwich Village); and BELLES ON THEIR TOES by Frank Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (sequel to CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, which I had listened to on audio cassette).
What did you think of INTUITION?
I'm always on the lookout for interesting stories and good writing, and Allegra Goodman's novel has both in spades. Beautifully told, the story sweeps the reader along on a marvelous journey to explore the delicate balance between scientific discovery and commercial success, between stoic restraint and giddy haste. I loved the careful balance of characters in the shifting narrative. The most intriguing parts of the novel involve the ambiguous motives behind Cliff and Robin's actions. Did he knowingly misrepresent his experiment results? Was her desperate search for the truth fueled by integrity or jealousy? One complaint I have is that Goodman continually lays bare her characters' inner thoughts and doubts, depriving the reader of the opportunity to puzzle out these details for herself. All in all, a fascinating read.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Absolutely!
Neal from Tallahassee, FL
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No.
What other authors do you read?
Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Irvine Welsh, David Lodge, Jackie Collins, Aldous Huxley, Hunter S. Thompson, Susan Mitchell and Diane Ackerman.
What did you think of INTUITION?
Allegra Goodman does for the biological research world what David Lodge does for the inner machinations of the academic literary world. Goodman's prose is polished sterling and flows nicely from page to page. Her characters are unique and their personalities are crisp and well-delivered. Her tone is even and refined, and if there is anything a little lacking in her work, it is that her characters also share this even tone a little too much. Their passions and drives are distinctly muted, except perhaps for the charismatic Sandy Glass. One wishes these emotionally calculating scientists would show a little more raw anger considering the travails they are put through. I'd like to see Marion Mendelssohn put down her knitting and throw something at Glass. And if I were Cliff Bannaker, I'd forego the polite self-pitying suffering for at least a moment and consider giving Robin Decker a good shot in the jaw for all the trouble she's caused.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes.
Rina from Uxbridge, MA
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
This was my first Allegra Goodman book and it left me definitely ready for her next! I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style.
What other authors do you read?
I am a very eclectic reader who reads mostly fiction. I generally read at least once daily before sleep. I can be moody about what I read, sometimes putting a book aside only to return to it at another time and be unable to put it down. I have enjoyed Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Berg, Chris Bohjalian, as well as thrillers and some historical fiction. A recent favorite was THE HA-HA. I will read “chick-lit” on occasion. I check in for ideas at Bookreporter.com frequently because I always want my next book on hand.
What did you think of INTUITION?
This very a very different book. I was not familiar with the setting and really enjoyed the way she created the world that existed in the lab apart from her characters' everyday lives, yet also created a real world for them to live in and deal with. The characters were very real and very compelling. It was often difficult to decide where right and wrong was. I enjoyed this book because the author was able to keep me living with the characters even when I was not actually reading it. I was sorry when it ended and was left thinking about it and wanting to discuss it with someone. As soon as I finished it, I passed it on to a friend who works at our town library and she was hooked soon after starting it. We were both surprised at how much suspense could be built up in this storyline and how anxious we were to find out what happened next.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes!
Tara from Yonkers, NY
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No, I have not but am familiar with her other titles.
What other authors do you read?
Some of my favorites include John Irving, Stephen King, Lorna Landvik, Amy Tan, Sophie Kinsella and Jennifer Weiner. I also read classics by such authors as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Edith Wharton.
What did you think of INTUITION?
It's a wonderful book that makes me wish I had gotten into Allegra Goodman sooner. Many people might think, at first glance, that it's some medical thriller but, to me, INTUITION is very much a family drama about how expectations can override friendship, loyalty and truth.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes, I would and will probably read her earlier books as well.
Toni from Glenolden, PA
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
I have been a fan of Allegra Goodman's since I read KAATERSKILL FALLS, one of my favorite books of all time.
What other authors do you read?
Besides reading Goodman, I'm a fan of Thrity Umrigar (excellent author), A.B. Yeroushalma, Greg Iles and David Baldacci. Another author, who is my absolute favorite, is Amulya Malladi. Everyone I've ever told about her books has read them and raved about them, especially THE MANGO SEASON.
What did you think of INTUITION?
INTUITION was very different from [KAATERSKILL FALLS] and yet still dealt with the human response to an event. I really loved this book and felt that the characters were real. Goodman gave enough background of each of her characters to explain how they reacted to the conflict in the book. The whole issue of honesty and ethics in the scientific community was so timely and handled so well from each of the characters' motivations.
Thank you for the book and the opportunity to tell you what I thought of it. I will recommend it highly!
Cindy from Sparta, MI
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
I have never read a book by Allegra Goodman before this.
What other authors do you read?
I [like] books written by Cheryl Holt, Nicole Jordan and Stephanie Laurens, etc.
What did you think of INTUITION?
It is very well written and very interesting. It is just not my type of reading material. I think my husband would love it. Thank you for allowing me to read an advance copy of her book. I plan on letting my husband read it.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
No, I would not read a future book by Allegra Goodman. She is a talented writer and great author but I just am not interested in her type of storyline.
Kay from Plattsburg, MO
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No, I have not.
What other authors do you read?
Cecelia Ahern, Bebe Campbell Moore, Barbara Delinsky, Ann Rule, Lolly Winston and Linda Evans Shepherd.
What did you think of INTUITION?
I thought the book was dry and too wordy. I honestly couldn't finish the book and as a person that reads A LOT, I was disappointed in it. The whole story didn't flow just right. It felt like it was lacking something.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Probably not.
Leslie from St. Charles, IL
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
Thanks for including my in your advance reading group. I have never read a book by Allegra Goodman.
What other authors do you read?
I read many authors and types of books. Most recently I have read Nora Roberts, Nicholas Evans, Neil Olson, Steve Berry, Fannie Flagg, Robin Pilcher, Nicholas Sparks and Monica McInerney.
What did you think of INTUITION?
I thought that INTUITION was a very slow moving novel with characters that I never cared about. I thought that Ms. Goodman was much too heavy in her intellectual and medical details and never really developed her characters. She jumped around so often that you could not figure out where she was taking you and with whom. The basic idea of honesty in the novel appears obvious early on, so there really is little mystery developed except for the effects of it on the characters. That effect is so jumbled up with facts about the research lab, that the characters have little if any personality. The co-directors of the lab are brought to you in drips and drabs and neither of them are likable. If I could have connected with one character and seen it through his or her eyes, I think I might have found the whole book more interesting. The book was told in just too many voices.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
I don’t think that I would read future books by Ms. Goodman. I like character-driven novels and this did not have a strong character.
Maggie from Westerville, OH
Have you ever read Allegra Goodman before?
No.
What other authors do you read?
Dan Brown, Pat Conroy, Linda Greenlaw, J.K. Rowling, Ayn Rand and Philippa Gregory.
What did you think of INTUITION?
It was interesting. It gave me insight into the competitive world of medical research. It started out a bit slow, but once the results were in question it got much better and faster-moving.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Yes.
Jana from Chula Vista, CA
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No, I had not read any of Ms. Goodman's previous books.
What other authors do you read?
Other authors I have read: Amy Tan, Kate Atkinson, Dan Brown, Elizabeth Berg, Patricia Cornwell, Alice Hoffman, Barbara Kingsolver, Annie Proulx, Jon Krakauer and Michael Connelly, among others.
What did you think of INTUITION?
I enjoyed this book --- it kept me reading and wanting to know what was going to happen to Cliff, Robin and Sandy and Marion. The author has brought these characters to life for the reader. The relationship between the scientists in the lab was very interesting to me. It seemed to me that the main "character" in the novel is the idea of truth. There are facts, but many versions of the "truth." The author writes of the intuitive truth that comes from within each character.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
I look forward to the author's future books.
Marie from Jamestown, NC
Have you previously read a book by Allegra Goodman?
No, I have not.
What other authors do you read?
A huge range from Jan Karon, Sue Monk Kidd, Carl Hiaasen, Jodi Picoult, Sophie Kinsella and Kate Dicamillo.
What did you think of INTUITION?
I kept waiting for the book to happen. I wanted to care for the characters, but I found by the end of the book I still didn't, really. In fact, I just finished the book a few days ago --- and if you asked me a character's name, I wouldn't remember it. Normally after I finish a book, I can talk about it for a least a month afterwards.
Would you ever read a future book by Allegra Goodman?
Maybe.
© Copyright 1996-2008, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
