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6th out of 57 books
—
25 voters
Mendel's Dwarf
by
Simon Mawer
Like his great, great uncle, the early geneticist Gregor Mendel, Dr. Benedict Lambert is struggling to unlock the secrets of heredity. But Benedict's mission is particularly urgent and particularly personal, for he is afflicted with achondroplasia—he's a dwarf. He's also a man desperate for love. And when he finds it in the form of Jean—simple and shy—he stumbles upon an o...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
July 1st 1999
by Penguin Books
(first published January 1st 1997)
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Dr. Benjamin Lambert is the great-great-great-nephew of the geneticist Gregor Mendel. Ben is also a geneticist but has a bigger challenge between him and the world - he is a dwarf. The real story starts when he expresses his love for the librarian, Jean, and the complications that arise from their relationship.
The author uses science throughout the story but manages to make it easy to grasp; Mawer himself is a scientist and it shows with his knowledge of genetics, biology, evolution, and researc...more
The author uses science throughout the story but manages to make it easy to grasp; Mawer himself is a scientist and it shows with his knowledge of genetics, biology, evolution, and researc...more
Mawer, Simon. MENDEL’S DWARF. (1998). *****. This is probably not a book for everyone, but I thought it was terrific. The drawback for the average reader is that the plot relies heavily on the discoveries made by Gregor Mendel and the subsequent science that has grown up around it. If you paid attention in your biology class, you shouldn’t have any problems. Dr. Benedict Lambert, a distant relation of Mendel – Mendel was his great-great-great-uncle – is a molecular biologist. He is determined to...more
Wonderful. Learn about genetics while getting to know a cranky, intelligent, funny little man - Dr. Benedict Lambert. Lambert is a dwarf. He is also a geneticist, and much of his drive in this field is to find out just what makes a dwarf.
About 90% of "little people" are accidents. They come from normal parents with no history of dwarfism. It's a genetic goof, a mutation. The question is: where does this mutation occur on the incredibly long DNA chain? When offered a seat at a prestigious instit...more
About 90% of "little people" are accidents. They come from normal parents with no history of dwarfism. It's a genetic goof, a mutation. The question is: where does this mutation occur on the incredibly long DNA chain? When offered a seat at a prestigious instit...more
Masterful. Ingenius. Brilliant. Also, a little technical and biology specific. So, you know, I highly recommend this book to my friends who are teaching second semester high school biology, or are taking biology right now or have an acute interest or fetish with biology and genetics. The science of genetics, frankly and unfortunately, has left this book, published in 1998, far behind, but it is a beautiful story of the way things were way back in the late nineties.
This would be a decent movie....more
This would be a decent movie....more
This book to me its kind of not good to read for me, but i think that this book is for the ones how are stuyding for biologyDr. Benedict Lambert is an achondroplastic dwarf. He's also a geneticist trying to find the gene responsible for his condition - and for the all the events of his life. Always being pitied, condescended to, l Dr. Benedict Lambert is an achondroplastic dwarf. He's also a geneticist trying to find the gene responsible for his condition - and for the all the events of his life...more
A confrontational book that tests your prejudices and stretches your mind. What is it like to be a dwarf and watch the (quickly) guarded reactions from all you encounter while trying to keep some confidence in yourself? This clever and testing book takes you through Dr Ben Lamberts life as a geneticist and achondroplastic (?)(a type of dwarfism). It's a trip through the theories of genetics, eugentics, Mendel and his trials of both peas and lack of scientific recognition. It's also a love story...more
I admired the writing in Mawer's later book (The Gospel of Judas) so much that I took the unusual step of looking for other books of his without concern for the subject. This one, like The Gospel of Judas, is unusual in plot & character, and smart--perhaps, in this case, too smart for its own good. The story alternates between accounts of the life of Gregor Mendel, the founder of genetics, & a latter-day descendant who narrates his story as well as Mendel's. He, too, is a geneticist who...more
Skleněný pokoj byla čistá funkcionalistická nádhera, Mendelův trpaslík více tahá za srdce. Během prvních dvaceti stránek jsem měl v očích několikrát slzy a vůbec mě v tu chvíli nezajímala syrská poušť za okny autobusu. Téma Mendel mě díky studiu na stejném gymnáziu jako slavný genetik provází už delší dobu, nehledě na původ ze stejného kraje. Mawer se opět dokázal dotknout české-německého vztahu tak, jak to nikdo z Čechů nedokáže. A k tomu dva strhující paralelní příběhy o tom, co dělat, když k...more
Certainly well-written, but perhaps a bit too much of the science in this horror story. The sad story of Mendel's modern-day descendant, a fabulously brilliant and talented geneticist dwarf, and his Shakespearean relationship with the librarian of his youth.
Not a tale to make me go out and read more by Mr. Mawer, and something so miserable for all participants that I'm not eager to share the story or insights about it with friends. It is however, very well-crafted, well-researched and beautifull...more
Not a tale to make me go out and read more by Mr. Mawer, and something so miserable for all participants that I'm not eager to share the story or insights about it with friends. It is however, very well-crafted, well-researched and beautifull...more
I hesitated before buying this book, unsure that I would engage with the topic. There is a lot of scientific data in it and that's not something that would ordinarily interest me but, typically, Mawer managed to relate it in such a way that it was understandable, even to me, which is just as well as understanding the genetics is intrinsic to understanding the premise of the novel. The main character is not particularly likeable but it is possible to empathise with his view of the world. I'm unsu...more
I finished this book the night before going to Brno to the Mendel museum (Martina had gotten this book for me to read, since it's related to the Czech Republic). The author does a very good job of advancing the themes of the book even while skipping between the narrator's time and Mendel's- he doesn't slavishly parallel their lives, though, which is nice. I highly recommend this book to anyone going to the Czech Republic, or anybody interested in Mendel/the discovery of genetics. The book was li...more
My husband is a Dwarf...so when I saw this book, I just had to read it! The man in the book is an Achondoplasia Dwarf, which is about 80% of the dwarf population. My husband is an Acromesomelic Dwarf which is very rare. 80% of Dwarf Babies are born to 2 average size parents. Yes, 2 dwarf parents up the odds to 50% dwarf baby/50% average size baby. My husband and his 1st wife(she died 17 yrs ago& she was an Achondoplasia dwarf) have an average size daughter(she is 20 yrs old)!
This is a BEAUTI...more
This is a BEAUTI...more
A good way to learn about Mendel and genetics, all in an easy-to-read novel.
The main character is not very likeable, which may be problematic for some, but Mendel's bio is engagingly written. OK, so the poignant story of Mendel's pioneering paper found with uncut (i.e. unread) pages on Darwin's shelves may be an urban myth, but still, the point about Mendel being ahead of his time in conceiving of the "particles of inheritance" is nevertheless compelling. (Darwin was revolutionary, yes, but OF h...more
The main character is not very likeable, which may be problematic for some, but Mendel's bio is engagingly written. OK, so the poignant story of Mendel's pioneering paper found with uncut (i.e. unread) pages on Darwin's shelves may be an urban myth, but still, the point about Mendel being ahead of his time in conceiving of the "particles of inheritance" is nevertheless compelling. (Darwin was revolutionary, yes, but OF h...more
interesting combination of solid genetics including life and accomplishments of Mendel with a novel, protagonist an achondroplastic dwarf himself. This guy, Benedict, is a renowned geneticist, and the story weaves back and forth in an engaging manner. The elaboration on Benedict's preoccupation with sex becomes a bit tiresome, bearing out what some folks say, that men think of sex only about 95% of the time! That being said, the novel is dramatic and touching in its own way.
I started out really liking this book, the sciencey aspects, and its main character. At about 2/3 of the way through I started to really loathe the narrator and became less sure that I could finish it / simmer down the rage. But by the end of the book I appreciated the writer's craft and the degree to which most of the dudes in the book are horrendous and unsympathetic characters (except, to some extent, Gregor Mendel). Through and through, a very dark book, with some good nuggets for those who...more
Parts were a little too technical for me so I got off to a slow start. It picked up pace and interest for me and finished very strongly. This book is about Gregor Mendel and his work in genetics and at the same time tells the story of his great great great nephew, Benedict Lambert who is a Dwarf and himself a genetisist. This book studies science, love, and morality questions. Quite different from anything I've read but I'd recommend it. Don't get put off by the technical writing. Push through,...more
An interesting story. Dr. Lambert is a geneticist- like his distant relative the famed Dr. Gregor Mendel. His mission is to find the genetic secrets of achondroplasia- he's a dwarf. The story chronicles his struggles in life and his search for love and acceptance . A good story- but VERY heavy in Science- so if you are not at all interested in heredity, genotypes and phenotypes- might want to pass on this one.
i was torn between 3 and 4 stars. the writing is good, and i liked that it's 'literary science,' but i HATED the main character. it was hard for me to get past that. i disliked the 'any scientist/thinking person can't possibly believe in god' rants, but very much enjoyed the historical fictive account of Mendel.
it did make me want to search out more literary science writing.
it did make me want to search out more literary science writing.
This book satisfied my craving for books that tie the past to the present and science to emotion. The main character was complex and fascinating. Plus a cool bit of suspense, just as I was least expecting it. This is the second book of Simon Mawer's I've read. I plan to read more.
I can't decide how I feel about this book. I have enough knowledge of science and history to be able to follow all the stuff about genetics, but I didn't really want to have to. It was clever. And it was well written. But that doesn't make a good book.
Part fiction, part historical narrative, this quirky book follows the tribulations of one of Gregor Mendel's descendants who happens to be a geneticist, and who happens to have one of the few dominant genetic disorders, achondroplasiac dwarfism.
I have read this book many times. I find the main character fascinating, the ideas stimulating, and the work in general emotionally wrenching. People respond in many different ways (radically different) to this book; I love it.
This I call the fight for mendelian science!
I love how he combines the two amazing stories of Dr. Ben and Gregor Mendel with such seamlessness.
An attractive story line that teaches, emotionally involves (though not asked for by the characters), and allows the reader to ponder over controversial theories and their public reception at different times in history.
I love how he combines the two amazing stories of Dr. Ben and Gregor Mendel with such seamlessness.
An attractive story line that teaches, emotionally involves (though not asked for by the characters), and allows the reader to ponder over controversial theories and their public reception at different times in history.
This book, which combines genetic science, history, and love, is amazing. There have been rumors swirling that a movie will be made (possibly starring Peter Dinklage), and that could potentially be very good.
Enjoyed this very much. Well structured, with the original Gregor Mendel life and research juxtaposed with his modern-day descendant's research into his own condition. It does get a bit technical at times and can be fairly "anatomically detailed" in places, so not to everyone's taste.
Very good read, that does keep the reader interested to the very last page!
Very good read, that does keep the reader interested to the very last page!
Started reading the Hebrew translation, but it seems language is important in the ironical layer of the book, so I would prefer to read it in the original.
I thought it was your average science novel, and then it turned into a fascinating critique of the neoliberalization of science through "the new genetics." Overall good read.
Not as good as his others for me....only because there was a lot of genetic science I had to gloss over. But Mower is always amazing.
A fascinating & witty novel, interweaving the protagonist's story with genetics & with the life of Gregor Mendel.
I liked this book, the science, the intrigue, the moral dilemma. All things that lead to a great story.
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Simon Mawer (born 1948, England) is a British author. He currently lives in Italy.
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“It is difficult to reconstruct an emotion. At times it is difficult even to admit to one. I have practiced long and hard at denying entry to such twin imposters as triumph and disaster, or love and hate, but sometimes the barriers are breached.”
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1 person liked it
“I'm fond of her."
Oh yeah? Fond are you? I've heard of fond. I expect old erection here" - she pointed to the tube of DNA - "was fond of his victim. Fond is a prude's word, Ben. You fancy her. That's what you say. You fancy Miss Library something painful. And who knows?" She grinned, gap-toothed, like the Wife of Bath. "Maybe she fancies you.”
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1 person liked it
More quotes…
Oh yeah? Fond are you? I've heard of fond. I expect old erection here" - she pointed to the tube of DNA - "was fond of his victim. Fond is a prude's word, Ben. You fancy her. That's what you say. You fancy Miss Library something painful. And who knows?" She grinned, gap-toothed, like the Wife of Bath. "Maybe she fancies you.”
