Archangel By Andrea Barrett (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
Barrett consistently writes books that are so smart, suffused with science and the joy and pain of scientific discovery, yet not forgoing relationship (and its commensurate joys and pains). Her characters are often earnest, if not completely self-aware or emotionally honest, seekers after truths, even when those truths are barely glimpsed or marginally understood. They are seeking something real and true, and often looking for that in science and discovery. Here, she again explores these themes with characters in the early 20th century, when Darwin's ideas were still new, when World War I gets in the way of scientific exploration and collaboration, and when women were struggling to find places on the scientific world outside of their traditional roles as helpmeets and test tube washers. Some wonderful stuff. Andrea Barrett is a wonder. She is the best writer I've ever found to combine historical fiction and science. I absolutely loved her collection of short stories, Ship Fever, and also really liked her novel The Air We Breathe. Archangel is different from both. It's kind of like a collection of short stories, with a simple link, either one character at a different decade in that person's life, or maybe just a similar theme. And an odd theme. I find myself completely absorbed by her characters. Andrea Barrett's writing is brilliant, and I like her focus on women in science, on natural history, and on Darwin's legacy.
What do You think about Archangel By Andrea Barrett (2000)?
It's very nicely written, and it makes a few interesting points, but I didn't find it great.
—kenwilson943
Loved two of the stories, liked one, found the last one slow.
—kael62
