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Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.​  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

Short and sweet with a sour kick: Andrew’s Brain by EL Doctorow

23/1/2015

10 Comments

 
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Andrew appears to be particularly accident prone, everywhere he goes he brings disaster, especially to those he loves. After one marriage has ended in divorce and the death of a baby, his second has left him as the hapless father of a motherless baby girl. In a purported conversation with his therapist, he reviews his life story, and the extent of his responsibility for the tragedies that have occurred.

Andrew is a “cognitive scientist” with a strong belief in the impact of brain biology on our actions as opposed to the more nebulous mind. Although not necessarily a likeable character, his voice is lively and appealing. At first the novel comes across as a parody of therapy, with the therapist’s questions and largely unhelpful interjections generally ignored. But as the novel progresses, we find ourselves embroiled in a far darker story of not only the wrongs unwittingly triggered by this one individual, but, via Andrew’s college-day friendship with a war-mongering president, of political shenanigans of the worst kind. By the end of the novel the dreams, “soundless voices” and speculation about how far studies of the human brain can take us, that have preoccupied Andrew from the early pages, and even the identity of the seemingly neutral therapist take on a more sinister significance, in which his only note of hope is in the science supposedly underlying his experience, along with his insistence on his inability to feel.


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I rattled through this novel in two sittings, in awe of a writer who can condense such deep issues into such accessible prose. But, now in his eighties, EL Doctorow has been doing this for years. His 1971 masterpiece, The Book of Daniel, a fictionalised account of the execution of the Rosenbergs had a profound impact on me in my teens. If you haven’t read any of his novels, let me urge you to do so; if you don’t fancy Andrew’s Brain, there are another fifteen you can choose from.

I’m grateful to Abacus Books for my review copy.

If you subscribe to this blog, you might be surprised to find I’ve posted two reviews on consecutive days. You know I don’t like to overwhelm you with an excess of my words. But I do have a backlog of reviews to publish, so I’ve joined in with Sophie and Suze’s Review Challenge which runs from today until 2 February, with the aim of posting a review a day over the next eleven days. (I imagine Sophie will be posting many more: if you were impressed with my tally of 96 books for last year, you’ll be gobsmacked by her target of 300 for 2015.) I hope you’ll find a way of keeping up with me, but please don’t feel pressurised to do so. Even if you don’t find time to comment, or even read, I know you’re with me in spirit and I’m most grateful for that.



Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
10 Comments
Sophie link
23/1/2015 02:34:03 am

Thanks for joining in! Andrew's Brain sounds really intriguing, and I'll be looking forward to reading more of your reviews throughout the challenge.

Reply
Annecdotist
24/1/2015 04:19:43 am

Thanks, Sophie, your prompt came at just the right time for me. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else makes of it.

Reply
geoff link
23/1/2015 02:32:25 pm

Ha, you're getting to be as bad as me!. I'm guilty as charged, never having read EL Doctorow. But you are my conscience in all matters reading related so which do you recommend. The latest or the Book of Daniel or one in between?

Reply
Annecdotist
24/1/2015 04:26:20 am

I'm afraid I haven't read many of his fifteen novels and, as blasts from the past, it's only Book of Daniel that sticks in mind. If you like the premise, I'd recommend that one. Alternatively, Andrew's Brain is much shorter, and more ambiguous in terms of what it's about. And there's a nod to the events of 9/11 which might or might not affect its appeal.
Yeah, seems like we're having a blog identity swap at the moment with you started your reviews and me posting daily!

Reply
Charli Mills link
23/1/2015 04:16:44 pm

Yes...I'm gobsmacked...300! Your reviews are always thought-provoking and i feel as though I get to participate in the discussion despite keeping up with your reading! As to Doctorow, I'm sure by now he's figured out to process deeply.

Reply
Annecdotist
24/1/2015 04:29:11 am

Thanks, Charli. I imagine someone's done a thesis on how Doctorow's style has developed over time, but this one is certainly succinct and unusually made me wish it was longer.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
23/1/2015 10:29:08 pm

This one sounds like an interesting read, though not sure about the sinister and political bits. I do like reading/learning about the brain and delving into people's emotions, thoughts and motivations. It helps me to figure out my own!
I admire you for your goal of a review a day over eleven days. That's some reading and writing!! I also appreciate your generosity in not expecting me to read and comment every day. I have always enjoyed your twice a week schedule as I am usually able to keep up with it and read all that you post. I try to keep to a similar schedule myself. I can't keep up with those that post more often. Sadly, there's just so much more to do! :)

Reply
Annecdotist
24/1/2015 04:40:59 am

I'm not sure I'd recommend this for learning about how the brain works, Norah, although it would probably connect you with stuff you already know.
As for the review challenge, I wouldn't have joined in if I hadn't already had several reviews ready in draft, as I think I'm quite a slow reader, and the book I'm reading at the moment, The Analyst, is quite long so imagine it's going to take me five days. So the main effort is really just posting and tweeting, although of course that still takes time.
I agree with you about the twice a week blogging being most manageable both for blogger and followers, and you seem to be particularly conscientious in your support for this and other blogs. I don't do daily comments myself and so don't expect the same of my followers (although nice if/when it happens). Regarding book reviews, there is a shared responsibility between blogger and publisher to get it out there, so it doesn't feel so personal as it would if a 'me' post were somehow overlooked.
Thanks as ever for your support.

Reply
Caroline link
31/1/2015 12:31:54 am

Hi Anne, never really noticed Doctorow until I read this review. I have enjoyed your recommendations so far so I'll get round to this one soon.
Good luck with review challenge.

Reply
Annecdotist
1/2/2015 03:35:21 am

Thanks, Caroline.

Reply

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