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The Evolution of Jane (1998)

by Cathleen Schine

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306686,208 (3.14)9
In this "witty novel about family, friendship, and survival of the fittest,"* Cathleen Schine, one of our most astute social observers, examines the origin of species alongside the origins of who we come to be. In some mysterious family feud or unintended slight, Jane Barlow Schwartz lost a friend, her cousin and soul mate, Martha. But years later, surrounded by the exotic wildlife of the Galapagos, Jane and Martha meet again. There, amid the antics of blue-footed boobies and red-lipped batfish, Jane sets off on a quest through her family history to pinpoint the moment when Martha was no longer the Martha she knew. In the process, she ponders instinct, natural selection, and the oddities of evolution that transform us.  As Barbara Kingsolver proclaimed in The New York Times Book Review, "We should rejoice in a rare novel like The Evolution of Jane . . . A rollicking family saga tinged with hints of sexual intrigue . . . Three cheers." *Elle… (more)
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» See also 9 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
I love that cover but what I could remember of my reason for losing interest was the MC is a spaz. She talks non-stop. Isn't that silly to say that about a book?

I haven't gotten back to it and reading some reviews, I'm going to let it go. If I read for covers I'd definitely be reading this but the content is outside my interest.
  Corinne2020 | Nov 21, 2020 |
The right people aren't reading this on goodreads - it really probably does deserve a slightly higher rating. It's not a bad book, but it is only of interest to some. The cover says it all. A pretty young woman goes to the exotic Galapagos to ponder the melodramatic Mysteries. Analyses and coincidences both abound. If it intrigues you, by all means pick it up - it's short. You might adore it. ( )
  Cheryl_in_CC_NV | Jun 6, 2016 |
A very disagreeable main character, in my opinion. I've liked this author's other books, but this one is disappointing. ( )
  reesetee | Sep 18, 2014 |
It all starts when Jane's mother thinks twenty five year old Jane needs a vacation to mend a broken heart. Jane has been left by her husband of only six months and while it has taken Jane only half that long to get over the abandonment she does not dispute her mother's "quaint notion." It is on this trip she has always wanted to take, to the Galapagos Islands, that Jane discovers her long-lost, once best friend, and cousin Martha is a guide. As Martha and Jane had fallen out of friendship Jane is baffled by this coincidence and is unsure how to proceed with her feelings and actions. She spends the entire vacation obsessing about the failed relationship.
The story itself jumps from the past to the present in an effort to explain Jane and Martha's childhood friendship. Despite a mysterious family feud that split the rest of the family the two cousins were inseparable for a period of time. Until one day they weren't. Jane's obsession over what went wrong dominates the trip to the Galapagos. Even when her roommate tells her "let sleeping dogs lie" she can't let it go. ( )
  SeriousGrace | Feb 7, 2013 |
An interesting story that doesn't really pan out. Jane takes a guided boat tour of the Galapagos Islands and finds that her guide is herformer best friend and cousin, Martha. Surrounded by the marvels of evolution, Jane can only ruminate on the evolution of her failed friendship, leading to a most anticlimatic ending which must take the place of closure. The pace of the novel switches between the present and Jane's childhood memories. While the author does well with scenery descriptions, the novel gets bogged down with Jane's self-conscious obsession over Martha. ( )
  StoutHearted | Jun 22, 2009 |
Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
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To my brother, and friend, Ricky
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Have you ever lost a friend?
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In this "witty novel about family, friendship, and survival of the fittest,"* Cathleen Schine, one of our most astute social observers, examines the origin of species alongside the origins of who we come to be. In some mysterious family feud or unintended slight, Jane Barlow Schwartz lost a friend, her cousin and soul mate, Martha. But years later, surrounded by the exotic wildlife of the Galapagos, Jane and Martha meet again. There, amid the antics of blue-footed boobies and red-lipped batfish, Jane sets off on a quest through her family history to pinpoint the moment when Martha was no longer the Martha she knew. In the process, she ponders instinct, natural selection, and the oddities of evolution that transform us.  As Barbara Kingsolver proclaimed in The New York Times Book Review, "We should rejoice in a rare novel like The Evolution of Jane . . . A rollicking family saga tinged with hints of sexual intrigue . . . Three cheers." *Elle

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