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mwalters19's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
astoms's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
pdnaylor's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
erinricks's review against another edition
dnf at 32%. I was so sad because I love the story of Rosalind Franklin and I’ve liked other books by this author, but Rosalind was written as SUCH a Mary Sue in this book! it drove me crazy!
okevamae's review against another edition
4.0
Based on the true story of Rosalind Franklin, the female scientist who first discovered the structure of DNA, only to have credit for her breakthrough claimed by male colleagues.
I was interested when I saw that this was by the author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, which I enjoyed, and even more interested when I read what the book was about. I don’t know anything about Rosalind Franklin aside from the one line I wrote above, and even that I wouldn’t necessarily have remembered just from hearing her name without the accompanying mention of Watson and Crick. As with her book about Agatha Christie, Marie Benedict writes a compelling story that centers on a notable woman in history.
Since reading this, I have read up enough about Rosalind Franklin to know that Marie Benedict did her research for this project. She added in quite a lot of details about Franklin’s life, and has an excellent way of describing her highly technical work in a way that is reasonably easy for the average fiction reader to understand – or understand well enough to keep up with the book, anyway. Other details appear to be extrapolated by the author from what is known about Franklin, such as her love affairs and her blasé attitude towards exposure to radiation.
The passion that Rosalind Franklin had for science is most certainly based in fact, and comes through palpably in this novel. But the book also does an excellent job of fleshing Rosalind out into a fully realized person, one whose impact on science is lesser known but profound.
CW: Misogyny typical to the time period
I received an advanced copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was interested when I saw that this was by the author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, which I enjoyed, and even more interested when I read what the book was about. I don’t know anything about Rosalind Franklin aside from the one line I wrote above, and even that I wouldn’t necessarily have remembered just from hearing her name without the accompanying mention of Watson and Crick. As with her book about Agatha Christie, Marie Benedict writes a compelling story that centers on a notable woman in history.
Since reading this, I have read up enough about Rosalind Franklin to know that Marie Benedict did her research for this project. She added in quite a lot of details about Franklin’s life, and has an excellent way of describing her highly technical work in a way that is reasonably easy for the average fiction reader to understand – or understand well enough to keep up with the book, anyway. Other details appear to be extrapolated by the author from what is known about Franklin, such as her love affairs and her blasé attitude towards exposure to radiation.
The passion that Rosalind Franklin had for science is most certainly based in fact, and comes through palpably in this novel. But the book also does an excellent job of fleshing Rosalind out into a fully realized person, one whose impact on science is lesser known but profound.
CW: Misogyny typical to the time period
I received an advanced copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
5.0
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
I have to admit, I didn’t know what this book was about at all. I just knew Marie Benedict had a new book coming out, so I requested it from NetGalley based upon her reputation and my liking of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict and Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict. I was given an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Her Hidden Genius (Amazon) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In 1962, Watson, Crick and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on the theoretical model of the structure of DNA as a double helix. However, as Watson would sort of admit in 1968, it was based on the back of Rosalind Franklin’s X-Ray photos. Those photos led her to be the first to suspect that DNA was a double helix and it was she who made the calculations that Watson and Crick ultimately used in their model.
Rosalind was a trail blazer in a time when most affluent women were expected to marry well and pursue philanthropic efforts. That is what her parents kept harping on her about, but Rosalind wanted to study science. So she went off to France and studied for several years under the guise of a notable French man. Her infrequent trips home lead her parents to pester her to return to England. Soon enough, she receives an offer to study in England, and it’s an offer she can’t refuse.
In France, there was a collaborative air around the laboratory; in England, it is competitive and condescending to have a woman studying alongside them. While Rosalind is put in charge of one area of study, Watson keeps trying to ingratiate himself into the work, and treats science like a race. Rosalind is having none of it.
I have to admit, the detailed descriptions of the science made my eyes glaze over a little at times, yet I understood the importance to the story. Rosalind is a feminist hero, studying in a field hostile to women, and refusing to settle down and get married to a nice Jewish man and have a family because that was what society and her family expected of her. Putting up with misogynistic men was the least of her troubles.
The fact that her very work likely gave her the ovarian cancer that would take her life at the age of 37 makes it all the more important that the world knows Rosalind’s story. I know it’s early in the year, but this might make the top of my favorites of the year. Marie Benedict once again knows how to weave a tale about an historical figure that keeps one captivated and wanting to know more. I know I’ll be picking up a biography of Rosalind the first chance I get.
I have to admit, I didn’t know what this book was about at all. I just knew Marie Benedict had a new book coming out, so I requested it from NetGalley based upon her reputation and my liking of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict and Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict. I was given an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Her Hidden Genius (Amazon) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In 1962, Watson, Crick and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on the theoretical model of the structure of DNA as a double helix. However, as Watson would sort of admit in 1968, it was based on the back of Rosalind Franklin’s X-Ray photos. Those photos led her to be the first to suspect that DNA was a double helix and it was she who made the calculations that Watson and Crick ultimately used in their model.
Rosalind was a trail blazer in a time when most affluent women were expected to marry well and pursue philanthropic efforts. That is what her parents kept harping on her about, but Rosalind wanted to study science. So she went off to France and studied for several years under the guise of a notable French man. Her infrequent trips home lead her parents to pester her to return to England. Soon enough, she receives an offer to study in England, and it’s an offer she can’t refuse.
In France, there was a collaborative air around the laboratory; in England, it is competitive and condescending to have a woman studying alongside them. While Rosalind is put in charge of one area of study, Watson keeps trying to ingratiate himself into the work, and treats science like a race. Rosalind is having none of it.
I have to admit, the detailed descriptions of the science made my eyes glaze over a little at times, yet I understood the importance to the story. Rosalind is a feminist hero, studying in a field hostile to women, and refusing to settle down and get married to a nice Jewish man and have a family because that was what society and her family expected of her. Putting up with misogynistic men was the least of her troubles.
The fact that her very work likely gave her the ovarian cancer that would take her life at the age of 37 makes it all the more important that the world knows Rosalind’s story. I know it’s early in the year, but this might make the top of my favorites of the year. Marie Benedict once again knows how to weave a tale about an historical figure that keeps one captivated and wanting to know more. I know I’ll be picking up a biography of Rosalind the first chance I get.
misstj9's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
leahpm's review against another edition
4.0
Cool mix of science and storytelling. Im in awe of Rosalind Franklin as a scientist. I cried and certainly wouldn’t be able to just carry on like she did.
kdowli01's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5