A review by whatsmacksaid
The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke

3.0

Three and a half stars. While I enjoyed the first half, the story's second half picked up noticeably. I found myself thinking of Jeffery Eugenides' work several times while reading--there was a lot of upper-middle class stuff happening, like the drive to live a "normal" life and emotionally neglectful parents. The main character's mother objects to her philosophy degree, and during/after college the main character goes to work a slightly shameful job where she dresses up and flirts with the men she sells hand-rolled cigarettes to. She marries a serial entrepreneur and spends her days in the bored haze of a trophy wife.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the story. I liked Cat's journey to redemption, and I liked watching her become her own person. It wasn't necessarily my ideal cup of tea, but The Mad Scientist's Daughter was well-written and moving.