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Aug 06, 2018wyenotgo rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
OK, I realize I'm completely out of step with almost everyone who has praised this book. I beg to differ; call be an uptight, moralistic snob if you will, but I found both the premise and several of the prime characters objectionable. And that spoiled the whole story for me. 1. Surely the last thing our planet needs is to enable women to continue producing more children throughout their lives! The drug company pretends to aim at helping childless couples conceive but let's be honest: They plan to make piles of money by enabling well-heeled urbanites to bear children after they've had a lucrative career. 2. Are we to believe that a big drug company would provide unlimited funding to a scientist hiding in the Amazon basin without knowing what was up? Real life scenario: Three guys with thick shoulders are dispatched the first time our letters and phone calls are not answered; and funding disappears very quickly. No, Mr. Fox has to know exactly what's going on. 3. How about "Mr. Fox" (notice he's always "Mr.") sending two of his valuable scientists off on a dangerous, poorly defined mission -- including sending his supposed lover after the first doctor has apparently died under unknown circumstances? He's a boss we would all love to have! 4. And of course there's Swenson, a "mad scientist" hell-bent on personal glory and the well-being of everyone else be damned! The agony of Ekman's wife, left with three small children and no answers is of no concern to her whatsoever. 5. And of course there are the two freeloaders the Bovenders living a life of luxury, no questions asked, all bills paid, acting as Swenson's gatekeepers. They haven't even the decency to allow Ekman's letters to and from his wife to reach their addressee. These are despicable people I don't care to read about. Two stars for the quality of the prose. I began skimming after 140 pages, finally abandoned it in distaste after 300.