My favorite academic novel of all time is Straight Man by Richard Russo. I recently read Intuition by Allegra Goodman, but I don't think it qualifies since the action mostly takes place in a lab only loosely affiliated with a university. So.. what do you think?
14 years ago
8 comments:
Ha, I was the first vote, so right now it's 100% Moo. :D
I really liked Straight Man too, actually. Haven't read any of the rest, so I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to say.
I would definitely vote for Nice Work by David Lodge. The third of a loose "trilogy" with Trading Places and Small World (both of which I liked). Nice Work is a little bit better, as it manages to contrast the world of a young post-modern lit professor with that of a respectable no-nonsense businessman. (I didn't think much of Thinks, to be honest.)
haven't read any of them but Straight Man, but that was a great novel.
I found Thinks... a dire read; too much of the author's ego getting in the way, as I recall.
other: anything by Rebecca Goldstein - she gives me a woman's perspective to identify with (or contrast myself with); I don't like Lodge's protagonists much, they're either cocky or neurotic or both and the women are mostly peripheral wives.
The only one I've read of those is Moo, which I liked.
I'm trying to think of other relevant books, but I'm drawing a blank. Hmm.
Thanks for the recommended reading.
What, no Da Vinci Code?
The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies is great, with a female protagonist, too.
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