A Perfect Life: A Novel

by Eileen Pollack

A luminous and insightful novel that considers the moral complexities of scientific discovery and the sustaining nature of love.

A young researcher at MIT, Jane Weiss is obsessed with finding the genetic marker for Valentine’s Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder. Her pursuit is deeply personal—Valentine’s killed her mother, and she and her freewheeling sister, Laurel, could be genetic carriers; each has a fifty percent chance of developing the disease. Having seen firsthand the devastating effect Valentine’s had on her parents’ marriage, Jane is terrified she might become a burden on whomever she falls in love with and so steers clear of romantic entanglement. Then, the summer before her father’s second wedding, Jane falls hard for her future stepbrother, Willie. But Willie's father also died from Valentine’s, raising the odds that their love will end in tragedy.

When Willie bolts at a crucial moment in their relationship, Jane becomes obsessed with finding the genetic marker to the disease that threatens both their families. But if she succeeds in making history, will she and her sister have the courage to face the truth this newfound knowledge could hold for their lives?

A Perfect Life is a novel of scientific and self discovery, about learning how to embrace life and love, no matter what may come. Eileen Pollack conjures a thought-provoking, emotionally resonant story of one woman’s brilliance and bravery as she confronts her deepest fears and desires—and comes to accept the inevitable and the unexpected.

Genres: Fiction, Adult

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2016

About the author

Eileen Pollack grew up in Liberty, New York. She has received fellowships from the Michener Foundation and the MacDowell Colony, and her stories have appeared in Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, the Literary Review, the AGNI Review, Playgirl, and the New Generation. She lives in Belmont, Massachusetts, and teaches at Tufts University. She won the Pushcart Prize for her story “Past, Future, Elsewhere.”

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Perfect Life" centers on a postdoctoral researcher who's searching for the genetic marker for a disease that runs in her own family. It's the early 1980s, and Jane Weiss is one of the few women in the labs at MIT. The novel is populated with an interesting, quirky cast of characters and Eileen Pollack does a good job of conveying the science behind Jane's quest (though it proceeds far faster than a real research project would). The writing is slightly clunky, however, and some of those quirky characters don't evolve much. I liked the book, but I didn't love it.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

The description was promising, but I found the book took forever to go anywhere. Wasn't my cup of tea.

[Anne Wolfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stick with it if you can. A Perfect Life starts slowly, tiresomely. The exhausted researcher, Jane Weiss, spends long hours in the lab trying to find a gene marker for Valentine's Chorea, a hereditary disease her mother died (horribly) of.

For a large part of this novel, the details of her study involve testing of blood, breeding and slicing up mouse brains, and also dealing with her philanthropist father and his fiancée and her sister. Yawn.

As the book progresses, however, Jane falls in love with her step-brother-to-be who may also be a carrier of the disease, ( as she and her sister may be.) At this point, more quirky characters join the mix and interest is rekindled when a breakthrough occurs in her studies.

Pollack is obviously scientifically knowledgeable, but underestimates her readers' level of need-to-know details of scientific search and discovery. Valentine's appears to be based on the symptoms of
Huntington's, the disease Woody Guthrie had.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated that the main character was a research scientist and the book showed the context of her work realistically - the slow/fast pace of research, life as a post-doc, the need for grants, and the competition for key publications and conferences. That said, the author did not make Jane a very appealing character and her relationships (as daughter, sister, friend) were thinly painted. Most notable of all, the supposed magnetism she felt for her love interest simply did not come across on the page. The book has a complex bioethical plotline worth considering, but all in all "Inside the O'Brians" (Genova) was a much more engaging, equally thought-provoking novel on the same subject.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t as good as I thought it was going to be. I felt like there was no flow to the story, like there was no plot. I felt like the story was just dragging and wouldn’t go anywhere. It had some parts that were very interesting and it got my attention but then it will go right back to being not as interesting. Also a lot of the dialogue and a lot of the narration wasn’t flowing as well when it would change to different topics so it was kind of confusing. And there was also a lot of medical talk which I know was part of the whole story but personally it wasn’t something that I was following along.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me of a Lisa Genova book in its approach but from a more scientific perspective. A devastating illness-Valentine's chorea- is in the genetics of the main character. She is a driven research PhD trying to find the gene marker for Valentine's. She cuts herself off from emotional entanglements except for that of her sister who systematically distances herself in living a risk-filled life in an effort to experience everything in a supposedly short life span. When her father decides to remarry, it incentives her to increase her research efforts as she allows herself to open up.
I'm a science geek so the descriptions of the labs, testing, splicing etc were interesting. Since I've read Genova's book on Huntington's chorea , (which was beautifully presented) I found this a bit redundant and in need of editing-especially at the rather dry beginning.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Perfect Life" is a lovely story that explores the various ethical sides of genetic testing. It takes place in the 80s and revolves around a family dealing with the roulette wheel of an incurable genetic disease. Now that genetic testing is routine I think I tend not to think of the ethics. It was really good to be able to spend time with these characters and think deeply in the subject. And any book that has me moved to tears on the bus must be pretty great.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of the science went over my head, but the central mystery of whether the main character has the gene for this degenerative disease kept me turning pages. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, but I liked Jane’s relationship with Maureen enough to push through the slow parts. And Eileen is a very good writer, so that helped keep me engaged.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up on page 58, felt like reading a science textbook

[Freda Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know about Valentine's disease until I read this book. It's a horrible disease. You lose control of your body and then it takes your life. Sometimes, that is almost a relief. This is a story about a family dad, mom, 2 girls. Mom has valentine's. They know it is inherited but at the time there is no way to check if you have the gene. The oldest daughter works at finding that link, and finally, she does. Neither of the girls have the gene. Oldest daughter falls in love with a man who's father had valentine's. He has a son. He refuses to be tested. The younger daughter has lead her life like she knew she had it, owes 82 thousand dollars in credit card bills because she never thought she would live to have to pay them. When she learned that she didn't have the disease, instead of being happy, she committed suicide. The oldest daughter becomes pregnant, and marries the father. When his son becomes ill he agrees to have the test, and both he and his son have the Valentine's gene. Mary now realizes that they will both die young and she will have to care for them. She, of course, wonders about her daughter. How would you handle this? Would you want to know? Or would you rather live your life and take the chance? Would you have children, knowing that you might pass the gene on to them?

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane is a researcher at MIT, working to find the cause of the degenerative disease that killed her mother and threatens her and her sister. Her life is defined by her work, by her memories of her mother's illness and death, and by her and her sister's opposing approaches to their grief and fear. But when Jane meets a man whose response to his own similar situation challenges hers - at the same time that she discovers a remote, inbred community of sufferers - her theories must all be reevaluated.

The good: Oh, everything. The world of the novel is highly specific - Jane's best friend's taste in clothing; the failing eyesight of a ferry pilot; the dressing rooms in Jane's father's store. This draws us in while allowing the author to address big issues - disease and death, mothers and sisters, science and faith - without veering into pontification or pointless melancholy.

The bad: A quibble, but the story is set in the 1980's (which matters a great deal - genetic testing has advanced considerably since then) and I didn't feel the period was made sufficiently clear.

The verdict: I have long complained that there are no novels whose protagonists are postdocs. This is only one book, but if it were the only such book it would be enough. Read it.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The characters just weren't quite engaging enough for me and since everyone in the lab was a societal misfit, that made them somewhat unrealistic.
The pacing was pretty slow and it was clearly a novel intended to explore the ethical dimensions of genetic testing, with a pretty clear parallel between the fictitious Valentine's disease and Huntington's disease. The book was so focused on all aspects of that, that I think the storyline suffered. But what really drove me crazy was all the almost, but not quite accurate details about the lab work. As a scientist, it really made it hard to the rest of the book seriously, and apparently there were things about the region that were close, but not quite accurate as reviewed by someone else. So if you want to be wowed by science in a novel, it might be better to chose a different author with more first hand knowledge.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the plot description but the narrative didn’t flow smoothly. I might have appreciated it more if I understood the lab procedures used to extract and test the blood samples. Once Jane stared processing the blood samples, I could understand using a centrifuge but all the processes after that - gels,, chopping up the DNA, lines on a film - were hard to follow. One of the themes was whether, if this disease ran in your family, you would want to know your own chances of getting sick. I liked that the author posed several different types of reactions, but overall, it felt flat for me.

[Akemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect example of how a scientific setting can be used to explore literary themes. I thought Pollack did a wonderful job of using a fictional disease to highlight the choices that we make in life and the choices that are made for us. Jane Weiss wants to know whether or not a degenerative disease lies in wait for her – she has dedicated her life to finding out through her research, but it is unclear whether knowing will make her life any better. Not everyone who is at risk does want to know. Each of the characters has their own beliefs and motivations and yet they are all relatable and easy to sympathize with, making Pollack's story all the more engaging.

[Briana Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library at random after reading the inside cover. It sounded like a story about Huntington's disease with a different name which my family has the genetic early onset markers for on my father's side. Sure enough, the 1st sentence of the appendix said in memory of the physicians who discovered the markers for Huntington's chorea. Book actually did a really good job portraying the symptoms which my grandmother had for over 20 years. I myself haven't gotten tested and this book made me think about it from different perspectives with the characters.

[Mary Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a roller coaster ride!

At first, I thought this was about an actual condition (similar to awful Huntington's Chorea), but after i learned about i, I was somewhat relieved that the sisters were worried about a made-up condition.

Lesson to self --working in a prestigious medical lab would not be very enjoyable!

SPOILER: Tragic re the isolation up north and on the island.

the sad ending doesn't seem realistic to me, but who can know how a person would react....

Certainly kept my interest, altho a bit long for my liking.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biology, Geography, Suspense, Friendship, (B)Romance, Family Issues, and the Meaning of Life (when death is imminent or one has a disability). This is a well-paced and beautifully written compilation of universal themes. Hat's off!

[Martha Freimuth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful story, raising many moral questions and wisely not attempting to answer them. I found the narrator to be less likable than I would have wished. The writing style is pleasant but not lovely. Nonetheless I recommend the book. It will make you think about very important issues.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took very long time to read! So much info!

[Tracey Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book

[Debbie Behler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with other reviewers that it was awfully slow going. I kept reading because I wanted to find out what happens in the end. But it was pretty slow going. I had to renew twice at the library.

[David Galef]

A perfect novel, with a real knack for creating memorable characters and a plot to move them along.

[Donna Liewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

superb!

Author has a magical way of allowing the reader to become the characters. The twists and turns of the story line keeps the reader from going to bed. I inhaled this book.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish it had kept closer to the true story of the discovery of the gene for huntingtons

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this novel more than I did. Unfortunately there’s no such thing as clam chili at Legal Sea Foods or anywhere in New England. It’s not a thing. We eat New England clam chowder. This made me nearly stop reading early on. We drink frappes not frappés. Either include factual details or fabricate everything. McLean hospital isn’t spelled MacLean. That’s an egregious error on page 298. Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton spent time there! Everyone knows about the Harvard Square pit and the vagabond kids that hang out there. Author Eileen Pollack also makes sure to mention the famed Citgo sign in Kenmore Square. I’m not proprietary I’m just a realist. If you’re writing about Cambridge, MIT and New England you need to know a few details.

Fortunately the science makes this novel interesting and kept me reading. The novel focuses on a hereditary neurological disease and a woman’s quest to discover the gene responsible for it so that she might help her own family. Using the search for a genetic marker for Huntington’s chorea as an inspiration, the novel focuses on Jane Weiss who lost her mother to Valentine’s disease. She and her sister have a 50/50 chance to get it. While Jane toils for answers, her sister Laurel travels the world partaking in one extreme adventure after another. She’s also part of a dance company. “But whenever I looked in a mirror, I saw my father’s humped nose. I was his daughter, after all. Or so the family myth had it. I was plain, clever, and ambitious, while my younger sister, Laurel, was blessed with our mother’s beauty and charm but doomed to die young.” Feminists will rejoice in reading about a female scientist; feminists might cringe at the personal storyline.

Pollack, who holds a bachelor’s in physics from Yale [as well as an MFA in fiction from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop], describes working in a lab quite effectively. She writes: “Vic sent our technicians to Star Market to buy rolls of Saran Wrap to mummify our gels, paper towels to wick them, toothpicks with which to transfer bacteria from one plate to the next. We ordered Seal-a-Meal bags from the company that made them for the Jolly Green Giant. Every six months, the labs on our floor held a Tupperware party, at which we badgered the hostess about whether her trays were resistant to formamide and whether or not they would buckle when autoclaved at 120 degrees.” The lab scenes show the strangeness, humor, drudgery and revelations. There’s this: “Achiro, our postdoc from Japan, was slicing mouse brains as thin as a butterfly’s wings and using chopsticks to mount the samples on glass slides.”

Years ago I worked in communications at a biotech company involved in the Human Genome Project. This novel takes place around that time in the late 90s. I’ve also worked in development and Pollack writes exceptional scenes about fundraising efforts. When the novel turns to more personal matters it falls short. Maybe the quest for a genetic marker isn’t enough to sell novels. There needs to be soap opera plot lines. A pregnancy from a one-night-stand and its implications, complications and philosophical implications grows tiresome. Focusing on the sisters and their approach to life knowing they might get a debilitating disease interested me more than any love story. If you want to read the most gorgeously written and riveting novel about science, read Allegra Goodman’s Intuition.

posted at Entertainment Realm: https://entertainmentrealm.com/2016/0...

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this 4 stars not because of the quality of the writing - that's pretty pedestrian. But the 4 stars are for the theme - recommended reading for everyone in this modern age. That theme: the implications of genetic tests for fatal diseases. Do you want to know if you have the flawed gene and are going to die prematurely and in an undignified way? If you have the gene, should you risk having a child who may inherit it? Should the government intervene or leave it entirely up to the individuals involved, even if there is a high social cost involved? These are important moral issues of our times.

Regrettably, not treated at all, are the moral issues around who has obligations to care for persons who are dying of incurable diseases of the brain, and whether the person dying should "die naturally" - endure a difficult end yourself while also subjecting your loved ones to months without joy.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pollack has written a wonderful novel of science, faith, and love in this story of a family facing a genetic nightmare. Jane is a fully realized character who is so complex that you want to reach out and hug her. The scenes in the lab as well as with the community of Valentine's sufferers are wonderful- both educating and heartbreaking. I liked that Jane's colleagues at the lab are also instantly recognizable. This is a tough book in some ways but it's incredibly sensitive and well worth your time. HIGHLY recommend- and I can't wait to see more from her.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A research biologist in Boston is trying to find the genetic markers for a disease that killed her mother and other family members. She knows that she and her sister could be carriers, as well as her husband. If you knew that you possibly could develop a disease that would kill you early in life - would you want to know or not? The three major characters deal with this in different ways.

[Dun's]

DNF. From the description, it seems that the book would be right down my alley: a scientist researching on a degenerative disorder that she might have, sprinkled with some family drama. Unfortunately it became quickly like reading a thesis and not so much as a fiction work. The family drama also didn't go anywhere.

[Jenn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have you ever met a person that can take 5 minutes to tell you something that could have been said in 30 seconds? That's what this book reminded me of. I got close to the end, and then just couldn't take it anymore.
I did however love her first book.