What do you think?
Rate this book
A River Divided
“As different artists sculpt different statues from the same block of marble, different environments produce different characters, even in identical twins.”Evelyn, a geneticist and amateur archeologist, makes a formidable discovery in Israel, the consequence of which is the birth of Christopher and José, identical twins raised apart, one in affluent Sydney, the other in the slums of Buenos Aires. The twins, unaware of each other’s existence or their origin, will meet for a moment only, in the Amazon, adversaries in the battle for the forest. Standing by both twins is Lorena, a medical student who under the claws of a dictatorship organizes the student environmental resistance.A novel whose heroes travel to four continents in search of their identity.How can values such as love, faith, forgiveness and freedom change their lives?What are the limits of science and the brain?Can there be consilience between humans and nature?
- GenresFiction
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2021
15 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 20, 2022
Good science fiction, in addition to the literary quality of the story it tells, is based on the accuracy of the science it presents. We could not think of anyone more suitable than the leading neuroscientist George Paxinos to write a novel whose plot is never allowed, not even through poetic licence, to violate the principles of science. A RIVER DIVIDED succeeds in being scientifically accurate and at the same time so clear that it can be understood by anyone.
The book's plot is as follows: Evelyn, a geneticist and amateur archaeologist, accidentally makes a formidable discovery in Israel. As a result, two twin brothers are born who grow up unaware of each other's existence–the first in affluent Sydney and the second in the slums of Buenos Aires, under the claws of a junta. Christopher and Jose will meet for the for a moment only in the Amazon, to be lost for ever. Next to them is a heroic girl, Lorena. The heroes travel to four continents to find their identity.
A RIVER DIVIDED is a multi-layered story with elements of the modern tragedy unfolding in various parts of the world, focusing on climate change, political myopia, bioethics, the essence of science, the essence of parenthood and the human perception of God. His heroes are captives of the absence of free will, given that they are "genes sculpted from experience". History highlights the anxious, existential search for man. The sciences of genetics and neuroscience show that our DNA contains remnants of the DNA of reptiles, species with which we have common ancestors. The author argues that our brain, due to its origin, is constrained by functions that lead to obsessions, delusions and other failures which, while once helped us survive in the prehistoric savannah, prove to be catastrophic today.
Paxinos's dystopia is not distant and imaginary, but an ongoing threat that is revealed as soon as the veil of misinterpretation of the modern world is removed. "The planet is dominated by "idiots "who, with mathematical precision, lead it to destruction by committing genocide." Paxinos is famous but not part of the system. "He is not one of the stars who smooths out reality or keeps equal distances so as not to break eggs." He is a genuine activist without a wooden tongue and without false historical views of dangers. He feels the weight of responsibility as a member of an intellectual elite who must awaken and guide others. A hero of the novel demands "intergenerational justice". The book reveals the deceptive tactics of multinational giants that, under the guise of environmental sensitivity, in practice effectively degrade and exploit the environment while reaping enormous economic benefits. He lets the facts speak for themselves, criticizing the anarcho-capitalism of corporatism. He calls "infinite injustice" the fact that this generation creates the conditions for the extermination of its progeny.
A RIVER DIVIDED is a book that overflows with genuine Hellenism. The author is a Greek who has lived, studied and worked abroad, who has immersed himself in science, history and philosophy and understands the ecumenical and humanistic character of a Hellene, free from national myths and exaggerations. His narrative creates simple but powerful images without tourist heterogeneities and unnecessary literary verbalism. Its power emerges from experiences and memories intertwined with emotions. Borrowing the title of Richard Dawkins's book, I will say that he is in awe of the "magic of reality".
There is a critic against religion, without fanaticism. He accepts it as an element of his cultural heritage and as part of the community ritual. It adopts the universal elements of its morality, but at the same time rejects its metaphysical element, maintaining an emotional balance towards it, which few can achieve.
It would be unfair to characterize A RIVER DIVIDED as just another novel, although as such it is far superior to others with the title of best seller. In essence it is a philosophical text in which the psycho-autobiography of a modest genius is hidden. It is impossible to separate man and his ideology from the story being told. What is more important than the story itself is the idiosyncrasy of the personality of a leading representative of the scientific world. A serene and powerful mind which has mastered science. His calm political vision and the deep understanding of philosophical issues which cannot but prove that he has acquired the mental balance of a true homo universalis.
Dimitris Antonoglou
The book's plot is as follows: Evelyn, a geneticist and amateur archaeologist, accidentally makes a formidable discovery in Israel. As a result, two twin brothers are born who grow up unaware of each other's existence–the first in affluent Sydney and the second in the slums of Buenos Aires, under the claws of a junta. Christopher and Jose will meet for the for a moment only in the Amazon, to be lost for ever. Next to them is a heroic girl, Lorena. The heroes travel to four continents to find their identity.
A RIVER DIVIDED is a multi-layered story with elements of the modern tragedy unfolding in various parts of the world, focusing on climate change, political myopia, bioethics, the essence of science, the essence of parenthood and the human perception of God. His heroes are captives of the absence of free will, given that they are "genes sculpted from experience". History highlights the anxious, existential search for man. The sciences of genetics and neuroscience show that our DNA contains remnants of the DNA of reptiles, species with which we have common ancestors. The author argues that our brain, due to its origin, is constrained by functions that lead to obsessions, delusions and other failures which, while once helped us survive in the prehistoric savannah, prove to be catastrophic today.
Paxinos's dystopia is not distant and imaginary, but an ongoing threat that is revealed as soon as the veil of misinterpretation of the modern world is removed. "The planet is dominated by "idiots "who, with mathematical precision, lead it to destruction by committing genocide." Paxinos is famous but not part of the system. "He is not one of the stars who smooths out reality or keeps equal distances so as not to break eggs." He is a genuine activist without a wooden tongue and without false historical views of dangers. He feels the weight of responsibility as a member of an intellectual elite who must awaken and guide others. A hero of the novel demands "intergenerational justice". The book reveals the deceptive tactics of multinational giants that, under the guise of environmental sensitivity, in practice effectively degrade and exploit the environment while reaping enormous economic benefits. He lets the facts speak for themselves, criticizing the anarcho-capitalism of corporatism. He calls "infinite injustice" the fact that this generation creates the conditions for the extermination of its progeny.
A RIVER DIVIDED is a book that overflows with genuine Hellenism. The author is a Greek who has lived, studied and worked abroad, who has immersed himself in science, history and philosophy and understands the ecumenical and humanistic character of a Hellene, free from national myths and exaggerations. His narrative creates simple but powerful images without tourist heterogeneities and unnecessary literary verbalism. Its power emerges from experiences and memories intertwined with emotions. Borrowing the title of Richard Dawkins's book, I will say that he is in awe of the "magic of reality".
There is a critic against religion, without fanaticism. He accepts it as an element of his cultural heritage and as part of the community ritual. It adopts the universal elements of its morality, but at the same time rejects its metaphysical element, maintaining an emotional balance towards it, which few can achieve.
It would be unfair to characterize A RIVER DIVIDED as just another novel, although as such it is far superior to others with the title of best seller. In essence it is a philosophical text in which the psycho-autobiography of a modest genius is hidden. It is impossible to separate man and his ideology from the story being told. What is more important than the story itself is the idiosyncrasy of the personality of a leading representative of the scientific world. A serene and powerful mind which has mastered science. His calm political vision and the deep understanding of philosophical issues which cannot but prove that he has acquired the mental balance of a true homo universalis.
Dimitris Antonoglou
May 4, 2022
Professor George Paxinos told the audience at his recent book launch for A River Divided in Sydney that his debut novel was his best piece of work. Given the weight of what he has produced in his lifetime that's no small claim. I was delighted to read A River Divided and found that it was totally compelling. George Paxinos may be known as a leading global neuroscientist but he has also proven to be a gifted fiction writer. Importantly, he has written this eco fiction novel to get his message across about the environment. I encourage everyone to read his book.
December 8, 2023
I found this title recently in the Read Now section of Netgalley. It was not an easy read. The first part dealt with cloning a human, a very special one, and I loved reading it. It's about science and the implications following Evelyn's decision to follow this route.
Then, the story goes on telling us about the twins that were born and how they each get involved in environmental issues. Horrible things happen and often it felt to me as if the 'real' story was put on the back burner in favour of a long article about several environmental crises. However, if I want to read about what's happening in the world I prefer to read news sites.
So, my thoughts are: very interesting subject, great writing but sadly not a big favourite for me.
Then, the story goes on telling us about the twins that were born and how they each get involved in environmental issues. Horrible things happen and often it felt to me as if the 'real' story was put on the back burner in favour of a long article about several environmental crises. However, if I want to read about what's happening in the world I prefer to read news sites.
So, my thoughts are: very interesting subject, great writing but sadly not a big favourite for me.
December 12, 2023
A fascinating premise, which leads into an ambitious and sprawling narrative, spanning several continents and a whole host of challenging themes.
Just how far should one ethically go in one’s effort to save the planet, and humankind, - as we know it to be now, and as we are leaving it for future generations?
And how much of who we are is pre-ordained, through our genes, how much is shaped by what we experience, and what, if anything at all, are we ‘freely’ left to choose?
Jose and Christopher are identical twins conceived by cloning and carried by two surrogate mothers, only one of whom believes she understands the significance of her son’s shared donor DNA. For Evelyn (birth mother to Christopher), a fortyish geneticist and sometime amateur archeologist, retrieved the DNA herself, from an ancient grave uncovered during a trip to Israel. A grave containing bones discovered to be more than two thousand years old, and buried with artifacts hinting at a potentially jaw-dropping human source.
As the boys, raised in radically different environments but bearing identical genetic material, strike out in adulthood on paths they have chosen, the author explores the contributory impact of experiences and upbringing to ideals, behavior and values.
For Christopher, lovingly raised by Evelyn in Australia, middle-class life affords a comfortable, somewhat superficial existence. For Jose, on the other hand, who was raised in the slums of Buenos Aires, life is far from simple.
As their paths spin and churn and finally appear to converge, Jose and Christopher encounter issues including climate change, runaway corporate greed, far right and left environmental agendas, and the crushing victimization of radical political ideologies.
It’s not at all clear (to the reader at least), how each young man will emerge, as genetics meets destiny for Jose and Christopher, on a modern-day playing field rife with complexities and violence.
A thoughtful, interesting take on a terrifically novel idea, this is a book well worth reading, and one that (if at all like this reader), will set the reader’s mind spinning.
A great big thank you to the author and publicist for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
July 21, 2022
A novel with an original plot full of deep emotions and reflections that are poised between the moral and the necessary.
The accidental discovery of a human skeleton in the Judean desert by Evelyn, an inspired geneticist, combined with the other bounties and their dating, bring to the surface unfulfilled emotions, personal voids and needs that now become imperative, leading her to a theory that defines her until the end of her life.
She decides to clone, using DNA from the well-preserved brain of the ancient man. She accidentally divides the embryo in two, producing two growing embryos. She carries the first fetus, Christopher, who grows up in a privileged world, with economic prosperity, studies, opportunities and lots of love. Next to the geneticist is the figure of the faithful friend, Michael, with his unrequited love always alive, bound to her and the child who experiences him as a true father.
The second child, Jose, is born by surrogacy. The child is never handed over to the geneticist and develops in a completely different cultural environment, with other experiences, without financial resources, but with much love from his mother, Maria. His tutelage as a child by the passionate neuroscientist environmentalist Alberto leads him to fight for sustainability and birth control.
The search for a second child becomes the life goal of Evelyn and Michael, while fate finally brings the two brothers against each other, as José defends the Ancient Amazon Tree, Árvore Velha, while Christopher acts on behalf of the company that operates the construction of a hydroelectric dam for the production of renewable energy.
A woman, Lorena, a medical student, fighter for the same ideals as José, who was imprisoned and tortured by the Argentine junta, becomes the link between the two brothers and brings the optimistic message of continuity.
Inspired and goal-oriented characters defy adversity and fight against injustice, leaving us to wonder about life and its values, the environment and humanity.
The clear descriptions, the beautiful images, the illustrative moments, make the reading enjoyable, motivating the reader not to be satisfied by cosmetic changes and to act for the fundamental reforms to religion, science and culture that are needed for the construction of a sustainable world.
The accidental discovery of a human skeleton in the Judean desert by Evelyn, an inspired geneticist, combined with the other bounties and their dating, bring to the surface unfulfilled emotions, personal voids and needs that now become imperative, leading her to a theory that defines her until the end of her life.
She decides to clone, using DNA from the well-preserved brain of the ancient man. She accidentally divides the embryo in two, producing two growing embryos. She carries the first fetus, Christopher, who grows up in a privileged world, with economic prosperity, studies, opportunities and lots of love. Next to the geneticist is the figure of the faithful friend, Michael, with his unrequited love always alive, bound to her and the child who experiences him as a true father.
The second child, Jose, is born by surrogacy. The child is never handed over to the geneticist and develops in a completely different cultural environment, with other experiences, without financial resources, but with much love from his mother, Maria. His tutelage as a child by the passionate neuroscientist environmentalist Alberto leads him to fight for sustainability and birth control.
The search for a second child becomes the life goal of Evelyn and Michael, while fate finally brings the two brothers against each other, as José defends the Ancient Amazon Tree, Árvore Velha, while Christopher acts on behalf of the company that operates the construction of a hydroelectric dam for the production of renewable energy.
A woman, Lorena, a medical student, fighter for the same ideals as José, who was imprisoned and tortured by the Argentine junta, becomes the link between the two brothers and brings the optimistic message of continuity.
Inspired and goal-oriented characters defy adversity and fight against injustice, leaving us to wonder about life and its values, the environment and humanity.
The clear descriptions, the beautiful images, the illustrative moments, make the reading enjoyable, motivating the reader not to be satisfied by cosmetic changes and to act for the fundamental reforms to religion, science and culture that are needed for the construction of a sustainable world.
July 11, 2022
I read this on the recommendation of a friend and I’m glad I did. It’s intriguing and thought provoking, making you question many things as a result of its varied themes. George Paxinos is committed to saving the environment and it’s clear he hopes to encourage the reader to question our future through his work. An interesting debut novel.
Read
July 10, 2022Science fiction and an eco theme combine to give a great debit novel. It certainly made me question my values and beliefs and it was an intriguing idea too.
Read
July 5, 2022I saw that this was eco fiction and was worried it would be really dull and preachy but actually it had some interesting ideas and themes that made a really good story. Worth reading.
July 1, 2022
Great new angle on the Eco genre.
Didn’t think I’d be a fan but made me question some of my
views about how as a society we are dealing with our future.
It was an interesting read that made me think. Definitely recommend it.
Didn’t think I’d be a fan but made me question some of my
views about how as a society we are dealing with our future.
It was an interesting read that made me think. Definitely recommend it.
May 4, 2022
This masterfully woven story is the first fiction offering by neuroscientist and Greek-Australian Professor George Paxinos. Set across four continents, A River Divided centres on twin brothers who are unaware of each other’s existence until they meet for a moment in the Amazon. Because Professor Paxinos, a leading neuroscientist, is a prolific publisher of academic works, I didn't expect the exhilirating experience that this work of eco-fiction offers. It's a story of intrigue, romance, love, survival - full of swash and buckle - and complete with a thrilling twist. A River Divided asked me to examine my own conscience and think widely about the natural world and how I tread on it. This book is a must read!
May 26, 2022
A book that almost asks the questions "What would Jesus do?" in a world of complex challenges and competing interests, and somehow remains somewhat down-to-earth. He does this by putting himself in it, revealing various ideas, intuitions and struggles he has, as he introduces us to different characters and conversations. It's brave to step into a world where you aren't the expert but can feel a purposefulness in what you are doing and this is just what George has done. A river divided is as much a call to action as a questioning of whether we are capable of finding balance in our world. I highly recommend reading it - you will read it every chance you get (bus, bed, toilet, breakfast) until you finish it!
June 23, 2022
I feel that anything I write here will not do this book justice enough. Thankyou George Paxinos what an excellent novel! I will be recommending this far and wide.
May 15, 2022
What an amazing idea. You have managed to combine ethics, religion, science, environment and love in a unique story. Thank you for sharing this with me.
March 8, 2025
Compelling eco drama fiction. A discovery on the shores of the Dead Sea lead - by fictional means- to the birth of identical twin brothers in two different continents. They grow up in different circumstances and meet briefly near the Amazon. Science, genetics 🧬 , cloning, nature vs nurture, environmental advocacy, fighting for justice infinite. Exploration of Jesus Christ - ‘You don’t have to be religious to love Christ..He was a man who dreamt of people helping one another, loving one another.’
Written by an acclaimed Australian neuroscientist. Use of italics for people’s thoughts. Had a horrible rape scene. An interesting engrossing novel. 👏🏾
Written by an acclaimed Australian neuroscientist. Use of italics for people’s thoughts. Had a horrible rape scene. An interesting engrossing novel. 👏🏾
December 25, 2023
This was my least favorite book I have read in the last two years (out of 246 books). I clearly was not the right audience. However, I am not sure who the right audience would be.
I wanted to like this. I was so intrigued by the description. As a person with a degree in neuroscience and sustainability, I thought this would be the perfect book for me. However, this was so weird??? I was deeply uncomfortable with the way the "science" was handled in this book. I know it's only a story but the thought that someone could find the literal skeleton of Jesus and keep it from the scientific community as well as practice random cloning with seemingly little difficulties just kept me from getting into the story.
I also don't think I've ever read a book where I was more disappointed in the writing of the female characters.. I thought we were getting a book with this intelligent badass female geneticist. But, she was so consumed with her need to have a child (eye roll) that she had to clone Jesus (??) instead of publishing the biggest find of her (or anyone's career). Come on.. Additionally, I'm sure that the author wanted to include scenes that made readers really realize the brutality of the environmental issues and the government and corporations but the violent SA of Lorena was unnecessary to include on page when we already read of her getting tortured and other students being killed. Then she went from being some badass to being terrified of everything and reliant on Jose.
Additionally, I felt like the religious aspect was so strange. As a reader that is not religious, it felt like it was overdone and not enjoyable. But, I feel like a reader who is religious would be deeply uncomfortable with a lot of aspects of this book.
Very very very original idea. Badly executed.
I think this book is worth another star if you are looking for a purely contemplative philosophical read, But, that wasn't what I thought it would be going into it and so it never worked for me, unfortunately.
I wanted to like this. I was so intrigued by the description. As a person with a degree in neuroscience and sustainability, I thought this would be the perfect book for me. However, this was so weird??? I was deeply uncomfortable with the way the "science" was handled in this book. I know it's only a story but the thought that someone could find the literal skeleton of Jesus and keep it from the scientific community as well as practice random cloning with seemingly little difficulties just kept me from getting into the story.
I also don't think I've ever read a book where I was more disappointed in the writing of the female characters.. I thought we were getting a book with this intelligent badass female geneticist. But, she was so consumed with her need to have a child (eye roll) that she had to clone Jesus (??) instead of publishing the biggest find of her (or anyone's career). Come on.. Additionally, I'm sure that the author wanted to include scenes that made readers really realize the brutality of the environmental issues and the government and corporations but the violent SA of Lorena was unnecessary to include on page when we already read of her getting tortured and other students being killed. Then she went from being some badass to being terrified of everything and reliant on Jose.
Additionally, I felt like the religious aspect was so strange. As a reader that is not religious, it felt like it was overdone and not enjoyable. But, I feel like a reader who is religious would be deeply uncomfortable with a lot of aspects of this book.
Very very very original idea. Badly executed.
I think this book is worth another star if you are looking for a purely contemplative philosophical read, But, that wasn't what I thought it would be going into it and so it never worked for me, unfortunately.
Read
September 30, 2022Full of swash and buckle, this book is thoughtful, ideas-driven and strongly based on believable, achievable, C21st science. As such it is a chimera. Part adventure, part philosophy, its full-blooded physicality has intellectual clout, as if academia has finally busted out of the lab. But like his textbooks it is designed to teach—in this case as a cautionary tale about provoking catastrophic Climate Change through our abuse the environment.
In the context of a story about the cloning of ancient DNA, and a dedicated scientist who takes the greatest scientific leap the world has ever known—if it but knew— Paxinos delves into a series of ideas, including the true motivations behind scientific research; nature versus nurture; the myth of freedom of will; the existential threat of corporate greed; the moral dimensions of intellectual arrogance; love in all its forms; the lies we tell ourselves, and the growing quandary of intergenerational injustice.
Here, transmitted through the values of heroism, idealism, dedication, sacrifice, stoicism, and love, lies the inherent conflict between individual freedoms and communal responsibility, asking what we owe to the future, and to whom does the future really belong —to those who create it or those who must live it?
Its themes wind in and around each other like companion-rivers travelling across the same landscape, with their creeks, streams, and tributaries weaving themselves into a story as complex and as human as a Greek tragedy. And like many Greek tragedies, it is the women who, like Clytemnestra, Antigone, and Electra, decide; a concealment, an abduction and a great love, carry the story forward and give the book its emotional force.
However, to focus only on the cerebral nature of the book is to ignore the adventure. The book is nicely poised between a dispassionate discussion of ideas, and an emotional, even at times irrational, physicality.
In the context of a story about the cloning of ancient DNA, and a dedicated scientist who takes the greatest scientific leap the world has ever known—if it but knew— Paxinos delves into a series of ideas, including the true motivations behind scientific research; nature versus nurture; the myth of freedom of will; the existential threat of corporate greed; the moral dimensions of intellectual arrogance; love in all its forms; the lies we tell ourselves, and the growing quandary of intergenerational injustice.
Here, transmitted through the values of heroism, idealism, dedication, sacrifice, stoicism, and love, lies the inherent conflict between individual freedoms and communal responsibility, asking what we owe to the future, and to whom does the future really belong —to those who create it or those who must live it?
Its themes wind in and around each other like companion-rivers travelling across the same landscape, with their creeks, streams, and tributaries weaving themselves into a story as complex and as human as a Greek tragedy. And like many Greek tragedies, it is the women who, like Clytemnestra, Antigone, and Electra, decide; a concealment, an abduction and a great love, carry the story forward and give the book its emotional force.
However, to focus only on the cerebral nature of the book is to ignore the adventure. The book is nicely poised between a dispassionate discussion of ideas, and an emotional, even at times irrational, physicality.
April 7, 2025
A River Divided offers a truly original and fascinating premise — the kind of bold, high-concept narrative that few writers would dare to entertain, let alone execute with such conviction and respect. George Paxinos crafts a story that is not only richly imagined but also deeply rooted in human emotion and moral inquiry.
The storyline is multi-layered and stimulating, weaving together elements of science, theology, politics, and philosophy in a way that feels both seamless and compelling. The imagery Paxinos evokes is powerful and lasting — certain scenes still linger in my mind with cinematic clarity. It’s not hard to imagine this story adapted for the screen. In fact, it deserves to be.
One moment that especially moved me was the university protest. The echoes of past resistance, particularly the chilling parallels with the Junta in Greece, were profound and evocative. Paxinos doesn’t just tell a story; he holds a mirror to history, drawing connections across different times and geographies, always with justice and deliverance as the guiding light.
The storyline is multi-layered and stimulating, weaving together elements of science, theology, politics, and philosophy in a way that feels both seamless and compelling. The imagery Paxinos evokes is powerful and lasting — certain scenes still linger in my mind with cinematic clarity. It’s not hard to imagine this story adapted for the screen. In fact, it deserves to be.
One moment that especially moved me was the university protest. The echoes of past resistance, particularly the chilling parallels with the Junta in Greece, were profound and evocative. Paxinos doesn’t just tell a story; he holds a mirror to history, drawing connections across different times and geographies, always with justice and deliverance as the guiding light.
May 5, 2022
A River Divided is a modern tragedy that interweaves seemingly disparate stories about love, identity, God, politics and climate change, synthesizing them in beautifully written prose. This is a riveting eco-fiction novel whose plot captures the reader’s attention from the beginning and whose characters are sympathetic, relatable, and well-developed. A thought-provoking story, it made me question my own impact on the environment and how I can more actively preserve the natural world around me. This is a book worth reading, not just for its literary merit but also for the important environmental issues it addresses.
October 16, 2022
Including all the pace and twists of a Dan Brown novel, George Paxinos has just released the audiobook version of his book 'A River Divided' narrated by Emma Grant Williams.
George takes us on a global journey from the universal to the microscopic, through love and loss, discovery and responsibility in his eco-science fiction tale.
Told with empathy through the eyes of multiple characters, this is a story to keep you on the edge of your seat, and also sitting back to pause over it's implications.
George takes us on a global journey from the universal to the microscopic, through love and loss, discovery and responsibility in his eco-science fiction tale.
Told with empathy through the eyes of multiple characters, this is a story to keep you on the edge of your seat, and also sitting back to pause over it's implications.
November 1, 2022
George Paxinos is incredibly talented in weaving important issues in a page turner. I highly recommend his book. I read it a few weeks ago and the characters and events are still with me. I congratulate George in writing in an amazingly accessible and captivating way. This is truly a unique book. My friends are getting his book for xmas - what a gift George Paxinos has given us.
November 1, 2023
On the banks of the Dead Sea in the Jordan Valley of Israel, genetic scientist Evelyn Camilleri found a 2000-year-old tomb. Inside the tomb were the skeletal remains of a man plus two jars, a scroll, and a piece of wood with the inscription of INRI. Believing that she had found the remains of Jesus of Nazarene, Evelyn smuggled some of the items with her back to Sydney. Her carbon dating and investigation into the scroll and jars solidified her resolve that she had found Him. She isolated the DNA from brain matter found in the pots. Having gotten close to a successful clone before, Evelyn decided to attempt bringing back to life the mind and spirit of the prophet. As she tried to fertilize her egg, she split the ova. Evelyn successfully impregnated herself with one of the eggs. After giving birth to Christopher, she wanted him to have a brother. Using the second egg, she had a surrogate mother from Argentina carry the second child. Disappearing, the surrogate mother had Jose and raised him as her own. Half a globe and a world apart, the two clones, unaware of their genetic makeup, both grew to be men. Divided by circumstances, their upbringing determined who they became.
A River Divided is a speculative fiction written by neuroscientist and novelist Greoge Paxinos. Starting with the question, “Who would you invite to dinner, dead or alive?” Paxinos poses questions of morality and ethics, both religious and legal. As he continues his novel and his two cloned characters divide, the reader is left to ponder nature versus nurture. Throughout his work, Paxinos continuously challenges the reader to a series of philosophical debates.
As a neuroscientist, Paxinos is able to accurately portray the sciences involved in his book. The technical aspects are fascinating. Paxinos’ novel is heavy with genetics, physiology, and philosophy. This is definitely not a book for the disengaged reader. But as the science can draw in the reader, much of the dialogue and character development can be off-putting. Paxinos’ story struggles to hold completely together when off the shores of his native Australia. The book has many intriguing merits if the reader focuses on Paxinos’ questions and not his delivery.
Through a science-fiction lens, A River Divided could be seen as a modern-day Frankenstein. But Paxinos dives deeply into the social and political theaters of sci-fi. This book works at challenging the reader with their own views. For readers looking for a debate, this book allows one to question what side of the river they stand on.
This review was originally published at https://manhattanbookreview.com/produ...
A River Divided is a speculative fiction written by neuroscientist and novelist Greoge Paxinos. Starting with the question, “Who would you invite to dinner, dead or alive?” Paxinos poses questions of morality and ethics, both religious and legal. As he continues his novel and his two cloned characters divide, the reader is left to ponder nature versus nurture. Throughout his work, Paxinos continuously challenges the reader to a series of philosophical debates.
As a neuroscientist, Paxinos is able to accurately portray the sciences involved in his book. The technical aspects are fascinating. Paxinos’ novel is heavy with genetics, physiology, and philosophy. This is definitely not a book for the disengaged reader. But as the science can draw in the reader, much of the dialogue and character development can be off-putting. Paxinos’ story struggles to hold completely together when off the shores of his native Australia. The book has many intriguing merits if the reader focuses on Paxinos’ questions and not his delivery.
Through a science-fiction lens, A River Divided could be seen as a modern-day Frankenstein. But Paxinos dives deeply into the social and political theaters of sci-fi. This book works at challenging the reader with their own views. For readers looking for a debate, this book allows one to question what side of the river they stand on.
This review was originally published at https://manhattanbookreview.com/produ...
January 2, 2024
Evelyn and Michael sought to do the impossible, and they succeeded. From a dig in Masada, the scientific breakthrough meant the validation of years of research. But the gravity of the discovery is so profound and potentially faith-shattering that they decided to keep it a secret. Back in Australia, the tentative couple decided to raise a family. However, the surrogate of their second child went missing in Argentina. Fast-forward a couple of decades, and the lives of Christopher and Jose — two young men living a world apart – are brought together by a shared passion for humanity. Their shared destiny would ignite a chain of events that led to revolutionary fervor among defenders of the Amazon, arguably the struggle of a lifetime.
George Paxinos’ "A River Divided" is a novel that deals with the ethical and moral dilemmas of our time: from surrogacy to human cloning, from climate change to capitalistic greed. I reviewed the novel from my point of view as a Gen X Asian American woman. I understand how the explication of a woman’s reproductive choices is dated in the last century. Readers understand Evelyn’s dedication to science; still, aspects of her motivations were less than relatable. Paxinos incorporates vulnerabilities such as infatuation, unrequited love, and idealism, as he succeeded in writing very flawed, very human characters. Perhaps by design, it was difficult to empathize with the choices made by Michael, Evelyn, and Martita.
I applaud Paxinos’ efforts at offering a textured perspective about the moral quandary of establishing the “green economy” in the Amazon. With any development, environmental degradation is inevitable. By showing opposing viewpoints on resource extraction activities, Paxinos attempts to win over the hearts and minds of people on either side. With activism against ecological chaos in full display, the depiction of the bleeding-heart environmentalist is a bit of a trope. Direct action is hardly the only arena of the fight for climate justice. However, shining the light on environmental justice from a Marxist perspective in a novel with a Christian pretext may be a stroke of genius. In the polarized climate change discourse, finding a venue for opposing perspectives on contentious subjects is often challenging.
One does not have to be a Christian to understand and follow the underlying similarities between the lives of Christopher and Jose. Paxinos explores genetic and ancestral memory from psychological, neuroscientific, and mystical bents. Christian readers may detect a particular stance on the tensions between science and faith.
George Paxinos’ "A River Divided" is a novel that deals with the ethical and moral dilemmas of our time: from surrogacy to human cloning, from climate change to capitalistic greed. I reviewed the novel from my point of view as a Gen X Asian American woman. I understand how the explication of a woman’s reproductive choices is dated in the last century. Readers understand Evelyn’s dedication to science; still, aspects of her motivations were less than relatable. Paxinos incorporates vulnerabilities such as infatuation, unrequited love, and idealism, as he succeeded in writing very flawed, very human characters. Perhaps by design, it was difficult to empathize with the choices made by Michael, Evelyn, and Martita.
I applaud Paxinos’ efforts at offering a textured perspective about the moral quandary of establishing the “green economy” in the Amazon. With any development, environmental degradation is inevitable. By showing opposing viewpoints on resource extraction activities, Paxinos attempts to win over the hearts and minds of people on either side. With activism against ecological chaos in full display, the depiction of the bleeding-heart environmentalist is a bit of a trope. Direct action is hardly the only arena of the fight for climate justice. However, shining the light on environmental justice from a Marxist perspective in a novel with a Christian pretext may be a stroke of genius. In the polarized climate change discourse, finding a venue for opposing perspectives on contentious subjects is often challenging.
One does not have to be a Christian to understand and follow the underlying similarities between the lives of Christopher and Jose. Paxinos explores genetic and ancestral memory from psychological, neuroscientific, and mystical bents. Christian readers may detect a particular stance on the tensions between science and faith.
November 26, 2023
A very intriguing premise handled with great skill and knowledge.
What if the remains of Jesus were discovered and DNA extracted to make a clone? What if the embryo was accidentally divided into two viable embryos that were then implanted into two women from vastly different worlds and circumstances? The two resulting brothers, identical twins, are unknown to each other but each of them is raised with love but with very different economic backgrounds. Then pose the idea of Nurture vs. Nature and what you've got is this wonderfully written story.
I was captivated from the start of this thought provoking story. The author is a neuroscientist so the science behind the premise is real. The two brothers, Christopher and Jose, are well drawn, engaging and believable. The ecological themes are real and relevant. The story is heartfelt and relatable. In short, this is a wonderful debut that poses some very thought provoking ideas that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.
Thank you to Sonya at the McKinney Media Group for the gifted copy for me to read review and enjoy.
What if the remains of Jesus were discovered and DNA extracted to make a clone? What if the embryo was accidentally divided into two viable embryos that were then implanted into two women from vastly different worlds and circumstances? The two resulting brothers, identical twins, are unknown to each other but each of them is raised with love but with very different economic backgrounds. Then pose the idea of Nurture vs. Nature and what you've got is this wonderfully written story.
I was captivated from the start of this thought provoking story. The author is a neuroscientist so the science behind the premise is real. The two brothers, Christopher and Jose, are well drawn, engaging and believable. The ecological themes are real and relevant. The story is heartfelt and relatable. In short, this is a wonderful debut that poses some very thought provoking ideas that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.
Thank you to Sonya at the McKinney Media Group for the gifted copy for me to read review and enjoy.
November 3, 2023
Wow. This was captivating, and raised not only an interesting hypothetical question, but some serious philosophical ones. The story pulls you in quickly, with a chance discovery, and before you know it, you're chapters deep and hours have passed. It's obvious Paxinos knows what he's talking about, as the level of detail for the scientific side of things is high (but still understandable to a lay person). This definitely has a literary tilt to the narration style, but it works well, and keeps things flowing smoothly. I think what got to me the most is this isn't some never-going-to-happen or far-off possible future, but a series of events that could easily be all too real. We're already facing a climate change crisis, and people don't always act in what you might consider the most ethical ways. The idea of this story playing out in real life is enough to send chills racing down your spine. I'm honestly blown away by the novel as a whole, and I cannot recommend this enough for anyone who enjoys literary fiction or modern sci-fi.
November 27, 2023
The only "man" who defeated mortality, was God Himself. Man,considers that his greatest value as a spiritual gift is to understand, seek and enjoy his freedom. A freedom that is idealized in the pattern of thought and life of the individual or a larger spiritual and social group. But how can one fight for one's freedom when neuroscience itself convinces one that this freedom is in question? When the supremely human organ, the brain, that thinks and feels, is in real in thrall to genes and the environment in which they are expressed?
Professor George Paxinos, creating a breakthrough in contemporary literature, successfully dares to write what great classical writers like Dostoevsky explored: does human passion build and tear down worlds, or all these are the strings of a player's puppet hidden behind the curtains?
Professor George Paxinos, creating a breakthrough in contemporary literature, successfully dares to write what great classical writers like Dostoevsky explored: does human passion build and tear down worlds, or all these are the strings of a player's puppet hidden behind the curtains?
August 16, 2022
The impression that the book left on me is that despite the adverse conditions that people are called to live with every day, social injustices, immorality, etc... we should not be disappointed or lose faith in our ideals, but with audacity and moral we should continue to follow our goals.
I also think that it is one of the books that I would love for my children to read, as a life guide or otherwise as a motivation for when they encounter obstacles in front of them, they can face them with courage.
Not to lose their hope and their ideals while pursuing their goals. To feel the joy of giving and receiving love, and to have respect for fellow human beings and the environment that hosts us.
As you can see, I really liked the novel. George Paxinos proved that in addition to being a worthy neuroscientist, he also has a talent for writing!!
I also think that it is one of the books that I would love for my children to read, as a life guide or otherwise as a motivation for when they encounter obstacles in front of them, they can face them with courage.
Not to lose their hope and their ideals while pursuing their goals. To feel the joy of giving and receiving love, and to have respect for fellow human beings and the environment that hosts us.
As you can see, I really liked the novel. George Paxinos proved that in addition to being a worthy neuroscientist, he also has a talent for writing!!
July 21, 2024
I loved reading A River Divided. It was great to read about a sweep of climate change and other events against a backdrop of major world destinations. The book had such a large breadth across time and place. I especially enjoyed reading about the Dead Sea and Masada (where I went as a child). Amongst other things, I found the book a great novel about love. The kind of love that involves patience, determination and belief in another. I found the ending especially moving.
June 1, 2023
Was this book worth reading? I'm sorry, but this book just did not grab me. There were some interesting premises but it didn't come together.
Would I read it again? No
Would I recommend it? No.
My Goodreads star rating... *
My Goodreads scale:
* waste of time
**filled in time
***good
****excellent
*****absolutely amazing
Would I read it again? No
Would I recommend it? No.
My Goodreads star rating... *
My Goodreads scale:
* waste of time
**filled in time
***good
****excellent
*****absolutely amazing
March 16, 2025
“A river divided “is a surprising mix of adventure , science, history and romance. George Paxinos is taking us on a journey.One you have started reading you want to know what’s next! It is tempting to think that it would all be possible and we would all become better human beings. And the choice of printing police makes it comfortable to read.
March 28, 2023
Some old bones in the desert, a mother in UK and one in Brazil.
The mother, a scientist makes 2 clones of the bones, and 30 years later the boys live their destinies. A bit far fetched for a premis.
The mother, a scientist makes 2 clones of the bones, and 30 years later the boys live their destinies. A bit far fetched for a premis.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews