Official Review: Survival Of The Fittest by Robin Hawdon

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 11 Jun 2015, 12:00

robin hawdon wrote:Thank you all for your comments on my book, especially 'Bookowlie's' thoughtful review. It may be of interest that the book was inspired by my reading some years ago of Edna Healey's wonderful biography of Emma Darwin, which prompted me to write a novel about the remarkable Darwin family's domestic life. For those who like historical biogs you should read this - it is enthralling!
Robin Hawdon

Hey, how're you? My name's Meg. I would read it, but it's not my cup of tea. (I'm afraid to reiterate that at this point... I'm begging comments about buttered biscuits and such...) But, hey, congrats on your three-star review! If I were into Darwin, I'd totally read it!

Post by **bookowlie** » 11 Jun 2015, 12:54

Even if Darwin's theories are not your cup of tea, the main plot is an absorbing, often suspenseful story of the search for these two books.

Thesaurus Rex · Post by **Thesaurus Rex** » 12 Jun 2015, 10:02

Amazing review! There is no way I could have read something so deep and intellectual, much less write a coherent, strong review about it! My fascination for the reviewers on this site continues to grow.

Post by **bookowlie** » 13 Jun 2015, 21:14

Much of the book is not intellectual. Rather it's just an absorbing search for these two secret books that is suspenseful at times.

NadineTimes10 · Post by **NadineTimes10** » 15 Jun 2015, 21:23

It's funny: the expression "the Darwins" never crossed my brain before reading this review. I've never thought of him as a couple before. That is, as part of a couple.

Thimble · Post by **Thimble** » 15 Jun 2015, 21:47

Wonderful review. The book sounds really interesting. I have the feeling I wouldn't mind the heavy historical research. I tend to enjoy reading that type of thing.

~Thimble

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 15 Jun 2015, 21:47

NadineTimes10 wrote:It's funny: the expression "the Darwins" never crossed my brain before reading this review. I've never thought of him as a couple before. That is, as part of a couple.

It's like Jack the Ripper... and Mrs. Ripper!

NadineTimes10 · Post by **NadineTimes10** » 15 Jun 2015, 21:50

zeldas_lullaby wrote:
NadineTimes10 wrote:It's funny: the expression "the Darwins" never crossed my brain before reading this review. I've never thought of him as a couple before. That is, as part of a couple.
It's like Jack the Ripper... and Mrs. Ripper!

Right! I mean, "Mrs. Ripper"?

Post by **bookowlie** » 15 Jun 2015, 22:16

NadineTimes10 wrote:It's funny: the expression "the Darwins" never crossed my brain before reading this review. I've never thought of him as a couple before. That is, as part of a couple.

I know what you mean. I never think of any of these historical figures in terms of them having an actual family. Well, except for John Adams, who wrote all those love letters to Abigail while he was busy starting up a government with the other Founding Fathers.

By the way, the Darwins were not only married, but had 10 children!

-- 15 Jun 2015, 23:18 --

Thimble wrote:Wonderful review. The book sounds really interesting. I have the feeling I wouldn't mind the heavy historical research. I tend to enjoy reading that type of thing.

~Thimble

The historical sections are very interesting. The only problem I found was that there was too much flipping back and forth among three points of views and three time periods. It bogged down the main storyline a bit.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 15 Jun 2015, 23:03

NadineTimes10 wrote:
zeldas_lullaby wrote:
NadineTimes10 wrote:It's funny: the expression "the Darwins" never crossed my brain before reading this review. I've never thought of him as a couple before. That is, as part of a couple.
It's like Jack the Ripper... and Mrs. Ripper!
Right! I mean, "Mrs. Ripper"?

That was from a movie I saw as a kid, Bride of Boogedy, and it made me laugh so hard that I've never forgotten it!

The Darwins had ten kids? Oh, wow, that's a lot.

Post by **bookowlie** » 15 Jun 2015, 23:14

Mrs. Darwin also had one or two miscarriages, from what I remember, and there was one child that died shortly after being born. Add to that a daughter who succumbed to a disease.

-- 16 Jun 2015, 00:22 --

OK, I just looked it up to be sure I wasn't embellishing. Yes, they had 10 children. As I mentioned, one daughter passed away a few weeks after her birth. Anne, the second oldest child, died at the age of 10, possibly from TB. The youngest child, Charles' namesake, lived only 2 years. Darwin's wife was certainly busy as she frequently assisted him in his experiments.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 15 Jun 2015, 23:37

Wow. I'd say Mrs. Darwin was busy, all right.

Post by **bookowlie** » 16 Jun 2015, 07:59

Actually, I think Emma passed along most of the child-rearing duties to the nanny. The Darwins employed a household staff (butler, nanny, etc.). I guess Emma was busy, but not necessarily with her children. She had time to assist Charles in his experiments and write in her secret journal.

-- 16 Jun 2015, 09:00 --

An interesting piece of trivia is that the couple were 1st cousins!

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 16 Jun 2015, 16:12

Cousins! That is interesting.

LivreAmour217 · Post by **LivreAmour217** » 16 Jun 2015, 16:22

Great review! This sounds like a really good book, and I'm one of those weird folks who would probably enjoy the asides. I love historical fiction!

I also did not know that the Darwins were first cousins! Kind of ironic, really.