Darwin's Wink

Darwin's Wink, Alison Anderson, St Martin's Press, 2004. Genre: Fiction. 276 pages. Finished 6/24/2010.

LesOpinion: Finding books like Darwin's Wink on the shelves restores my faith in the Library Quest. It's proof that a book I would otherwise overlook might not only be a wonderful discovery, but it can even make up for the other drivel I endure along the way.

Darwin's Wink doesn't sound like much on the surface: it's a love story centered on two naturalists trying to save rare birds off the coast of Mauritius. But it's not the story--as compelling and heartbreaking as it is--that carries the book. It's the prose. Anderson is a gifted writer with a distinct rhythm and impeccable insight.

One of about a bazillion good quotes: "Fran is hard. She has forgotten softness but is no stranger to it; she despises weakness and misinterprets the nature of of softness."

Do yourself a favor, Gentle Reader, and curl up with this book on your next vacation.