LAB GIRL Hope Jahren

                                                             


All B&B's were present today (except Mary; Hi Z!), as we discussed Hope Jahren's memoir. There were many positive comments about the book; such as her ability to write, even poetically, in a style very different from the technical papers of which she is accustomed. She skillfully intertwined "scientific" chapters, which were sometimes metaphoric in nature (and aimed at the lay person), with a "spirited" telling of a not-so-ordianary life.
One of the scientists in our group had concerns about how Ms. Jahren used this forum to present herself as a woman in a male-dominated field. She found it questionable as to whether or not her story helped or "hurt" the field. And, the fact that the author did not fully flesh out how her personal history affected her work, and therefore, her actions.
From there, opinions diversified. Some agreed that the author was a little (or a lot) "crazy", especially her descriptions of hastily planned field trips, obsessive attention to a project in her lab, and her unique relationship with Bill. And, there were even questions about whether or not she embellished some of the wilder episodes of her life, for the sake of enhancing the reading experience (and selling books??).
Others thought that this was a true account of someone who, in spite of many barriers; showed grit, humor, and honesty in telling her story. After all, aren't we all a little weird...?
I will leave it at that; I really did not want to over-interpret, especially since my note-taking was so sketchy. Please feel free to add your two cents!!