It is early 1930’s and Nell and Fen are newly married and working together on researching the various tribes of New Guinea. Well, perhaps working together is being a bit generous, as Nell has an overwhelming curiosity about the gender roles of the tribes and has embedded herself into their cultures with ease. She has also been more productive than Fen, having published a now world-renowned manuscript that has brought her quite a bit of fame. Even their friend, Andrew Bankson, a fellow anthropologist and self-doubter, can see that this has created jealousy on the part of Fen. Could this be how Bankson can work his way into Nell’s favor? Or might this be just a disaster waiting to happen?
This novel pours historical fiction and fascinating anthropologic hypotheses into a triangulated love story. While we learn about the cultures that Nell, in particular, is studying, how she integrates into their society and records details of their cultures, we also feel the palpable admiration and tenderness that Bankson feels towards Nell, even as Fen appears to ignore her. Meanwhile, as Nell learns about the more open attitudes of these more isolated cultures toward sex, she feels a kinship with them in many ways.
There is quite a bit to unpack here, and I believe bookclubs will have a field day with this one. I would not be able to do it justice in this blog, and so I will not try. But I do recommend this book highly, as I feel it has so much depth, both in the character structure and in the many ideas that the three scientists bat around. The plot develops quite subtly and one might believe they know where it leads, but they would likely be surprised.
Not quite a MUST READ, but close!
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