I read about 40 pages of this book before I moved it to my "shelved" stack. At first the characters seemed like they might be somewhat interesting, but I couldn't sustain any interest in their dreary and self-absorbed lives.

Nino Ricci's "The Origin of Species" novel is one I suggest you read twice---not because it's a spectacular book, but because it's one you'll want to contemplate and reconsider especially in its details.

The main character, Alex Fratarcangeli, is as long-winded and complicated as his name. Or maybe not so much long-winded, since with others, he seems so willing to say so very little in fear of revealing too much of himself. And yet, his internal discourse runs about 10 miles a minute that is fiercely intelligent, yet gravely critical. The man is surely opinionated, honest, and harshly so.

Yet for all his academia (he obsesses in working toward obtaining his doctorate), which inevitably steers him toward being a cut-throat intelligence snob, he is neither outwardly condescending nor rude. If anything, his restraint is so calculated that he can appear to be an enigma to those he's supposedly closest too. Even with all his outward bravado in the face of self-preservation, he is more self-deprecatory than he should be.

There seems to be an internal dual battle: one that restrains him from becoming outwardly and inwardly emotionally involved to the point of indifference---for him, there seems to be a wariness to it that involves too much work---and yet, for all his complaining, distancing, and criticism, it's apparent that people and circumstances in how they unfold, deeply affect him to the basest level whether or not he cares to admit this to himself (or his psychologist!). The novel is after all, almost 500 pages of his thought process where almost every happening is brutally scrutinized, deciphered, and catalogued. As if the character himself is one of Darwin's own specimens to be studied, to be linked to an offset of other events and anomalies. Perhaps this is the point. Perhaps not. What do I know? I'm no academic.

Nevertheless, the random nature of of the book's narrative and the character's movement through this narrative either in recollection or in passing, is both a testimony to the difference between true human nature and its fictional counterpart as characterized in novels---that no one is static, stationary, or moves in a linear path. Neither is a man nor this character ever truly flat or "one way." People have depth of character and layered histories, which is evident in this novel.

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Enjoyed it. I felt some of the characters were somewhat cliched in the beginning but it either got better or that was the point. ( )

Loved the setting of Montreal, my home town. Story revolving around Darwin and natural selection was also great because of my anthropology background. Although Alex can be a bit whiny, his search for meaning is engaging, with excellent details about the Galapagos Islands and French-language politics. ( )

Set in 1980s Montreal, The Origin of Species revolves around Alex, a Ph'D student at Concordia. Alex suffers from a general malaise and sense of failure (actual or potential) in his chosen profession, in his relationships and in himself. Behind it all lies a life-changing experience in the Galapagos which still haunts Alex years later. Then Esther enters his life.

I am a fan of Ricci's work. The Origin of Species is well written and, at times, absorbing and emotionally rewarding. Alex, however, I found to be a frustrating protagonist. At times, his despondency and self-pity inspired more a desire to shake him rather than sympathy. When I got to the section on the Galaagos Islands, I actually wanted to know more about Desmond than how these events impacted on and explained the future Alex.

Ricci captured 1980s Montreal excellently. I found it very entertaining to wander through a place from our recent history that was at once familiar and strange. And the fantasy interview with Peter Gzowski was nostalgic and hilarious.

I would still recommend the book. Have patience with Alex, it will pay off, and thank God (or Ricci) for Esther! ( )