Narrative NIH scientist enters literary world
By Ellyn Wexler, Special To The Gazette: Joram Piatigorsky is somewhat of an anomaly. The Bethesda resident identifies himself as half scientist, half artist.
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07, 2015
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06, 2015
“Fascinating and delightful”
“This highly original story of jellyfish is fascinating and delightful. We travel to a warm mangrove swamp near Puerto Rico with Dr. Ricardo Sztein, who discovers that these fish store evolutionary memories. Troubles abound when his studies are revealed, but the adventures of this quirky, endearing scientist are memorable.”
– Ann L. McLaughlin, author, Amy & George
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06, 2015
“Brilliant first novel”
"In the author's brilliant first novel, we travel into a tropical lagoon with Dr. Ricardo Sztein, a maverick scientist who is mesmerized by jellyfish. This fast-paced adventure is partly about Dr. Sztein's unusual and fascinating discoveries as he studies his beloved jellyfish. It also raises compelling questions about whether originality and creativity in research are valued or demonized by our government and academia."
– Stanton Samenow, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, author, Inside the Criminal Mind
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06, 2015
“Interesting on many levels!”
A wonderful book! The book's main character is a scientist, an expert on diseases affecting eyes, who becomes fascinated by jellyfish. (They do have eyes…very complex eyes!) The book is interesting on many levels: the value of basic scientific research; the pressure to link research to medical advances in order to obtain funding, and the politics of funding scientific research. I loved the descriptions linking scientific discovery and creativity.
The author, Joran Piatigorsky, is an internationally respected, award-winning scientist whose specialty is the molecular biology of the eye. This is his first novel. I look forward to reading more of his work.
–Deborah Hartman
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06, 2015
Watching Television
After numerous family visits and other commitments, I finally had a free Saturday to get back to writing. However, the television – that temptation – hooked me on the women’s final of the French Open Tennis Championship. “What a waste of precious writing time,” I thought, angry for letting television dictate my day. Thoughts of [...]
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06, 2015
“Ricardo Sztein is an unforgettable character”
"This novel draws you into its web of complex circumstances by degrees, unfolding like a kind of scientific experiment; it unravels the entire research and scientific community—challenges the tenets of evolution, knowledge, being and believing. The unity of knowledge, knowledge itself is turned upside down. Ricardo Sztein is an unforgettable character, and this story is definitely a winner."
–Robert Bausch, author, A Hole in the Earth, and Far as the Eye Can See