Freak of Nature: A Novel: Amazon.co.uk: Phil Whitaker: Books

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Product Description

Phil Hammond, Comedian
`Funny, engaging, insightful and even moving... Masterful.'

The Guardian, 17 March 2007
Whitaker uses the twins' plight to explore, in a breezy and
entertaining way, current ideas about the mind-body problem.

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4 Reviews

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4 star:		(1)
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4.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original, thought provoking and funny, 15 Feb 2007

By	J. Tatman (nottingham) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What is a/the 'self'? What is the relationship between self-identity and the mind, the body, and to other people? How does our concept of 'ourselves' - as a society and more intimately - negotiate the realms of desire, morality, rationality and spirituality? Within a post-traditional universe, just how useful is new knowledge - and scientific knowledge in particular - in enabling us to think, to feel and to act with confidence in relation to any of these questions?

Within Freak of Nature Phil Whitaker utilises his grasp of medical, neuroscientific and philosophical research to address some of the more enduring questions to have preoccupied the Western philosphical tradition. This, however, is but part of the story...! Just as notions of a unified self are open to contestation, Whitaker's 'novel' is a truly eclectic synthesis of literary styles and modes of reflection. It is a work which can be enjoyed on a variety of levels -in particular, it is entertaining and very funny as well as thought provoking. That such a mixture of themes, styles and influences - rather like the self - cohere and progress is undoubtedly a reflection of Whitaker's originality and talent. Enjoy!!!

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Treat, 13 Mar 2007

By	J Windsor (UK) - See all my reviews

Freak of Nature is a fabulous read. Phil Whitaker's style is immensely readable and enjoyable. This book is charming, witty and eccentric but also has great depth. It explores important themes without shoving them down the reader's throat. I loved it.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique! , 9 Mar 2007

By	Lovejoy (UK) - See all my reviews

The first thing to say is that I am dumbfounded that such a serious literary writer as Phil can come up with such a lively riot of a book. Freak of Nature is a very funny book, BUT . . there is funny ha-ha and funny peculiar. It really is the most unique book I can remember reading. Most reviewers say things like 'it's reminiscent of' or 'so-and so meets so-and so' but it really is a one-off that I can compare to no other author. I also can't ever remember a topic being so cleverly woven into what is, actually a serious subject. Knowing that Phil is both a practising doctor and a successful novelist I honed in immediately on the left brain versus right brain struggle that he must have experienced. To use conjoined twins as a vehicle for the ambivalence about his 'twin' pursuits is masterful. To dress it up in such an hilarious story is inspired.

The balance between the two conjoined twins was equally realised as the two of them swayed for supremacy. Dr Mick McDonald, the married man, father of a little girl, and successful media doctor, came over a serious, not-much-fun character. Buttoned down as a professional, the breadwinner, desperate for promotion in his career, but actually more than a bit full of himself and his success and lusting after a bit of extra-marital.

John McDonald on the other hand, was the midnight writer, the smoker, the drinker, the laid back bad lad, but actually hopelessly in love with his sister-in-law. The relationship between the twins was that of two completely opposing personalities fighting to maintain their independence from each other. I thought about Laurie Lee's Grannies in The Wainscot, the two old women, keeping their brains alive by their obsession with the other one.

Deep thinking aside, the novel is a delight of entertaining wit - it is wholly page turning without any stumbles and I found that I didn't want to put it down, and was so pleased when I had the time to pick it up again.

I won't go into any more detail about the plot lines as you must go through the delightful experience of reading this book yourself. Splendid stuff and I hope it hits the big time

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5.0 out of 5 stars Original, thought provoking and entertaining
It has been a good long while since a book has taken hold of me and pulled me through the last 200 pages, but Phil Whitaker's "Freak of Nature" did that and more. Read more

Published on 4 Mar 2007 by Alan L. Hutcheson

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Freak of Nature: A Novel (Paperback)

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