The Secret

by Eva Hoffman

Book Overview

Iris Surrey seems to have a perfectly normal childhood. She lives with her mother in a rambling wooden house, in a small college town not far from Chicago. But something isn't quite right in her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345465369
• ISBN13: 9780345465368
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Nature or nurture?

Set in the near future of the 2020's, "The Secret" probes the endless question of whether nature or nurture is the driving force behind personhood. Iris Surrey is a clone, but growing up in the isolated world her mother has created for her in a midwest town, it is not until she is in her teens that she discovers the truth about that vague feeling she calls the "weirdness." Iris has a profound bond with her beautiful mother, but as a child has no way of knowing that this is unusual or odd. But as her questions about her father become insistent in her own mind, and the tiny world of their home is disturbed by her mother's lover Stephen, Iris rifles through files and records to find the mystery of her birth. The informations sends her reeling in a storm of self-doubt, hatred of her mother, and agony over whether she is a real person or just a copy. Iris seeks out her mother's family, and painfully realizes that they're unable to see her as anything other than stark evidence of Elizabeth's shocking act. Only by separating from Elizabeth does she come to know that her unique history and experiences shape her as much as her genes do. I found the premise of the book fascinating, but sympathize with readers who say it goes on and on--it does. We "know" the secret in the first chapter--it's completely obvious--but Hoffman spends more time than necessary detailing Iris' search for it herself. And it wasn't credible that Iris would not have developed and noticed some traits different from her mother's even given how sheltered she was. Scientific theory swings back and forth on the issue of whether nature or nurture is more important--at the moment the genes seem to be winning. But no matter what side of the issue you're on, no one thinks clones could ever be exact replicas. In any event, Iris finally comes into her own when she meets a man who knows only her, not her mother, and it's easy to see how for him she is no more unusual than any other woman. And as Iris completes her education in a field completely different from her mother's, her separate self becomes dominant. In the meantime, Elizabeth pays the price for a life of domineering and headstrong behavior, at least as her family saw her, and loses the daughter she tried to hold closer than any child can be. It is a bit annoying that Iris only finds a unique self when she meets a guy, and as I said earlier, Hoffman does go on and on about Iris' philosophical dilemma. But there's more here than a short story, and I liked "The Secret" a lot.

Intriguing story - Absolutely NOT boring!

The Secret is about ..... well, it's not really a secret, is it? You would have to be an idiot not to learn what the secret is in the first chapter or two. Mostly because the protagonist mentions it as something really horrible! (Anyone living through the current backlash against genetic science will end up guessing it right quick). But does knowing the secret take the wind out of your sails? No, it's not a detective novel. Those who find it boring find it so because they can't relate to the main character, a young woman. Those that can relate do enjoy the book. I was interested in how she unravels the knowledge herself, and what she does with that knowledge. The book is philosophical, though not pedantic. If you like reading introspective stories, and literature that makes you use your head (and exercise your emotions), you'll enjoy "The Secret". A good read!

terrific philosophical science fiction

Elizabeth Surrey told her daughter Iris that she once was a big shot Manhattan investment consultant, but burned out over the lies required to climb the ladder and over a city that was turning uglier by the nanosecond. Thus she quit and fled to this small college town near Chicago looking to start over. What she didn't tell Elizabeth was much about her daddy and that the child is a clone of the mother.The twosome is best buddies, but relationships change in 2017 when Steven enters their lives. Elizabeth and Steven fall in love, but he cannot deal with what he feels is the abnormal relationship between his beloved and her twelve year old daughter. A confused Iris begins to learn more about her birthing and decides to leave home to investigate whether she has a soul of her own or just an extension of Elizabeth as she now knows she is her mother's clone.THE SECRET will not be kept a secret for long as readers will receive a terrific philosophical science fiction tale that keeps the audience pondering questions of ethics and morality in modern science. The novel is no sound byte pandering by the political leaders, but instead is a deep first person account of a young individual wondering whether she has a soul, did her mother steal her soul, or did her mother give her part or all of her soul. Can she go to heaven? Fans will debate these issues and more while thinking of Phillip K. Dick (though Eva Hoffman's book contains no violence) especially DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP as one wonders whether Iris is Memorex or real.Harriet Klausner

A troubled journey of discovery

This book was bought on a whim - picked it up and the blurb sounded interesting. I am a SciFi reader, but this type of story would be enjoyed by any reader of more serious fiction. Unlike the other reviewer, I loved the writing style - written as a flow of conciousness - passionate and moving - yet coherent. The scientific concepts (and issues) are not new, but the investigation of identity, oedipal issues, social discourses and moral questioning seem fresh and personal. It reminds me of Philip K Dick's work, but a bit happier!

Subtle-funny-profound

I liked her first booksautobiographical 'lost in translation' for being so honestso sincere,her factographical 'exit to history' for being well researched,well documented and having rare indights.But this new book, 'Secret' I love. This is her first realnovel, science fiction, and I would compare her to Bradbury.It is about people, not technology, but near future technologyis well extrapolated and credible. I think the reviwer who found her 'too wordy' missed a subtle humor and magic of themastery of language and description.