Life After Genius: A Novel

M. Ann Jacoby
Grand Central Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780446199711
Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (11/08)

 

“Life After Genius” is an intricate character study of Theodore “Mead” Fegley and how the gift of intelligence can also be a curse.  Mead was found to be a genius at a rather young age and, thanks to an overbearing mother, was pushed through the educational system so quickly he entered college at age fifteen.  His father and uncle ran the family business together, a furniture store/funeral home.  At first glance his father seemed remote and uninterested, yet as the book developed, what seemed to be disinterest was his father’s quiet acceptance of who Mead was and his allowing Mead to make his own decisions.  Mead’s mother was somewhat of a stereotype; overbearing, forceful, doing things that would reflect well on her and the family without taking into account the effects these decisions would have on Mead.  She cannot be totally written off, however, because I think a part of her truly did believe she was doing the best things for Mead. Rounding out the family is Uncle Martin who is a harsh man, and who harbors a deep sense of anger towards Mead for his role in the death of Martin’s son, Percy.  Percy is the one person to whom Mead felt any closeness.  The cousins were polar opposites, with Percy being popular and athletic while Mead was bookish and socially stunted. 
           
Throughout school, Percy did what he could to protect Mead and to draw him out of his self-imposed shell. However, Mead knew the daily humiliations and tortures he would face if he let down his guard for even one second.  Between being the youngest kid in class as well as the smartest, Mead had little to no social skills. He was easy pretty for bullies and had very little means to protect himself.

Mead finally escapes this all at fifteen when he heads to Chicago for college.  Fortunately, he is now able to be more challenged academically and to explore his passion, which is math. Unfortunately, he still has no social skills and his age sets him apart more than ever.  He is taken advantage of by a fellow student and manipulated by a professor.  He finds a connection with his academic advisor and spends his college years working on a math formula that offers the challenge and distraction he needs.  A few days before graduation, he disappears and returns home with no explanation and no reason.  He shows up without warning and tries to live the “regular” life with his family. 
           
“Life After Genius” by M. Ann Jacoby floats back and forth between present time leading up to the events of Mead leaving and his earlier school years, both slowly and intricately drawing a portrait of what has made Mead who he is and what has caused him to return home.  Ultimately, it is a wonderful story of a person who never felt quite normal finally finding who he really is.  I felt it was a bit slow and tedious at time and wished the pace would quicken a bit.  Also, the one big thing that I struggled with was the math references. While I understand the main character was a math genius, it would be important to remember that the readers aren’t and that the terms, names and math formulas were confusing and quite distracting.

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