Richard Powers' writing prowess is a delight. So while I have complaints that strike to the heart of the novel, they seemed trivial in the face of the most powerful prose I've read in a long time. Generosity is one of the tightest novels I've ever read. Every sentence is honed to perfection - imagery, flow, scanning, and purpose in the overall story. His commentary is both timely on the matters of genetic engineering, the growing expanse of the internet and culture globalization and timeless on the matters of what it truly means to be happy and what we should be searching for in life, any way. The research is also impeccable, down to the percentage of the human genome that is patented as of his writing.

The flaws? The first is the title, and overall the theme of "generosity" - I know that Powers is using it for the wordplay potential, in that Genetics and Generosity share a Latin root; however, Congeniality might be a better bang for the same pun-based buck. Nowhere does he show that Thassa is generous, despite her label of "Miss Generosity." In fact, the primary flaw is that he does not really show Thassa, the congenitally happy woman, to be much of anything at all. So while other characters run about fawning over her, the reader is still struggling to "get it."

In a lesser writers hands, these flaws would be fatal. In Powers' case it's merely an annoyance, in an otherwise superb novel. ( )

Written years before winning the Pulitzer for "The Overstory" Powers displays a different style of narrative with this book whose theme raises the question, "Is happiness genetic, learned, or something else?"

We first meet Russell Stone, an award winning journalist who takes a job teaching creative writing at a night school. Among the students is Thassa, a twenties Algerian girl whose happiness knows no bounds. A class of miscreants and oddballs, her ebullience wins the nickname, Generosity. Stone finds her writing intriguing as she does his, and an unusual friendship blooms. When Tonia Schiff, an investigative TV reporter hears a rumor, Thassa is invited to her show to discuss her predilection with the renown genetic pioneer and founder of Truecyte, Thomas Kurton. Fascinated by her behavior, she's invited to his company for testing.

Perplexed by Thassa, Stone consults with Candace Weld, the school's psychologist. What follows is the most unlikely of friendships which over time, deepens. Engaging, informative and well paced, the story moves the reader deeper into the inquiry with each chapter as word of the 'happiness gene' spreads globally. But when Thassa gain celebrity status, the emotional impact takes its toll.

Powers approaches all his stories with third person POV, which when added to his encyclopedic knowledge, characters of depth and plot makes for an evocative, informative experience. Powers has made it to my top twenty list of authors due to his meticulous care of storytelling, masterful skill at character development and themes that educate, inspire and raise questions. Highly recommended for those who seek 'something different'. ( )

Generosity offers plenty of oblique references in the first pages, then moves on to a really
intriguing creative nonfiction teaching night class. Teacher comes across as timid, nervous, lame, and lacking courage,
while students show a wide variety of wild, mellow, shy, captivating, intriguing and strange personalities.
Their conflicts are engaging! Then, Kabylie and Thassa Anzwar steal the show.

Thomas Kurton and his never-ending genome are boring, Grace references are a downer,
and why does a mystery narrator keeps interrupting with vagaries...?

Had to look up "punding."

How did Stone manage to avoid jail?
Sure wish the narrator had imagined a more redemptive ending for Stone.
Yet, after Candace's hateful message, maybe they deserve each other. ( )

Out collection ( )

I really want to like Powers, but just about every book winds up falling flat for me. As far as I recall, The Time of our Singing is the only one (of the half dozen or so that I've read) that really knocked my socks off, and the rest have been sort of a bad mashup of mediocre genre fiction and attempted (failed) literary fiction -- and have disappointed at both ends.

Generosity read to me like something written by an alien who had access to Earth's culture, science, technology, and social interactions only via a few outdated television programs. There's not an authentic feeling moment in the book. I can forgive so-so character development if there's interesting science fiction. I can forgive so-so science fiction and character development if the style is great (I can forgive almost anything if the style is great or the approach novel). But this book is at the very best so-so on all counts.

Powers tries to blend science writing with literary fiction and happens to do neither particularly well. I wish he'd commit to one or the other and do it well. The subtitle of the book was, for me, a misnomer. Had it been named as I ultimately received it (Generosity: A Disappointment), I might have saved myself some frustration. ( )