Prizes - Erich Segal

The plot mentioned on the back cover talked about lives of three young brilliant scientists who are in the race for one of the most prestigious prizes in the world - The Nobel. So I was expecting something on the lines of Arthur Hailey's Airport or Wheels. In short, a novel that would take the ordinary reader to the behind-the-scenes goings-on as far as the Nobel goes. To that extent, the novel disappointed me as the author talks very little about the whole selection process and the shenanigans associated with it. The story mainly deals with the lives of the three protagonists - Adam, Sandy and Isabel - each with his/her own struggles in their personal and professional journey. This journey is interesting and sometimes thought-provoking, but it occupies the center stage so much that the Nobel is reduced to a mere backdrop - to be brought forth in the last few pages.

BTW, it's funny that Dr.Dmitri Avilov is said to have 3 children and then they somehow get pared down to 2 in the last few pages. :-)