Scan barcode
kdawn999's review against another edition
4.0
While this book falls for some melodramatic “book clubby” plot clichés, I was very invested in the memoiristic voice of the narrator, her trials as a biracial woman in 1960s-70s academia, and the poetic rendering of mathematical problem solving. My friend Sam in book club brought up that this character and story-matter feel a lot like those of The Queen’s Gambit, and I would agree. I enjoy stories about geniuses in niche fields.
My book club was more critical of the plot points of this than I was—a sprawling, time-hopping, secret-revealing origin story which seems to want to connect to too many historical moments in WWII. The staunchly feminist tone of this may please many and alienate the #notallmen crowd. I found that the tone fit this plot and time period well.
I really liked this and might reread when I want to relive the thrilling mathy parts woven into what feels like a sad fairytale.
My book club was more critical of the plot points of this than I was—a sprawling, time-hopping, secret-revealing origin story which seems to want to connect to too many historical moments in WWII. The staunchly feminist tone of this may please many and alienate the #notallmen crowd. I found that the tone fit this plot and time period well.
I really liked this and might reread when I want to relive the thrilling mathy parts woven into what feels like a sad fairytale.
wimzie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
evethingiread's review against another edition
4.0
When I first started reading this books, I felt like I was looking in on someone's life, creepily almost. I always felt a little uneasy reading it. This isn't to say it was a bad book; I gave it 4 stars, so I obviously think it was a great piece of literature. Perhaps I felt the unease because somehow everything Kathrine experienced is so universal, and because the author's writing was emotive and expressive. For example, I felt so uncomfortable by each exchange Kathrine had with Karl. Of course we learn in the end why.
It took me a month to finish this book. It was hard to get into it once I left it for a day or two. It's the kind of book that gets going with momentum. Some parts were heavier and harder to grasp, and it's tempting to try to reread section and try to fully understand them. But that doesn't help. Eventually I read 80% of this book in one sitting.
Now that it's over, I still feel uneasy, and a little heartbroken.
It took me a month to finish this book. It was hard to get into it once I left it for a day or two. It's the kind of book that gets going with momentum. Some parts were heavier and harder to grasp, and it's tempting to try to reread section and try to fully understand them. But that doesn't help. Eventually I read 80% of this book in one sitting.
Now that it's over, I still feel uneasy, and a little heartbroken.
dinosaur_tank7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely, at times gut-wrenching, story. The narrator on the audio book was fantastic.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
This captivating novel was an unexpected pleasure. Yes, I did request to review it, but once I was approved, I wasn't sure I wanted to read something that revolved about my bete noire, math.
But there's math, and math. The stuff we might have struggled with in high school or college is the pale fourth cousin of the math on Katherine's level. This math is beautiful, artistic, exciting, and competitive as anything you can imagine.
In "The Tenth Muse," Katherine is both seeking to solve some historically challenging equations as well as unraveling the mystery of her own beginning. Set in the fifties and sixties, Katherine's faces a battle for validation of herself as a woman mathematician. Her work is exceptional and some male colleagues feel it's fine to absorb her work because she has no chance to working as a professional mathematician. Even her father, a quite enlightened guy, does not want her to go into the field because there are so few opportunities for women.
But who is Katherine? The woman she thought was her mother vanishes when she's about 10, and she discovers that her father is not her father at all. She's part Asian, but who made up those parts? A study opportunity takes her to Europe where she follows up on the few clues she has. The resulting story is very different from so many origin stories rooted in WWII, including not only racial prejudice, but professional jealousy.
Catherine Chung is a lovely writer, elegant and deep, and this novel, which mixes so many intriguing elements, is satisfying, intelligent, and un=put-downable.
But there's math, and math. The stuff we might have struggled with in high school or college is the pale fourth cousin of the math on Katherine's level. This math is beautiful, artistic, exciting, and competitive as anything you can imagine.
In "The Tenth Muse," Katherine is both seeking to solve some historically challenging equations as well as unraveling the mystery of her own beginning. Set in the fifties and sixties, Katherine's faces a battle for validation of herself as a woman mathematician. Her work is exceptional and some male colleagues feel it's fine to absorb her work because she has no chance to working as a professional mathematician. Even her father, a quite enlightened guy, does not want her to go into the field because there are so few opportunities for women.
But who is Katherine? The woman she thought was her mother vanishes when she's about 10, and she discovers that her father is not her father at all. She's part Asian, but who made up those parts? A study opportunity takes her to Europe where she follows up on the few clues she has. The resulting story is very different from so many origin stories rooted in WWII, including not only racial prejudice, but professional jealousy.
Catherine Chung is a lovely writer, elegant and deep, and this novel, which mixes so many intriguing elements, is satisfying, intelligent, and un=put-downable.
kellyncorrado's review against another edition
4.0
I'm always so impressed when an author can take a complicated and technical language like mathematics and generate such beautiful prose the way Chung did with this book. A layperson doesn't need to have deep knowledge of the specific theorems to enjoy this. It's a beautiful narrative about identity, family, cultural and historical moments and evolution, ambition and sacrifice. I was invested in the story and it read like a memoir.
arejaytay's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
claire_kima's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0