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ncat999's review
5.0
This was recommended by a friend, and although I had expected a novel, it turned out to be an unusual biography -- but I loved it. The themes of science vs. religion are so relevant today, and the letters from Galileo's daughter, a cloistered nun, lend the story a wonderful intimacy. Somehow the author wrote a biography and history lesson that is as much of a page-turner as a good novel. Highly recommended.
katykelly's review
4.0
I found this took a lot more effort than the excellent 'Longitude' to work through. Don't get me wrong - it's great. For me, the amount of Italian names to juggle was tricky.
But the format, the letters, the storytelling, the history of it was wonderful. So hard to picture - the Church denying and punishing Galileo and his books for dating to oppose Christian doctrine.
His daughter's personality and love for her father come through very strongly in her letters,; her life such an ostensibly sad one (so much effort and pleading for every extra coin, a room of her own, some materials for clothes) but she doesn't regret her monastic life.
The detail of the text brings the true story out, in all its shocking glory, and knowing how it took so long for Galileo's accuracy to be accepted after his own time only adds to the pathos of the book.
Well told but not light, it takes some effort to keep up.
But the format, the letters, the storytelling, the history of it was wonderful. So hard to picture - the Church denying and punishing Galileo and his books for dating to oppose Christian doctrine.
His daughter's personality and love for her father come through very strongly in her letters,; her life such an ostensibly sad one (so much effort and pleading for every extra coin, a room of her own, some materials for clothes) but she doesn't regret her monastic life.
The detail of the text brings the true story out, in all its shocking glory, and knowing how it took so long for Galileo's accuracy to be accepted after his own time only adds to the pathos of the book.
Well told but not light, it takes some effort to keep up.
brendalovesbooks's review
Very dry and reads just like a textbook. Not my thing at all.
slferg's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
travelingkayte's review
4.0
I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between daughter and father. I learned so much more about Galileo and his work. Wow, what an influential man.
traceyelder's review
1.0
...I gave up. It was like reading a history book but I just wasn't in the mood. The content and topics are interesting and I may pick it up again in the future. Right now, I'm just in the mood for light, summer reading.
bridgetpooley's review
3.0
difficult to get into. for the audio book: the distracting music (reminiscent of a PBS masterpiece theatre production) and the lilting tone of the narrator took away from the otherwise good story.
ameyawarde's review
4.0
This book is really a biography of Galileo, but has much more information about his daughter and their relationship than other biographies. I had just read Galileo: A Life by James Reston Jr before this, and he mentions that Galileo fell in love with a lowborn woman and had 3 kids, and then just never mentioned the woman again, and only the daughters-going-to-convent rather in passing. I think it's a shame on that other book to so thoroughly leave out such an important and active person in Galileo's life, and I appreciate learning about her from this book, even if it's not really *about* her.