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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This is a book about a mathematician. In theory, that sounds very far from my interests, but I found this book fascinating.
We follow the story of Katherine, a mathematician determined to solve an impossible maths problem. We go back in time to her childhood and time through university, as she finds herself and battles to succeed in an extremely male-dominated world
This book moved a little slowly for me in places and I found the pacing a little odd at times. I was invested in Katherine's story, and enjoyed it while reading, but it was one of those that I easily forgot about once I'd put down and found it difficult to pick it back up
Despite that, the writing was excellent and the characters were well-formed. I'd definitely pick up this author's other work in the future!
*earc sent to me by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
We follow the story of Katherine, a mathematician determined to solve an impossible maths problem. We go back in time to her childhood and time through university, as she finds herself and battles to succeed in an extremely male-dominated world
This book moved a little slowly for me in places and I found the pacing a little odd at times. I was invested in Katherine's story, and enjoyed it while reading, but it was one of those that I easily forgot about once I'd put down and found it difficult to pick it back up
Despite that, the writing was excellent and the characters were well-formed. I'd definitely pick up this author's other work in the future!
*earc sent to me by netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
A woman's reflection on breaking through the glass ceiling in math academia. This book is what you'd get if there was an AI that generated bespoke books based on your likes.
there are some interesting elements, but i personally struggled to connect with this book. it somehow simultaneously felt like too much happened but also not enough
Owing to my interest in Greek mythology, I eagerly purchased The Tenth Muse, thinking it would be a story based on the 9 Muses. Of course it quickly became apparent that this was a contemporary story of Katherine, who grew up aware of her intelligence and not her mythical powers. She cautions us at the beginning that she "tell(s) a story like a woman." Right away you know that she is a bit unsure of her place in the world, and as the book unfolds, lacks confidence in her ability to navigate the difficult world of academic mathematics.
I was quickly drawn in to her story anyway, especially her recounting of romantic relationships and how they were intertwined with her math ambitions. Her upbringing was woven as a mystery to be solved, which I eagerly read about later in the book as it unwound. It reached into her origins strangely into Germany during WWII. I have read many books about WWII, but this was the first one that came at it obliquely and uniquely. She knew from her appearance that she had Asian parentage with a "white" American father, so that was a deep dive with twists and turns down the rabbit hole to explain.
Back to her romantic entanglements - being a single woman who has also had issues with men, I totally related to her internal musings that included doubts about herself - her actions or inactions, and also the dialogue with her lovers - so measured, yet so direct, and with the follow-up regrets over what was said! It reminded me a bit of the author O'Farell's ability in "Hamnet" to capture so perfectly, in that case, the internal dialogue associated with grief. This being the internal dialogue of a woman in love, trying to work out her intense feelings.
I didn't understand the references to math theorems, but it didn't interrupt the flow of the book for me.
I was sure that this was a fictionalized account of an actual female mathematician as I read it! Even after finishing it I had to check the reviews and blurbs because I thought it captured so perfectly how a woman would navigate through college and PhD programs in the 60's!
A fantastic book!
I was quickly drawn in to her story anyway, especially her recounting of romantic relationships and how they were intertwined with her math ambitions. Her upbringing was woven as a mystery to be solved, which I eagerly read about later in the book as it unwound. It reached into her origins strangely into Germany during WWII. I have read many books about WWII, but this was the first one that came at it obliquely and uniquely. She knew from her appearance that she had Asian parentage with a "white" American father, so that was a deep dive with twists and turns down the rabbit hole to explain.
Back to her romantic entanglements - being a single woman who has also had issues with men, I totally related to her internal musings that included doubts about herself - her actions or inactions, and also the dialogue with her lovers - so measured, yet so direct, and with the follow-up regrets over what was said! It reminded me a bit of the author O'Farell's ability in "Hamnet" to capture so perfectly, in that case, the internal dialogue associated with grief. This being the internal dialogue of a woman in love, trying to work out her intense feelings.
I didn't understand the references to math theorems, but it didn't interrupt the flow of the book for me.
I was sure that this was a fictionalized account of an actual female mathematician as I read it! Even after finishing it I had to check the reviews and blurbs because I thought it captured so perfectly how a woman would navigate through college and PhD programs in the 60's!
A fantastic book!
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a different kind of book that what I usually read, but I picked it up on recommendation of a friend and ended up really liking it. I really enjoyed the math portions of the books and a majority of the story overall. I appreciated how this felt like both a real story and a kind of myth or fairytale, interwoven with both real mathematical equations/formulas, as well as fictionalized ones that connected the main character to her lineage.
...in the end, we can only unlock our own locks, we have only the gift of ourselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Antisemitism, War
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don't remember the last time I so strongly felt that jolt of trust, right at the start of a book, that I was about to get an interesting, well told story. Turns out that was an understatement. This is easily one of my favorite books of the year.
Cassandra Campbell's narration of the audiobook is excellent.
Cassandra Campbell's narration of the audiobook is excellent.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.