Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
The Greek reference of the tenth muse led me to this novel. It has very little to do with Greek mythology, but that link to the muse that was an independent woman was a smart and interesting idea. This novel has quite a bit going on. The main character has family, work (female math student), and love issues. It seemed in the middle there was no where for the story to go, but surprises are around every corner. The protagonist is smart and strong, but also flawed. She makes decisions that change her destiny - some good and some bad.
love love love,, the unraveling of Things!! the drama! the reflections!
"i stared out of the window for a long, long time, thinking of my mother, and of laika, and how it was possible to fall into the space that someone left behind, and be crushed inside, like air falling back into itself within a clap of thunder."
"i stared out of the window for a long, long time, thinking of my mother, and of laika, and how it was possible to fall into the space that someone left behind, and be crushed inside, like air falling back into itself within a clap of thunder."
I have very mixed feelings on this book. It took me a long time to force myself to finish it, little audiobook chunk by little audiobook chunk. I think it would have felt a bit choppy, aimless, and unsatisfying even if I hadn't consumed it that way, but I can't be sure, so...grain of salt and such. It was upsetting to read a lot of the time because of all the misogyny and racism, as well as a lot of backstory from the Holocaust, so it's not exactly a light, feel-good read. The narrator is good and there are some interesting characters and fascinating historical fiction going on here. A lot of intriguing parts that seem greater than their sum to me. I don't regret reading it, and I think this book is likely a lot of folks' cup of tea.
I’m drawn to stories of young people with special gifts, particularly those related to intellectual areas (I was a total sucker for Good Will Hunting) or the arts. This novel is such a tale. The first-person narrator, Katherine (with a K rather than the author’s C), is an older celebrated mathematician looking back on her childhood and early adult life in the 1950s and 60s. Her story includes her complicated origins with mixed ethnicities (Asian mother/European ancestry father), the sudden inexplicable abandonment by her mother in Katherine’s adolescence, her precociousness for mathematics and ambition to make her mark in the field as she progresses from her student days to her early academic career. Chung’s writing is vivid and there is a lot of story going on here. It ultimately encompasses several generations, several decades, and several continents. Throughout the telling, Katherine weaves in sometimes familiar but always interesting true side-stories and puzzles related to mathematics, the history of science, myth, and other areas that enrich the main storyline. The other characters in the novel – including family, friends, lovers, colleagues, and rivals – are well drawn, and even those who do bad or, in a few cases, truly evil things remain recognizably human. The major theme here concerns the prejudices and disproportionate burdens a woman faces in academia, especially in the mathematics and hard sciences, and the hard life choices that accrue from such circumstances, but there are many other issues too going on. The horrors of the mid-20th century—the Holocaust, the Japanese atrocities inflicted on other Asian people, and the compromises necessary to have some chance to survive also play a large role in the novel. While I don’t want to overstate its value as a work of literature, I also don’t mean to demean it when I say that I often found myself envisioning it as a high-quality streaming channel mini-series, sort of along the lines of The Queen’s Gambit. As in that story (which of course was a novel too, but I haven’t read it), this is a story of a young woman with a difficult childhood who has an extraordinary talent in what is thought to be a primarily male domain. Here, rather than chess, Katherine is moving in the rarified and sexist world of mathematics, especially as it existed in the 1960s.
I was completely enthralled by the extraordinary woman. I loved this story and it felt more like a memoir than a novel.
This was a wonderful book. Intimate, yet global. Lyrical, but suspenseful. In my wheelhouse, in that it takes you into a world (mathematics) and teaches you things you didn't know you wanted to know. Timely, thinking about the responsibility we have as humans in times of oppression and violence...are we the ones who silently benefit or put our lives on the line? I haven't heard much buzz about this book, but there should be.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
This book spoke to me in a totally unexpected way. The protagonist is a half-Chinese woman, growing up in a household where she developed a love for science and mathematics. Her mother leaves unexpectedly when she is a teenager, and she is left with many unanswered questions that her father refuses to discuss. She grows to be a brilliant mathematician but must beat the odds at every turn because of her gender and race. Despite the challenges and betrayals she faces, she refuses to simply accept her fate as many women in her position have been forced to do. As she attempts to be the first person to solve an infamous math problem, she is also on the search for her identity. Her tenacity and resilience are undeniable, and her story is an inspiring one, especially for women in the male-dominated fields of science and mathematics.
I loved the inclusion of historical events in this book, as well as the references to numerous mathematicians and actual problems. They made the story seem more authentic without bogging the reader down with theorems and equations.
I loved the inclusion of historical events in this book, as well as the references to numerous mathematicians and actual problems. They made the story seem more authentic without bogging the reader down with theorems and equations.
Oh, this was a lovely read.
The prose is well-crafted but easy to read. The story really pulled me in, and I finished it in a few days.
Would recommend!
The prose is well-crafted but easy to read. The story really pulled me in, and I finished it in a few days.
Would recommend!
Page-turner historical fiction about a woman mathematician who attempts to solve the Riemann Hypothesis and uncover the secrets of her own family origins. Lots of heavy lifting when it comes to theme, with racism and sexism in academia front and center, plus a really unique WWII era mystery. If you love “my parents aren’t who I thought they were” stories, you’ll eat this up!