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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
reflective
This about an Asian American female mathematician and the challenges she encounters being who she is in the math world, but also a story of uncovering her identity and her family history after WWII. There were many layers to this book, like a complex math problem, and I like that the author didn’t shy away from giving us a protagonist with a complex identity. Also, as someone that’s not a “math person” I appreciate books like this that help me see the more creative and artistic side to math. I do feel like the author tried to do a lot with this book and was only partially successful, but I commend the attempt.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book tells the fascinating (and heartbreaking) story of Katherine, a woman who strives to excel and compete in the male-dominated field of mathematics. It details perfectly the struggles of climbing up a mountain that has provided her only obstacle after obstacle.
I’ll tell you this now: For the first half of the book, I was completely sold this was another 5 star read for me. But eventually, (especially towards the end) the pacing put me off.
Really? Henry fell in love with Katherine’s cousin only after a few days of knowing him? Loved him so much that she couldn’t not marry him? I don’t buy it.
I don’t understand why it was so necessary for Henry and Katherine’s friendship to fall apart too, and why Henry didn’t make more of an effort to save it. It just didn’t click with me, so the separation of them felt rushed and unnecessary.
Still, I loved the story. And that’s the bottom line.
A QUOTE THAT STUCK WITH ME:
“Once, I had said to her, “I choose you”, as if by choosing her, I could not choose myself too.”
I’ll tell you this now: For the first half of the book, I was completely sold this was another 5 star read for me. But eventually, (especially towards the end) the pacing put me off.
I don’t understand why it was so necessary for Henry and Katherine’s friendship to fall apart too, and why Henry didn’t make more of an effort to save it. It just didn’t click with me, so the separation of them felt rushed and unnecessary.
Still, I loved the story. And that’s the bottom line.
A QUOTE THAT STUCK WITH ME:
“Once, I had said to her, “I choose you”, as if by choosing her, I could not choose myself too.”
i picked this one up super randomly when i went to the library and the description really intrigued me, and i’m so glad that i decided to read it even though i hadn’t heard anything about this one!
things i loved:
➗ i loved katherine as a character! i loved her ambition and seeing how she dealt with being a woman of mixed race in a male-dominated field
➗ i loved the family mystery that began to unfold while reading, and the fact that some things were left undiscovered in the end.
➗ i honestly really love the title
things i loved:
➗ i loved katherine as a character! i loved her ambition and seeing how she dealt with being a woman of mixed race in a male-dominated field
➗ i loved the family mystery that began to unfold while reading, and the fact that some things were left undiscovered in the end.
➗ i honestly really love the title
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, War
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book infuriated me so much, that I saw red! Not because it was bad - that's far from the truth - but because it tackled the challenges women face in academia, especially in the STEM field. I think, either way, these experiences are universal. The Tenth Muse was narrated by Katherine, a mathematician. Her journey was bumpy, and her anger towards the exploitation of women in her field took quite the center stage which was just right. There was so much Katherine went through and more since she was also a half-Asian woman. The novel introduced women who worked with no pay, who weren't given credit for their work, whose intelligence and contributions go unrecognized etc., it was maddening. And that's not to mention the theft. These all played a big role in the story overall, but that wasn't all there was to it. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil and ruin the experience for others.
I just wished some plot points were made more plausible. It felt like the twists just kept coming and coming to a woman already shaken up. Nevertheless, I think I'd be recommending this book to those I think would appreciate it best. It was extremely thought-provoking, and relevant. The writing was precise, not flowery to me. The themes sometimes reminded me of Kim Jiyoung.
I just wished some plot points were made more plausible. It felt like the twists just kept coming and coming to a woman already shaken up. Nevertheless, I think I'd be recommending this book to those I think would appreciate it best. It was extremely thought-provoking, and relevant. The writing was precise, not flowery to me. The themes sometimes reminded me of Kim Jiyoung.
reflective
sad