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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
The science and math within inspired me from the be beginning. The story of the tenth muse was what grabbed to keep going. This was so beautifully written, so profound and intricately captivating. So many lessons. I have to sit and take it all in.
I thoroughly enjoyed this whole story. Just the complexity and depth of everything put into less than 300 pages was brilliant. I obviously wished for a better, more kick ass ending but I also recognise that life doesn't work out like that. It was nice to read a book in which the MC goes for their goals but also acknowledges that you also miss out on other things because of it
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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 got much more interesting about halfway through. I liked the twists and turns, and the narrative style.
3.5 stars. I really liked how feminist it was and how relentless and unwilling to take other people's shit Katherine was. The mystery and what happened with her mother and father was really well done and I liked her friendship with Henry. However, the ending was a little frustrating. I felt like we spent the whole novel just learning about setback after setback, and she goes on to have an illustrious career but it's primarily off page. The big problem she's working on for most of the book, the Mohanty problem, is spoiled when Peter fucks it up. I was really happy that her career turned out well but it was frustrating that she had that taken from her right at the climax, rather than something triumphant, because she did go on to have triumphs. It's also sad that that was just sort of the end of her and Henry basically because Karl is an asshole.
It was often extremely frustrating watching the sexism and sometimes racism play out in Katherines career, but the book had several passages discussing these topics that I loved.
It was often extremely frustrating watching the sexism and sometimes racism play out in Katherines career, but the book had several passages discussing these topics that I loved.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
If someone were to suggest to me that a book would work with plot points including: the study of mathematics, the search for a lost parent, women in STEM, fairytales, Jews in WWII Germany, and finding one’s place in the world; I would have been very skeptical. However, Catherine Chung seems to have put it all together beautifully and succeeded in telling a remarkable story that feels almost like a memoir. I sat down with this book and didn’t get up until I had finished, so absorbed was I in this beautiful tale.
If you are interested in reading a story about a woman who is fierce, smart, strong, imperfect but resilient, then you might really like this book.
If you are interested in reading a story about a woman who is fierce, smart, strong, imperfect but resilient, then you might really like this book.
I really liked this book, however not being a math-brained sort of person I found myself skipping over the math bits (even though I did find it interesting--confusing yes but true). I liked the way the author wove historical bits about the war into the storyline. While overall I really liked it, if I had a complaint it would be that I didn't feel the character was living in the time period in which the book was based. There was little to make me think it wasn't current. However that may be just me and I certainly would encourage people to read this book--it's one that kept my interest and found me anxiously waiting until I could get back to reading it.