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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
A story of a female mathematician trying to develop a career in post WW2 era while trying to find her real mother and father. A bit slow going, but interesting especially if you are a lover of math.
The writing is wonderful, but the story wasn’t. I never felt any connection to the main character. A few of the chapters were very interesting, most weren’t.
This was an interesting, complex novel about the life story of a female mathematician. 3+ raised to 4 because I appreciated the uniqueness of the story.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this novel. I think the story is more gripping and plot lead than the blurb on the back suggests. It is well written, with well crafted flawed characters. I can't really say much about the maths contents, but I feel that this shouldn't put people off, it is an intriguing background to an interesting story. It may even be better not knowing much about the mathematical background, as picking holes in the research would distract from the plot.
My main criticism is that there was rather a lot of use of coincidence to keep the story running, which felt somewhat unlikely.
Still an enjoyable and absorbing read.
My main criticism is that there was rather a lot of use of coincidence to keep the story running, which felt somewhat unlikely.
Still an enjoyable and absorbing read.
4.5 stars rounded up.
After reading two lackluster, long books, The Tenth Muse was a refreshing change of pace. I read so much that I am surprised when I read something that feels entirely new, unique. The Tenth Muse reads like a memoir. When I started, I had to look back at the cover to check for the "a novel" subtitle because I felt certain this was a true tale. There are a few points later in the novel that feel more fictional, but overall, its believe-ability factor was high.
The story is Katherine's, a mathematician from grade school forward. Half-Asian American and highly intelligent, she stands out in her classes. Katherine's teachers are condescending and her peers unkind, so Katherine retreats further into herself and the intricate math patterns that consume her. She idolizes the small handful of female mathematicians, but keeps that admiration to herself for fear that aligning herself with other women will make her own womanhood even more glaring. Katherine continually seeks a balance between blending in and excelling, and starts to find this in her later studies. As Katherine grew in her study and career, I was struck by the keen observations about being a woman in a field of men and the ensuing compromises and negotiations she made. Many of the quotes I highlighted surround this sentiment.
I was intrigued by the math history, which was novel to me. I appreciated how Catherine Chung was able to break down a few rudimentary (I assume) concepts about math patterns in a way that was understandable and easy to relate to. It gave me the sense that I could see inside Katherine's mind and why math was exciting to her.
As much as this story was about math and feminism, it is also about family, relationships, and small bit of World War II history. Katherine has a challenging relationship with her parents. Her mother unexpectedly left home during Katherine's adolescence and was never heard from again. Katherine is close with her father, but feels he doesn't fully support her academic and professional endeavors. The relationships with her parents become a larger plot point later in the book, as Katherine follows a path through Europe that details her own genealogy.
During her studies, she begins dating her professor and adviser, Peter Hall, a well-known mathematician. What starts as idol worship evolves into thoughtful partnership that takes them both to higher levels of study. It's easy to visualize their banter and excitement as they attempt to solve formulas and equations. Then, as Katherine's theories grow, the same romance eventually demonstrates the power struggle of a young female fighting for recognition in the shadow of her renowned partner.
There is also a beautiful friendship between Katherine and Henry, a student she meets during fellowship at Bonn. Henry is at Bonn, studying Grimm's fairy tales. The short detours into Grimm's tales' history is delightful, with a focus on women's roles in the stories that was new to me as well.
There is a lot I'm leaving out to avoid spoilers, but I'll reiterate that this story was original, engaging, and timely. I could not put it down and was sad to see it end. Highly recommended.
After reading two lackluster, long books, The Tenth Muse was a refreshing change of pace. I read so much that I am surprised when I read something that feels entirely new, unique. The Tenth Muse reads like a memoir. When I started, I had to look back at the cover to check for the "a novel" subtitle because I felt certain this was a true tale. There are a few points later in the novel that feel more fictional, but overall, its believe-ability factor was high.
The story is Katherine's, a mathematician from grade school forward. Half-Asian American and highly intelligent, she stands out in her classes. Katherine's teachers are condescending and her peers unkind, so Katherine retreats further into herself and the intricate math patterns that consume her. She idolizes the small handful of female mathematicians, but keeps that admiration to herself for fear that aligning herself with other women will make her own womanhood even more glaring. Katherine continually seeks a balance between blending in and excelling, and starts to find this in her later studies. As Katherine grew in her study and career, I was struck by the keen observations about being a woman in a field of men and the ensuing compromises and negotiations she made. Many of the quotes I highlighted surround this sentiment.
I was intrigued by the math history, which was novel to me. I appreciated how Catherine Chung was able to break down a few rudimentary (I assume) concepts about math patterns in a way that was understandable and easy to relate to. It gave me the sense that I could see inside Katherine's mind and why math was exciting to her.
As much as this story was about math and feminism, it is also about family, relationships, and small bit of World War II history. Katherine has a challenging relationship with her parents. Her mother unexpectedly left home during Katherine's adolescence and was never heard from again. Katherine is close with her father, but feels he doesn't fully support her academic and professional endeavors. The relationships with her parents become a larger plot point later in the book, as Katherine follows a path through Europe that details her own genealogy.
During her studies, she begins dating her professor and adviser, Peter Hall, a well-known mathematician. What starts as idol worship evolves into thoughtful partnership that takes them both to higher levels of study. It's easy to visualize their banter and excitement as they attempt to solve formulas and equations. Then, as Katherine's theories grow, the same romance eventually demonstrates the power struggle of a young female fighting for recognition in the shadow of her renowned partner.
There is also a beautiful friendship between Katherine and Henry, a student she meets during fellowship at Bonn. Henry is at Bonn, studying Grimm's fairy tales. The short detours into Grimm's tales' history is delightful, with a focus on women's roles in the stories that was new to me as well.
There is a lot I'm leaving out to avoid spoilers, but I'll reiterate that this story was original, engaging, and timely. I could not put it down and was sad to see it end. Highly recommended.
Really loved this book. I didn't think a book about a mathematician would keep my interest, to be honest, but I was very invested in all of Katherine's personal and professional pursuits!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes