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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Fascinating account of Galileo's life.....so much I never knew about him!
A colleague uses this in her Great Books class. It doesn't read like a novel (and that was what I expected), so I give it two stars for simply falling short of my expectations. Not fair? Tough. I got bored.
So many lessons to learn from the story of this family.
I approve of the idea of recovering women's stories from obscurity, but I gave up on this book about halfway through. Partly, all we really have about Virginia (Sister Maria Celeste), the title character, is her letters, and those are framed by conventions of piety and submission to such an extent, it's impossible to tell who she really was. The contrast between her self-abnegating words and her father's sarcastic self-assertion in his published books is almost too much to bear.
Plus, Galileo had two daughters. Both of them were sent to the same convent. Yet apparently the little sister, Livia (Sister Arcangela), never found herself at home there. Her big sister gently derides her in letters to their father. The author characterizes Livia as "Galileo's strange, silent second daughter." Hers is the story I really would like to hear.
Plus, Galileo had two daughters. Both of them were sent to the same convent. Yet apparently the little sister, Livia (Sister Arcangela), never found herself at home there. Her big sister gently derides her in letters to their father. The author characterizes Livia as "Galileo's strange, silent second daughter." Hers is the story I really would like to hear.
medium-paced
Where's that extra half-star when you need it? I would more appropriately give this a 3.5...
The subject matter is incredibly interesting, but the presentation was sometimes too dry for how interesting the story itself actually is.
The subject matter is incredibly interesting, but the presentation was sometimes too dry for how interesting the story itself actually is.
The title references the letters found of Galileo's daughter written to him which help reconstruct the events of his life. What strikes me is how little we have changed in 400 some years. Biblical literalists still find scientific discoveries threatening.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
The story of Galileo and his relationship with his daughters. Quite an interesting read, slow paced, but enjoyable.
Great historical fiction about Galileo and especially his relationship with his daughter. I'm not a scientific person, but enjoyed the brilliant findings of Galileo and his work. Thanks, Melissa for the recommendation!