Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such an interesting character perspective on a “minor” player in the Manhattan project and the moral implications and difficulties the men and women involved in it had to struggle with.
With movies like Oppenheimer recently and other books that focus on the subject, I’ve often gone back and forth considering the right and wrong of it and it’s just such a hard concept - the horrific and long lasting destruction and loss of life, vs the brutality of a continued war of the bombs hadn’t dropped. Totally insane and awful. And I’m so thankful we’ve never had to face it again.
I loved Charlie as a character, and I loved Brenda’s mom. I think I want to BE Brenda’s mom. Brenda on the other hand…. She started out ok, making mistakes but thought provoking ones a lot of us do. But the latter like 60% of the book she was so self centered to the point of cruel, it was frustrating.
Overall well written and enjoyed the story.
With movies like Oppenheimer recently and other books that focus on the subject, I’ve often gone back and forth considering the right and wrong of it and it’s just such a hard concept - the horrific and long lasting destruction and loss of life, vs the brutality of a continued war of the bombs hadn’t dropped. Totally insane and awful. And I’m so thankful we’ve never had to face it again.
I loved Charlie as a character, and I loved Brenda’s mom. I think I want to BE Brenda’s mom. Brenda on the other hand…. She started out ok, making mistakes but thought provoking ones a lot of us do. But the latter like 60% of the book she was so self centered to the point of cruel, it was frustrating.
Overall well written and enjoyed the story.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm a huge fan of the author and have read his other books and loved them. This one was no different. I love the love story between Brenda and Charlie and I love how nuanced Brenda's character was. I love how their love developed, I love how their love was shown in their actions, their thoughts, their bodies. It's so subtle and powerful at the same time.
It's so hard to put my feelings about this book into words, but wow. Kiernan's books always get me in such a powerful way.
It's so hard to put my feelings about this book into words, but wow. Kiernan's books always get me in such a powerful way.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5*
RECEIVED ARC IN GOODREADS GIVEAWAY
This is unlike any other world war 2 book you'll ever read. It was so unique in the way it presented people involved in the war. I loved how involved I became with the characters and how much I felt for them. Their highs and lows, I felt it all.
"Universe of Two" is a love story, and a beautiful one at that. It was done in such a realistic and romantic way. Nothing felt forced or rushed. The relationship between Charlie and Brenda was so genuine. I saw how they felt, not just heard it. I was rooting for them the whole time.
This book was full of feel good moments but also heartbreaking ones too. I don't remember ever being bored while reading this book. I was just along for the ride and enjoyed ever moment of it.
The only thing I was really disappointed by was the fact that we barely saw the character's lives after the bombs were dropped. The summary made it seem like we would spend time with them as they grew and dealt with the consequences of what happened, but we only saw maybe 30 pages of it. Even so, I really loved this book and would recommend giving it a try.
RECEIVED ARC IN GOODREADS GIVEAWAY
This is unlike any other world war 2 book you'll ever read. It was so unique in the way it presented people involved in the war. I loved how involved I became with the characters and how much I felt for them. Their highs and lows, I felt it all.
"Universe of Two" is a love story, and a beautiful one at that. It was done in such a realistic and romantic way. Nothing felt forced or rushed. The relationship between Charlie and Brenda was so genuine. I saw how they felt, not just heard it. I was rooting for them the whole time.
This book was full of feel good moments but also heartbreaking ones too. I don't remember ever being bored while reading this book. I was just along for the ride and enjoyed ever moment of it.
The only thing I was really disappointed by was the fact that we barely saw the character's lives after the bombs were dropped. The summary made it seem like we would spend time with them as they grew and dealt with the consequences of what happened, but we only saw maybe 30 pages of it. Even so, I really loved this book and would recommend giving it a try.
This is my first book I've read by Stephen P Kiernan but it won't be my last. This book was amazing. He must have researched for months before writing, as he wrote about physics, music, organ repair, and bomb making. It was an extremely well written historical fiction that I greatly enjoyed.
The story is a fictionalized account of a real person. Charlie Fish is based on the real life of Charlie Fisk, mathematician during WWII who worked on the Manhattan Project. Stephen's Charlie Fish is a meek, young man who ends up falling for a young organist, named Brenda. The Universe of Two is about their love affair that is affected and influenced by the war and by Charlie's role in helping to create the atomic bomb. Stephen brings us into their Universe of Two with descriptive settings and lively characters. You get so absorbed into the story as you read that when you reach the end, you want to hear more.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaways for this copy. Pick yours up August 4, 2020.
The story is a fictionalized account of a real person. Charlie Fish is based on the real life of Charlie Fisk, mathematician during WWII who worked on the Manhattan Project. Stephen's Charlie Fish is a meek, young man who ends up falling for a young organist, named Brenda. The Universe of Two is about their love affair that is affected and influenced by the war and by Charlie's role in helping to create the atomic bomb. Stephen brings us into their Universe of Two with descriptive settings and lively characters. You get so absorbed into the story as you read that when you reach the end, you want to hear more.
Thanks to Goodreads giveaways for this copy. Pick yours up August 4, 2020.
Loved reading about this Los Alamos mathematician. Although historical fiction, it gives another angle to the story from American Prometheus and The Apocalypse Factory!
Picked this up after the latest Booktopia weekend in Vermont as Stephen P Kiernan has a new book coming out and I had never read this one. Charlie Fish is in Chicago doing math for the Army, figuring out arcs and solving all kinds of complex problems. But not fast enough. It is the winter of 1943-44 and he meets Brenda, working in her father's instrument shop while he is away in the Army. Their friendship turns into romance while Charlie goes from math to welding, connecting switches. He is transferred to Los Alamos in New Mexico, having no idea what is actually being developed there. This is a beautifully written novel, with themes of youth and innocence. Watching the characters trying to determine what the right thing is and wrestling with their consciences pushed this novel to 4 stars for me.
I am not a huge fan of historical fiction but I fell in love with this love story! Universe of Two tells the story of Charles Fish and his part in developing the atomic bomb. As the story begins you meet Brenda Dubie, a girl who becomes the love of Fish's life. Brenda helps run the family music store while her father and brother are away at war. Charles frequents the store and their love story begins. Charles is taken away to New Mexico to help in the war efforts at home. Their love story reminds us of a simpler, more innocent time. Fish's story of helping in the development of the atomic bomb was actually quite fascinating and sad. At first, Charles had no idea how important the work he did was nor how it would eventually affect the entire human race. He had a huge amount of guilt after seeing the outcome and devastation the bomb caused.
I liked Stephen P. Kiernan's writing style. I found it very easy to read and follow. I will be recommending this story to others and will be looking forward to his other works. Special Thanks to The Book Club Girls Early Read, NetGalley, William Morrow - HarperCollins Publishing, and Stephen P. Kiernan for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
#UniverseofTwo #NetGalley
I liked Stephen P. Kiernan's writing style. I found it very easy to read and follow. I will be recommending this story to others and will be looking forward to his other works. Special Thanks to The Book Club Girls Early Read, NetGalley, William Morrow - HarperCollins Publishing, and Stephen P. Kiernan for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
#UniverseofTwo #NetGalley