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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
This book is inspired by, and loosely based on, Charles Fisk. Fisk worked on the detonator team for the Manhattan Project during World War II. Kiernan did a great job writing this book, immersing me in the imaginary world of Charlie Fish. So good, that I felt the story was 100% real. He also separated the two lives (the real Charles Fisk and the fictional character Charlie Fish) well but still gave justice to the real Charles Fisk.
I highly recommend Universe Of Two. The romance between Charlie and Brenda was genuine and realistic. I could feel their emotions through the pages of the book. The historical fiction part was well written. I really like how Kieran incorporated science and its implications that could affect the entire world. My only complaint is that the ending was short and we only saw a little glimpse of what Charlie and Brenda’s relationship looked like after the war. I wish we could have seen how Charlie’s involvement in the war affected his relationship with his wife and how affected his mental health.
Thank you to Goodreads giveaways and to William Morrow for a free kindle copy for my honest review
I highly recommend Universe Of Two. The romance between Charlie and Brenda was genuine and realistic. I could feel their emotions through the pages of the book. The historical fiction part was well written. I really like how Kieran incorporated science and its implications that could affect the entire world. My only complaint is that the ending was short and we only saw a little glimpse of what Charlie and Brenda’s relationship looked like after the war. I wish we could have seen how Charlie’s involvement in the war affected his relationship with his wife and how affected his mental health.
Thank you to Goodreads giveaways and to William Morrow for a free kindle copy for my honest review
a little different than what i expected but it was so good
brenda aggraveted me of course
brenda aggraveted me of course
A wonderful selection for any book club with a habit of choosing WWII fiction, and what book club doesn’t that describe?
I'm fairly new to the genre of historical fiction. With that being said, there were times I felt the book dragged at times in the beginning and I was a little slow at getting into the book. Overall I enjoyed the book and felt like I got a better understanding of what happened with the Manhattan Project. I would have enjoyed more emphasis on the relationship between Charlie and Brenda and a little less of the details of how Charlie worked day to day. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars.
This story really touched my heart. I know it was fiction, but it really put into perspective everything that people went through during that time. I just loved the characters so much they were so perfect for each other.
This novel tells the story of Brenda, a young woman in Chicago, who meets and falls in love with a brilliant mathematician Charlie Fish during World War 2. Charlie is working on a secret government project that even he doesn't understand at first. Charlie and Brenda eventually make their way to New Mexico, where Charlie becomes an integral part of the development of the first atomic bomb. Charlie struggles with his part in the utter destruction the bomb results in, and Brenda must figure out how best to support him.
I really ended up enjoying this book. During the first half of the book, I wasn't sure about it because I found Branda to be utterly insipid and selfish. However, I really liked Charlie, and by the end Brenda had grown on me as well. I love historical fiction that teaches me something new, and although I've read a lot of World War 2 novels, this is the first one that focused on the Americans that worked on the development of the atomic bomb. Charlie and the other men's moral struggles as they figured out what they were actually working on were so compelling. It was a beautifully written, emotional story that I would recommend to all of my historical fiction-loving friends.
I really ended up enjoying this book. During the first half of the book, I wasn't sure about it because I found Branda to be utterly insipid and selfish. However, I really liked Charlie, and by the end Brenda had grown on me as well. I love historical fiction that teaches me something new, and although I've read a lot of World War 2 novels, this is the first one that focused on the Americans that worked on the development of the atomic bomb. Charlie and the other men's moral struggles as they figured out what they were actually working on were so compelling. It was a beautifully written, emotional story that I would recommend to all of my historical fiction-loving friends.
Universe of Two is based on the life of the young mathematician, Charles Fisk (called Charlie Fish) in this novel), who was unknowingly recruited in the creation of the atomic bomb. Charlie was eighteen, and recently graduated from Harvard when he starts working on the project, and it's not until much later that he realizes what exactly he's doing for the 'war effort'.
Beginning in 1943, this book, is for the majority of the time set during the war. It alternates between Charlie's perspective in third person, and his musician girlfriend, Brenda's in first, and I found this gave an added dimension to the storyline.
Reading Brenda's chapters, I found the author really captured her voice. She was very dynamic, if not increasingly frustrating at times!
This book is both a love story as well as a historical narrative tackling a very difficult event in history.
This was my second Stephen Kiernan book, and I look forward to reading more of his!
Beginning in 1943, this book, is for the majority of the time set during the war. It alternates between Charlie's perspective in third person, and his musician girlfriend, Brenda's in first, and I found this gave an added dimension to the storyline.
Reading Brenda's chapters, I found the author really captured her voice. She was very dynamic, if not increasingly frustrating at times!
This book is both a love story as well as a historical narrative tackling a very difficult event in history.
This was my second Stephen Kiernan book, and I look forward to reading more of his!
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes