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A review by kdawn999
The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung
4.0
While this book falls for some melodramatic “book clubby” plot clichés, I was very invested in the memoiristic voice of the narrator, her trials as a biracial woman in 1960s-70s academia, and the poetic rendering of mathematical problem solving. My friend Sam in book club brought up that this character and story-matter feel a lot like those of The Queen’s Gambit, and I would agree. I enjoy stories about geniuses in niche fields.
My book club was more critical of the plot points of this than I was—a sprawling, time-hopping, secret-revealing origin story which seems to want to connect to too many historical moments in WWII. The staunchly feminist tone of this may please many and alienate the #notallmen crowd. I found that the tone fit this plot and time period well.
I really liked this and might reread when I want to relive the thrilling mathy parts woven into what feels like a sad fairytale.
My book club was more critical of the plot points of this than I was—a sprawling, time-hopping, secret-revealing origin story which seems to want to connect to too many historical moments in WWII. The staunchly feminist tone of this may please many and alienate the #notallmen crowd. I found that the tone fit this plot and time period well.
I really liked this and might reread when I want to relive the thrilling mathy parts woven into what feels like a sad fairytale.