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A review by dannafs
The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung
5.0
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.