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A Bend in the Stars
This is at once an epic love story and a heart-pounding journey across WWI-era Russia, about an ambitious young doctor and her scientist brother in a race against Einstein to solve one of the greatest mysteries of the universe.
In Russia, in the summer of 1914, as war with Germany looms and the Czar's army tightens its grip on the local Jewish community, Miri Abramov and her brilliant physicist brother, Vanya, are facing an impossible decision. Since their parents drowned fleeing to America, Miri and Vanya have been raised by their babushka, a famous matchmaker who has taught them to protect themselves at all costs: to fight, to kill if necessary, and always to have an escape plan. Can they bear to leave the homeland that has given them so much?
Before they have time to make their choice, war is declared and Vanya goes missing, along with Miri's fiancé. Miri braves the firing squad to go looking for them both. As the eclipse that will change history darkens skies across Russia, not only the safety of Miri's own family but the future of science itself hangs in the balance.
In Russia, in the summer of 1914, as war with Germany looms and the Czar's army tightens its grip on the local Jewish community, Miri Abramov and her brilliant physicist brother, Vanya, are facing an impossible decision. Since their parents drowned fleeing to America, Miri and Vanya have been raised by their babushka, a famous matchmaker who has taught them to protect themselves at all costs: to fight, to kill if necessary, and always to have an escape plan. Can they bear to leave the homeland that has given them so much?
Before they have time to make their choice, war is declared and Vanya goes missing, along with Miri's fiancé. Miri braves the firing squad to go looking for them both. As the eclipse that will change history darkens skies across Russia, not only the safety of Miri's own family but the future of science itself hangs in the balance.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2019
880 people are currently reading
23597 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Barenbaum
2 books458 followersATOMIC ANNA is Rachel's second novel. The New York Times Book Review said it was “masterfully plotted." And the LA Review of Books called it "propulsive and intimate." Rachel's debut, A BEND IN THE STARS, was named a New York Times Summer Reading Selection and a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection.
Rachel is a prolific writer and reviewer. Her work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, the LA Review of Books, and more. She is a Scholar in Residence at the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute at Brandeis and her podcast, Check This Out, is sponsored by the Howe Library and A Mighty Blaze. She has degrees from Harvard in Business, and Literature and Philosophy. She is an elected Town Meeting Member in Brookline, MA.
Rachel is a prolific writer and reviewer. Her work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, the LA Review of Books, and more. She is a Scholar in Residence at the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute at Brandeis and her podcast, Check This Out, is sponsored by the Howe Library and A Mighty Blaze. She has degrees from Harvard in Business, and Literature and Philosophy. She is an elected Town Meeting Member in Brookline, MA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 766 reviews
January 27, 2019
A Bend in the Stars is easily my favorite book that I’ve read this year – hence the 5 star rating I’m giving it! It will be hard for any other books to be more thoroughly loved in 2019. If you read and loved For All The Things We Cannot See, then this is another must-read. You won’t be disappointed!
Believe it or not, this is Rachel Barenbaum’s debut book. She brings us to Russia and introduces us to the brother-sister duo Miri and Vanya. Russia is on the brink of war with Germany. Things aren’t easy, especially for science-based practices. This makes things difficult for Miri, who practices as a surgeon (rare for women at this time!), and Vanya, a physicist competing with the famous Albert Einstein to explain relativity. Their practices bring many challenges and critiques, and with conscription brewing, their lives are turned upside down. When Vanya goes missing, Miri is forced to face reality and fight for the brother she loves most.
I really enjoyed that this book took us into Russia history and successfully explored the sciences without it being overkill; it was artfully folded in. I never thought that science in Russia would be such a conspiracy, or be thought of as witchcraft! The other thing that really pulled me into this book was how much I related to Miri as a woman trying to prove herself as an equal without it being overdone. No matter what, Miri fights for her beliefs and does her best even though she may feel like that’s not enough. I never cry, but I cried through the end of this book and I had chills. It was just. That. Good.
Clearly, I could go on and on about how much I loved this book. Mark your calendars because it’s coming out on May 14th! You don’t want to miss it!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read this book and the review provided expresses my own personal opinion.
Believe it or not, this is Rachel Barenbaum’s debut book. She brings us to Russia and introduces us to the brother-sister duo Miri and Vanya. Russia is on the brink of war with Germany. Things aren’t easy, especially for science-based practices. This makes things difficult for Miri, who practices as a surgeon (rare for women at this time!), and Vanya, a physicist competing with the famous Albert Einstein to explain relativity. Their practices bring many challenges and critiques, and with conscription brewing, their lives are turned upside down. When Vanya goes missing, Miri is forced to face reality and fight for the brother she loves most.
I really enjoyed that this book took us into Russia history and successfully explored the sciences without it being overkill; it was artfully folded in. I never thought that science in Russia would be such a conspiracy, or be thought of as witchcraft! The other thing that really pulled me into this book was how much I related to Miri as a woman trying to prove herself as an equal without it being overdone. No matter what, Miri fights for her beliefs and does her best even though she may feel like that’s not enough. I never cry, but I cried through the end of this book and I had chills. It was just. That. Good.
Clearly, I could go on and on about how much I loved this book. Mark your calendars because it’s coming out on May 14th! You don’t want to miss it!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read this book and the review provided expresses my own personal opinion.
February 11, 2019
I read this beautifully-crafted, intelligent novel in one weekend, consumed by Miri’s courage, Vanya’s ambition, the twists of loyalty and sacrifice, the sting of betrayal, the wrenching pain of star-crossed love. In thrilling detail, Barenbaum takes readers on a journey that is both quest and cat-and-mouse game, crisscrossing 1914 Russia by foot and rail with danger at every turn, as Vanya races to the center line of a total eclipse in search of scientific proof among the stars of gravity’s effect on light and Miri pursues her dream of being a surgeon while struggling to reunite her family. A Bend In The Stars is smart, moving historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley for advanced access in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2019
I was completely swept away by this novel, transported into pre-World War I Russia and the struggles and hopes of the charismatic siblings, Miri and Vanya Abramov, as they attempted to make scientific history and escape the anti-semitism and violence of pre-revolutionary Russia. With impressive but never heavy-handed research, Barenbaum builds a world of intellectualism, scientific discovery, feminism, beauty, romance, violence and hatred and illuminates the complexities of Russian-Jewish life beyond Fiddler on the Roof stereotypes of shtetl life. Even more impressive than her depiction of the drama of impending war is the suspense she brings to the pursuit of physics as Vanya Abramov races to perfect Einstein's initial theories of relativity by completing the mathematical equations and confirming them through photographs of the solar eclipse that was visible in Russia in 1914.
November 27, 2022
Miri who is on the verge of becoming one of Russia's only female sugeons and her brother Vanya who is a physicist attempting to find the missing piece of Einstein's theory of relativity are planning to leave Russia for America, but before they are able to do so, war is declared.
Inspired by the solar eclipse of 1914, the premise of A Bend in the Stars intrigued me. Unfortunately, there was less science than I was hoping for and then a love triangle was thrown into the mix which I found to be an unnecessary distraction. The story unraveled quite slowly, and yet I didn't feel the urgency or tension I expected given the subject matter. 3.5 stars rounded down because I cry quite easily especially with books surrounding WWI and WWII, and yet I felt very little emotion with this one.
Inspired by the solar eclipse of 1914, the premise of A Bend in the Stars intrigued me. Unfortunately, there was less science than I was hoping for and then a love triangle was thrown into the mix which I found to be an unnecessary distraction. The story unraveled quite slowly, and yet I didn't feel the urgency or tension I expected given the subject matter. 3.5 stars rounded down because I cry quite easily especially with books surrounding WWI and WWII, and yet I felt very little emotion with this one.
June 26, 2020
In 1914 Russia, siblings Miri, a doctor, and Vanya, a scientist, are living with their grandmother, a Jewish matchmaker. The Great War is just beginning. Vanya is competing with Einstein to prove the theory of relativity. He embarks on a jury with Miri’s fiancé, Yuri, to meet an American, take photos of an eclipse, and arrange passage for their family to America. Miri travels with a soldier, to find Vanya and Yuri. The novel follows each journey through the vast terrain of Russian landscapes, cities, and towns. It is a story of ambition, love, science, prejudice, and resilience.
The book is structured around the Jewish calendar, which fits with the themes of cosmic phenomena, time, and being Jewish in czarist Russia. I enjoyed the historic setting and complexity in the narrative. There is one major plot issue toward the end that bothered me, but overall a successful debut. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
The book is structured around the Jewish calendar, which fits with the themes of cosmic phenomena, time, and being Jewish in czarist Russia. I enjoyed the historic setting and complexity in the narrative. There is one major plot issue toward the end that bothered me, but overall a successful debut. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
January 20, 2019
I was fortunate to have the chance to read an ARC of "A Bend in the Stars" and as soon as I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. The story is set in early 20th century Russia and is so well-researched, the reader practically feels like you are there in Kiev. The beautifully vivid writing draws the reader in - you can almost smell the strawberry jam as Babushka scoops it into her tea. Then there is the race for scientific discovery, with the alluring character of Einstein lurking ever in the background. And the unfolding love story that twists and turns. A Bend in the Stars has it all -- five stars!
June 5, 2019
The entire time I was reading this I was waiting to feel the emotions I was supposed to feel. I went in knowing it was a book centered around WWI and that it would probably evoke lots of strong images, and I was fully prepared.
Instead it just sort of felt like a YA novel version of it. Like I never felt any true sense of urgency or tension despite the siblings being hunted. There was action, sure, but it didn’t dispel the weird fog of apathy I had while reading, and it took me far longer than normal to finish it.
Plus the author threw in a love triangle. A fucking love triangle in wartime Russia that did not make me feel nice things for our protagonist. It felt scripted and forced and took away from the (already lacking) sense of urgency of the overall plot.
I’m sure others will love this, but for me it was forgettable.
Instead it just sort of felt like a YA novel version of it. Like I never felt any true sense of urgency or tension despite the siblings being hunted. There was action, sure, but it didn’t dispel the weird fog of apathy I had while reading, and it took me far longer than normal to finish it.
Plus the author threw in a love triangle. A fucking love triangle in wartime Russia that did not make me feel nice things for our protagonist. It felt scripted and forced and took away from the (already lacking) sense of urgency of the overall plot.
I’m sure others will love this, but for me it was forgettable.
June 7, 2019
Russia, 1914. Miri Abramov and her brother Vanya have been raised by their grandmother after their parents' death years before. There is unrest in the country and the Jewish communities are especially at risk. Miri Abramov is now one of few female surgeons, while Vanya is a physicist who dreams of solving the final puzzle concerning Einstein's theory of relativity. Now an eclipse is coming and this could be the answer to solving the puzzle. However, with Russia at war, it is unsure if Vanya will be able to take the photographs he needs to confirm his theory. But, he will not give up and together with Miri's fiance he sneaks away from the army in hopes of taking photographs of the eclipse...
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
April 23, 2019
A rich, stunning, heartbreaking debut grounded in history. The science blew my mind and the love story broke my heart 💔
April 4, 2019
This was amazing! I can't recommend preordering this one enough! I'll be posting my full review soon. Thank you to the author, publicist, and Grand Central Publishing for the early copy for review.
February 24, 2019
Wow. If you like smart historical fiction with bracing adventure, this one is for you. A Bend in the Stars will take you to places you’ve never seen and introduce you to characters with their backs up against a history you may not know. Russia on the verge of WWI – the sparkling cities, the frozen steppe, the ramshackle ghettoes, the universities and hospitals – it’s all here, as seen through the eyes of a Jewish sister and brother struggling to make their mark in a society that considers them, at best, to be useful. At worst – I don’t have to tell you. Vanya, the brother, is a brilliant physicist on the cusp of a discovery that will out-Einstein even Einstein; he is desperate to prove his theory, but that will involve traveling incognito across Russia, pursued by soldiers and rivals, to photograph the solar eclipse. Miri, his sister, is a newly-trained surgeon who has to fight for her right to do medicine. I don’t want to give away too much – but she, too, will traverse Russia, in the company of a dashing soldier who is not her fiancé. Think: Doctor Zhivago meets Casablanca. Love and ambition and family set against the backdrop of looming war. I loved this novel, for its characters and story, but also because it let me experience what life was like for scholarly, talented Jews in Russia, in a time and place that I’d never seen on the page. The history will come alive for you and never let you go.
September 30, 2020
The ratings stats for this book show that most people liked this book. I am not one of them. I am uncomfortable saying too many things about a book that so many people liked, and that an author worked hard writing and publishing.
The story involves some Russian Jews at the start of WWI. The brother of one of the characters is a mathematician working on the Theory of Relativity published by Einstein. He needs a photograph of a solar eclipse to prove that gravity can bend light. There are multiple villains here all trying to stop the brother and his sister before they can escape Russia for America.
The story sounds intriguing with that but I had difficulty identifying with any of the characters and the story seemed to develop with too many paths. Occasionally it was difficult to determine which character was speaking, or which character was good or bad. It has very short chapters generally following alternating characters which I think added to my confusion about where we were in this story.
I gave the book 2 stars because I did finish it.
The story involves some Russian Jews at the start of WWI. The brother of one of the characters is a mathematician working on the Theory of Relativity published by Einstein. He needs a photograph of a solar eclipse to prove that gravity can bend light. There are multiple villains here all trying to stop the brother and his sister before they can escape Russia for America.
The story sounds intriguing with that but I had difficulty identifying with any of the characters and the story seemed to develop with too many paths. Occasionally it was difficult to determine which character was speaking, or which character was good or bad. It has very short chapters generally following alternating characters which I think added to my confusion about where we were in this story.
I gave the book 2 stars because I did finish it.
January 30, 2019
What an adventure! Through war, angry mobs, desparate train rides, I felt the excitement of the race, and the fear, love, and loss along the way. This is a great read. I can’t wait to share it with my friends and family.
May 15, 2019
Title: A Bend in the Stars
Series: Standalone
Author: Rachel Barenbaum
Release date: May 14, 2019
Cliffhanger: No
Genre: historical fiction
A Bend in the Stars is a sweeping epic portrait of the devastation and desperation of war. This story does not read like it came from a novice writer, far from it. If I hadn't known this was a debut novel beforehand, I would have expected this kind of talent from a seasoned author with years of honing their craft under their belt. Once I got past situating myself in the beginning, I was flying through the book for the majority of its 464 pages. That's no mean feat. With every gasp that escaped these characters, every fearful thundering heartbeat, I was standing next to them in solidarity.
Miri and Vanya Abramov have already suffered great loss and injustice by the year 1914. Their parents died attempting to make it to America for the family, and since then tensions have escalated to the point of war. As Jews living in pre-war Russia, beatings and murder are occurrences that could happen without warning on any given day. There is no such thing as safety, and they've learned to live their lives as if walking on eggshells. To survive the constant abuse and discrimination and get by one day at a time. The siblings are both brilliant in their own right: Vanya is a professor of physics, Miri a doctor who has just been approved to become one of the first few female surgeons to practice in her country. But however much they excel, there are always those who wish to abuse their position of power to prevent them from succeeding.
Vanya idolizes Albert Einstein and has even corresponded with him once over his theory of relativity. He is consumed with the idea of proving his theory and making a huge difference in the world through scientific discovery. The upcoming total solar eclipse is his chance to make that contribution, and at the same time gain entry into America. If he can meet with the American journeying there to take photographs of the rare event, a position at Harvard will be assured. That will mean safety and freedom for his family unlike anything they've experienced before. Unfortunately the timing of WW1 breaking out is cataclysmic for his plans. But he's determined to succeed and begins a perilous, life or death journey fraught with danger.
The historical detail was very well researched, and rich with detail without being too indulgent. I never felt as if it was at the expense of a well paced plot. We alternated between brother and sister until they finally intertwine towards the end near the final climax. Fact and fiction were perfectly woven together to create a war novel unlike any I've read before. There was love amid the madness: unequivocal love for family, and another love story that seemed doomed to end in tragedy in one way or another. Why? Because Miri is engaged, suddenly there is another love interest, and at any moment any one of them could die at the hands of a multitude of people hunting them. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, and this one was no different but those are my personal preferences. I felt almost guilty for taking off a half star because the quality of the writing was so good. So gripping. This romance fell in a grey area for me because of the extreme circumstances that influenced the decisions made. Still there was some disappointment involved, but not enough to detract much from my love of the overall story.
The flash forward to the year 2000 brought everything to a close so poignantly and tied all the loose ends together crisply. Rachel Barenbaum is a new talent to watch. After her sparkling debut, I'm a firm fan that will be following her work in the future. Not to be missed!
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June 7, 2020
Thank you Grand Central Publishing & Rachel Barenbaum for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book was a slow start for me, and all the introductory/back story of the characters did take longer than I personally prefer. But after you get through the first 60 or so pages of the book, it was oh-so worth it. I don't think I ever read a book before that took place here. England and Europe, yes, but not Russia! I loved the descriptions of a place I don't really know much about, or haven't discovered a lot in other books, so I enjoyed reading about a new landscape.
The characters all had their own unique personality traits, and I thought they were created perfectly. Miri especially was such a strong woman in the face of adversity, especially because she was a female working in a male dominated hospital setting. Rachel Barenbaum writes the issues and setbacks Miri has had because of her gender, and the doubt surrounding her ability to be a successful surgeon.
Such a great book, if you love historical fiction I highly recommend this one for you!
The book was a slow start for me, and all the introductory/back story of the characters did take longer than I personally prefer. But after you get through the first 60 or so pages of the book, it was oh-so worth it. I don't think I ever read a book before that took place here. England and Europe, yes, but not Russia! I loved the descriptions of a place I don't really know much about, or haven't discovered a lot in other books, so I enjoyed reading about a new landscape.
The characters all had their own unique personality traits, and I thought they were created perfectly. Miri especially was such a strong woman in the face of adversity, especially because she was a female working in a male dominated hospital setting. Rachel Barenbaum writes the issues and setbacks Miri has had because of her gender, and the doubt surrounding her ability to be a successful surgeon.
Such a great book, if you love historical fiction I highly recommend this one for you!
April 23, 2019
It’s hard to believe this is Barenbaum’s debt. This beautifully written literary novel is many things—a historical thriller about physics, the plight of Russian Jews, a complicated love triangle, a heart-pumping journey across Russia, and a sweeping family saga. No matter what type of book you like to read, you’ll find it all here in A Bend in the Stars. I loved it. It’s 1914 Russia and war is breaking out. Will single-minded scientist Vanya make it to the eclipse in time to prove the theory of relativity before Einstein? Will his sister Miri, a headstrong female doctor, leave her fianceé for a dashing deserter of the Czar’s army named Sasha? Will the Abramov family line die out in Russia or will they rebuild a new one in America? Stay tuned. As Miri and Vanya’s grandmother Baba, says: “Life and the universe are not written in stone. Gravity bends direction. Always keep your mind open.”
Mark your calendar now. This book comes out May 14. Get ready for a roller coaster of a ride!
Mark your calendar now. This book comes out May 14. Get ready for a roller coaster of a ride!
March 10, 2019
Thank you to netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for my free review copy.
A Bend in the Stars is a epic historical fictional novel set in Russia at the cusp of WWI. Although, It has so much more complexity that. It’s smart, and heartfelt and at a lot of times heartbreaking.
This tale is sweeping and complex, and I took my time with it because, I think it’s one of those stories that engrosses you so much, that you can’t help but put it down and think for a little while.
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It was refreshing to read a smart, science driven historical fiction novel. I loved that about this story. If you love science, history, Russian history, romance, survival stories, and or family sagas, give this one a go.
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A Bend in the Stars is a epic historical fictional novel set in Russia at the cusp of WWI. Although, It has so much more complexity that. It’s smart, and heartfelt and at a lot of times heartbreaking.
This tale is sweeping and complex, and I took my time with it because, I think it’s one of those stories that engrosses you so much, that you can’t help but put it down and think for a little while.
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It was refreshing to read a smart, science driven historical fiction novel. I loved that about this story. If you love science, history, Russian history, romance, survival stories, and or family sagas, give this one a go.
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May 28, 2019
The premise of this book was certainly intriguing enough: a bright Russian scientist thinks he can prove Einstein’s theory of relativity. All he needs is a photograph of an eclipse and he can finalize his equations, but with World War I erupting, there is little chance Vanya can achieve these lofty goals. Then there’s his sister Miri, who is exceptional in her own right as the only female surgeon in the country. Her fiancé and Vanya set off to find an American who has equipment to photograph the upcoming eclipse, and the whole plot becomes odyssey of sorts.
While I thought this would have more to do with the science itself, the plot is just the various parties evading unsavory characters, hiding, waiting, being betrayed, running some more, hiding, being targeted as Jews, running… You get the point. No one can be trusted, everyone they encounter is nefarious, and duplicity the name of the game.
As for the characters themselves, not a single one was likeable. Vanya thinks he’s Russia’s answer to Einstein, but for someone so smart, his total lack of common sense is ridiculous. There were so many inconsistencies in the attitudes and actions of the characters, especially Miri. She did not come across as a strong female character, and a love triangle that develops makes her look like an indecisive trollop. By the time I got to the very unsatisfactory conclusion, I was ready to toss the book into the rubbish bin. While there was some promise with the historical aspect of the story, the infuriating characters absolutely ruined it for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.
While I thought this would have more to do with the science itself, the plot is just the various parties evading unsavory characters, hiding, waiting, being betrayed, running some more, hiding, being targeted as Jews, running… You get the point. No one can be trusted, everyone they encounter is nefarious, and duplicity the name of the game.
As for the characters themselves, not a single one was likeable. Vanya thinks he’s Russia’s answer to Einstein, but for someone so smart, his total lack of common sense is ridiculous. There were so many inconsistencies in the attitudes and actions of the characters, especially Miri. She did not come across as a strong female character, and a love triangle that develops makes her look like an indecisive trollop. By the time I got to the very unsatisfactory conclusion, I was ready to toss the book into the rubbish bin. While there was some promise with the historical aspect of the story, the infuriating characters absolutely ruined it for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.
May 4, 2019
Though this book is over well over 400 pages long, it is a beautifully written and crafted debut by an author. Very easily one of my favorites of the year so far!
I rarely read books based in Russia; however, the author truly brought to life the landscape of what it would of been like during this time.
This book introduces you to main characters whom are sister and brother: Miri and Vanya. With the war with Germany coming quickly, things in Russia is tough. However, none more so if you're a Jew and you're studying anything science based.
Miri whom is a surgeon during a time when most women are simply nurses dreams of being taken seriously. Meanwhile her brother, Vanya, is a man with big dreams. He is a physicist who is in a competition with the famous, Albert Einstein to fully explain relativity.
Twists and turns take them both and Miri's fiance on the run in different directions in the attempt to escape Russia and solve this scientific equation.
This truly is a book full of historical fiction like facts wrapped into a story full of adventure that had me glued to the pages. The history behind Russia while on the verge of the first world war is not one I'm well educated in. However, the long history of discrimination of Jews long before this time history I'm not naive to.
The author truly has a gift of throwing so many parts of a complex story together in a way that is smart and makes for a wonderful journey reading wise. The love triangle, sweeping family saga and their risky journey across Russia is a unique story.
The character's themselves I also liked tremendously, especially Miri. She is full of dreams, yet she lives at a time where as a woman you're expected to be nothing more than a wife and mother. At most you are given jobs that men feel are within their limits: secretaries, nurses etc Her spirit and determination to prove herself in a field dominated by men and be respected as equally is inspiring.
Really there is so much more I could and want to say about this book. In the end, I will simply say this is a must read in my opinion!
Received this books in thanks to Goodreads first reads and the publisher. Thank you!
I rarely read books based in Russia; however, the author truly brought to life the landscape of what it would of been like during this time.
This book introduces you to main characters whom are sister and brother: Miri and Vanya. With the war with Germany coming quickly, things in Russia is tough. However, none more so if you're a Jew and you're studying anything science based.
Miri whom is a surgeon during a time when most women are simply nurses dreams of being taken seriously. Meanwhile her brother, Vanya, is a man with big dreams. He is a physicist who is in a competition with the famous, Albert Einstein to fully explain relativity.
Twists and turns take them both and Miri's fiance on the run in different directions in the attempt to escape Russia and solve this scientific equation.
This truly is a book full of historical fiction like facts wrapped into a story full of adventure that had me glued to the pages. The history behind Russia while on the verge of the first world war is not one I'm well educated in. However, the long history of discrimination of Jews long before this time history I'm not naive to.
The author truly has a gift of throwing so many parts of a complex story together in a way that is smart and makes for a wonderful journey reading wise. The love triangle, sweeping family saga and their risky journey across Russia is a unique story.
The character's themselves I also liked tremendously, especially Miri. She is full of dreams, yet she lives at a time where as a woman you're expected to be nothing more than a wife and mother. At most you are given jobs that men feel are within their limits: secretaries, nurses etc Her spirit and determination to prove herself in a field dominated by men and be respected as equally is inspiring.
Really there is so much more I could and want to say about this book. In the end, I will simply say this is a must read in my opinion!
Received this books in thanks to Goodreads first reads and the publisher. Thank you!
April 22, 2019
I received this book in a giveaway from Goodreads and it was a historical fiction book set in Russia as two siblings live on the brink of the first World War. Vanya is a physicist and Miri is a surgeon, very rare for this time.
I really enjoy historical fiction and this book was very well-written. Told from both the sister’s and the brother’s point of view, the reader is able to see both their takes of the world and the coming war around them. The book ended with a few lines that really made me stop and think “Life and the universe are not written in stone. Gravity bends direction. Always keep your mind open.”
Vanya, Miri and their babuska are a Jewish family living in Russia and when war is declared must decide how to survive. Miriam’s brother Vanya is devoted to his work and wants to stay in Russia to see an eclipse to prove his theory of relativity.
Soon Vanya goes missing, and Miri along with help from a friendly solider search Russia to find her brother and eventually escape to America.
Miri faces many hardships along the way, meeting people who will help her and people that want to hurt her all to find her brother and get her family safely out of Russia.
I really enjoy historical fiction and this book was very well-written. Told from both the sister’s and the brother’s point of view, the reader is able to see both their takes of the world and the coming war around them. The book ended with a few lines that really made me stop and think “Life and the universe are not written in stone. Gravity bends direction. Always keep your mind open.”
Vanya, Miri and their babuska are a Jewish family living in Russia and when war is declared must decide how to survive. Miriam’s brother Vanya is devoted to his work and wants to stay in Russia to see an eclipse to prove his theory of relativity.
Soon Vanya goes missing, and Miri along with help from a friendly solider search Russia to find her brother and eventually escape to America.
Miri faces many hardships along the way, meeting people who will help her and people that want to hurt her all to find her brother and get her family safely out of Russia.
August 18, 2019
I'm usually knee-deep in WWII fiction, so to find a story related to WWI is an interesting departure for me. But the war is really just the backdrop for a story of two Jewish siblings who defy all the odds. She becomes a surgeon when there simply aren't any women surgeons in Russia, let alone Jewish women surgeons, and he is engaged in a race to beat Einstein to the final equations to prove relativity, and to keep them safe from an unscrupulous professor who wants to steal his work. With a healthy dose of history, adventure, and a very unlikely romance, this is a treat.
July 3, 2020
I received this book through giveaways. Was a good story but the pacing was rather slow till about the last 100 pages. The story focuses on the siblings struggle to solve relativity and get out of Russia but very little was actually focused on the first world war happening in the background to their story. The main four characters were mostly likeable, aspects of the end were sad not an entirely happy ending.
March 19, 2019
Won this book on Goodread. Excellent story and wonderful characters. Was hard to put down, so well written. Recommend this book.
June 1, 2019
A new voice in historical fiction, Rachel Barenbaum has chosen Russia in 1914 -- at the outset of WWI. The basic plot is two-fold: scientist Vanya's efforts to complete Einstein's theory of relativity so the family can move to America. He needs to complete the complex math and get a picture of a forthcoming solar eclipse (proving that light bends.) He is being chased by a Russian scientist trying to steal credit for his work. Meanwhile, his sister Miri is a rare gem, a woman surgeon, whose surgeon fiancé (Yuri) agrees to join the military for her promotion. Vanya and Yuri head to the eclipse while Miri saves the life of a soldier, Sasha, who himself is a complicated character, with skeletons in his closet. They head off to meet Vanya and Yuri at the eclipse. A compelling mix of history, science, the plight of Russian Jews plus a complicated love triangle, with treachery, friendship and love, and profit.
July 14, 2019
I will have to splurge and buy the book. The sample I downloaded was excellent.
November 21, 2022
Oh, I almost cried.
Well written, makes you feel cold.
Didnt enjoy the "romance" though, but, eh.
Well written, makes you feel cold.
Didnt enjoy the "romance" though, but, eh.
December 4, 2020
I read a tremendous amount of this genre. And there is a lot of this genre thats generated, year after year after year. Just how many World War Two books can a person read? Apparently, many! But what I have come to understand, is that they have to be extremely good at this point to compete. That, or maybe I am getting tired of it a little bit. This one was good. I enjoyed it. But extraordinary? Like 'wiping your eyes staying with you forever forever moved not to missed' good? Nope. If this is your genre, its worth reading.
This one is set in Russia and centers around three men and a woman, all Jews trying to survive the war intact and make it to America. A young female surgeon, her fiance another surgeon, but also secret pianist, her brother a world class scientist, and a Jewish resistance fighter on the run. The scientist knows the key to escape is his relativity equations and he is competing with Einstein to publish his theories, and all of this centers on a solar eclipse that is happening in two months, if they survive. Add in a grandmother, a ton of scientific bigwigs that want to take credit for Vanya's work, and will hunt down the family to find him. A Russian police tracker, and a guy some of them meet along with way, an illiterate wannabe scientist, who throughout the book, you don't know which side he is on. And for whom he will come through. The adventure works in pairs, and two at a time the adventure takes its shape, as everyone races inexorably towards the solar eclipse. It wasn't bad, it was a good book. I think however, I may need a break from this genre. And looking at my TBR - I'm just not likely to get one anytime soon.
This one is set in Russia and centers around three men and a woman, all Jews trying to survive the war intact and make it to America. A young female surgeon, her fiance another surgeon, but also secret pianist, her brother a world class scientist, and a Jewish resistance fighter on the run. The scientist knows the key to escape is his relativity equations and he is competing with Einstein to publish his theories, and all of this centers on a solar eclipse that is happening in two months, if they survive. Add in a grandmother, a ton of scientific bigwigs that want to take credit for Vanya's work, and will hunt down the family to find him. A Russian police tracker, and a guy some of them meet along with way, an illiterate wannabe scientist, who throughout the book, you don't know which side he is on. And for whom he will come through. The adventure works in pairs, and two at a time the adventure takes its shape, as everyone races inexorably towards the solar eclipse. It wasn't bad, it was a good book. I think however, I may need a break from this genre. And looking at my TBR - I'm just not likely to get one anytime soon.
August 17, 2021
Actually, this book merits 5 1/2 stars, but since the ratings only go to 5, I guess we'll have to leave it at that. Wow. Where to begin; the book chronicles a Russian scientist's quest to solve the theory of relativity before Einstein does. Along the way, we learn some of the struggles the Jews went through during the Great War (WW1). I am amazed that this is the author's first novel. The writing is that good. I won't go into detail about the book; if you're a fan of historical fiction, you should definitely read this one.
May 15, 2019
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This was a fascinating look at Russia just prior to the start of WWI. There’s A LOT going on in this story – an eclipse is coming which will help solve Einstein’s incomplete Theory of Relativity, the family is separated and supposed to meet back up in another part of Russia before trying to escape to America, there are soldiers and other people in pursuit of them all because they are Jewish, and there is a love triangle.
Overall, I liked the story even though it lacked a certain emotional connection throughout (for me). I kept reading thinking it would eventually find its rhythm, but it ended up eluding me up until the last 25% of the book. Then, it turned into a real page turner that I couldn’t put down! I had to see how this story ended!
I especially loved the trio of the babushka and her grandkids. They shared a special bond throughout and that strength proved itself in the end. What I think I sometimes forget is the stamina and resilience the people of WWI and WWII had to have to survive just another day and this book demonstrated that so well. When we live in America and live the lives we do, I think that’s easy to forget. These people weren’t just finding food to survive another day, but constantly strategizing ways to save their lives in the future as well.
At the end of the book, I would have appreciated an Author’s Note to understand which parts of this book were factual – all I could come up with was that the solar eclipse was real and the climate of Russia pre-WWI was similar. I still don’t know if Einsten really did ask for scientists to help him complete his theory or if that was just embellished for the story. Sometimes I just like to know how much of a historical fiction read is grounded in fact.
This was a fascinating look at Russia just prior to the start of WWI. There’s A LOT going on in this story – an eclipse is coming which will help solve Einstein’s incomplete Theory of Relativity, the family is separated and supposed to meet back up in another part of Russia before trying to escape to America, there are soldiers and other people in pursuit of them all because they are Jewish, and there is a love triangle.
Overall, I liked the story even though it lacked a certain emotional connection throughout (for me). I kept reading thinking it would eventually find its rhythm, but it ended up eluding me up until the last 25% of the book. Then, it turned into a real page turner that I couldn’t put down! I had to see how this story ended!
I especially loved the trio of the babushka and her grandkids. They shared a special bond throughout and that strength proved itself in the end. What I think I sometimes forget is the stamina and resilience the people of WWI and WWII had to have to survive just another day and this book demonstrated that so well. When we live in America and live the lives we do, I think that’s easy to forget. These people weren’t just finding food to survive another day, but constantly strategizing ways to save their lives in the future as well.
At the end of the book, I would have appreciated an Author’s Note to understand which parts of this book were factual – all I could come up with was that the solar eclipse was real and the climate of Russia pre-WWI was similar. I still don’t know if Einsten really did ask for scientists to help him complete his theory or if that was just embellished for the story. Sometimes I just like to know how much of a historical fiction read is grounded in fact.
October 17, 2024
4.5 stars
This book and story was so much more than I ever could have expected.
Sometimes I can struggle with historical fiction whether it be through the complexities of a plot, the influx of historical details and information, or the writing. That was not the case with this book. From the beginning, I found myself fully intrigued by this story.
Although fully heartbreaking, this novel also felt like a {soul crushing} suspenseful adventure which made it so hard to put down. That final quarter of the book...no. I didn't want to put it down at all. Not. At. All.
There was one element to this story that I questioned because it truly is one of my least favourite things to have included in a book but I understand the importance and necessity of it in this story. By the end, I was as supportive of it being included in this story as I ever will be. In fact, as if there wasn't already multiple moments nearing the end that hurt my heart, there was one moment that caught me by surprise and almost had me tearing up.
This is an incredible book that will proudly have a spot on my bookshelves. It's one of those important reads that should be picked up multiple times and act as a reminder of what was and what could be.
***I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
This book and story was so much more than I ever could have expected.
Sometimes I can struggle with historical fiction whether it be through the complexities of a plot, the influx of historical details and information, or the writing. That was not the case with this book. From the beginning, I found myself fully intrigued by this story.
Although fully heartbreaking, this novel also felt like a {soul crushing} suspenseful adventure which made it so hard to put down. That final quarter of the book...no. I didn't want to put it down at all. Not. At. All.
There was one element to this story that I questioned because it truly is one of my least favourite things to have included in a book but I understand the importance and necessity of it in this story. By the end, I was as supportive of it being included in this story as I ever will be. In fact, as if there wasn't already multiple moments nearing the end that hurt my heart, there was one moment that caught me by surprise and almost had me tearing up.
This is an incredible book that will proudly have a spot on my bookshelves. It's one of those important reads that should be picked up multiple times and act as a reminder of what was and what could be.
***I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
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