The Theory of Everything by Lisa Grunwald - ★★★

[John]

Einstein never did determine his hoped-for theory of everything, a theoretical model for explaining all physical phenomena in the universe. As a young child, especially, after his mother abandoned his father and him, the novel's protagonist, Alexander Simon, has been fascinated with numbers and later as a young physicist, determining the theory of everything. It was, as if, Alexander was trying to establish order from chaos. When he finally determines it, rather than basking in his fame and glory, he becomes despondent. Although passionate with his live-in girlfriend, Linda, she resents that he is unable to be intimate with her. When his mother re-emerges in his life, Alexander turns to the metaphysical, e.g., palmistry and horoscopes, to determine the meaning of life.

I picked up this book on a recommendation, after reading and enjoying Time After Time, which was published almost thirty years later. I enjoyed the later book much better for its unique story. The protagonist in the current book reminds me of the Carly Simon lesser-known songs, "Floundering." The characters were well developed; however, I found myself caring little for many of them.