silverjennydollar's review
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? No
4.25
emmashutup's review
Samantha Hunt is a skilled writer, but something about her version of Tesla didn’t click with me. Maybe I just don’t care about the finer points of electrical inventions.
carolynf's review
4.0
An interesting work of historical fiction featuring Nicoli Tesla, plus a little Mark Twain. The fantasy aspects were much more minor than I had hoped, but still good.
baronessekat's review against another edition
I gave it a shot. But when I found myself actively finding other things to do other than listening to this book, and when I did listen, I had to constantly rewind because I found my mind wandering, I realized it just wasn't going to happen.
Which is a shame, as it sounded interesting. Tesla and a friendship he had in the last bit of his life.
I can't say what it was that didn't draw me in, if it was the writing, the reading, the story, or just my frame of mind. But sometimes you just have to give up on something. And sadly , this was one of those times.
Which is a shame, as it sounded interesting. Tesla and a friendship he had in the last bit of his life.
I can't say what it was that didn't draw me in, if it was the writing, the reading, the story, or just my frame of mind. But sometimes you just have to give up on something. And sadly , this was one of those times.
hashtag_alison's review
4.0
This was a lovely, magical read. In that it incorporated elements of magical realism to complement the legendary aura which makes Tesla such a fascinating subject for a novel to begin with. It was a nice, unexpected touch for a historical novel about a scientist.
I also liked it because it didn’t fall into the trap that stories with multiple protagonists fall into where it gets too crowded. Too many books with multiple viewpoints stretch themselves too far and fail to make any of them relatable or sympathetic. Didn’t happen here, and I appreciate that. Maybe that’s just bad writing and has nothing to do with the number of perspectives, but that’s where I notice it most.
I really liked Louisa’s character. As a total mess of a human being, there aren’t many female characters I’ve come across that I relate to as much as her.
Definitely recommend this book.
I also liked it because it didn’t fall into the trap that stories with multiple protagonists fall into where it gets too crowded. Too many books with multiple viewpoints stretch themselves too far and fail to make any of them relatable or sympathetic. Didn’t happen here, and I appreciate that. Maybe that’s just bad writing and has nothing to do with the number of perspectives, but that’s where I notice it most.
I really liked Louisa’s character. As a total mess of a human being, there aren’t many female characters I’ve come across that I relate to as much as her.
Definitely recommend this book.
marianatole's review
3.0
Copy and pasted conversational thoughts: I have been trying to decide how exactly I feel about it! it was well written (its prose was lovely, and for the most part, the organization and narrative were very good too) and had beautiful ideas but it wasn't as full-bodied as I needed them to be (if that makes sense) in order for me to really like/savor the book and to recommend it to others. usually I give a book four stars if I would read it again or would recommend it to someone else, and this didn't quite make the cut. it was close though! ultimately I would say it's Not Exactly Meh, it has its moments, but there wasn't too great an impact left on me, personally. I can see where and how it's a well constructed piece of prose though and how that makes it Good, but something was just missing for me...
kristennd's review
4.0
Sweet and imaginative. A little more fantastical than I usually go for, but the characters were incredibly charming. She also just phrases things nicely, especially romance.
jasonfurman's review
5.0
Tells the story of Tesla's last years in New York, outstanding, imaginative.
iammandyellen's review
3.0
"Even when I was a boy, thoughts I had, naughty at times and green, lasted only such a short while, but if, rather than act on them, I could instead tie them up, bind them inside so that only the very tip protruded enough to keep me tempted and in pain, then, I thought, I could be a great inventor. There was a joy to my torture."
who dares to say that Louisa understands the connection between love and invention better than Tesla in Hunt's novel! rubbish!
(found this quote from the novel scratched on a bit of paper under which i had later written the word "velleity" and its definition. coincidence...?)
who dares to say that Louisa understands the connection between love and invention better than Tesla in Hunt's novel! rubbish!
(found this quote from the novel scratched on a bit of paper under which i had later written the word "velleity" and its definition. coincidence...?)
magdon's review
3.0
A strange beautiful story of a chambermaid who befriends the inventor Nikola Tesla in his final years. A good blend of the facts of Tesla's life with the fiction of hers.