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mariandiepb's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
moomin333's review
5.0
Cannot wait to read more from Nova Jacobs! I loved this book and it played out like a movie in my head - a cross between Proof, Royal Tenenbaums, and The Big Lebowski. Don't ask me how they all fit together, but that's what was running through my mind when I was reading. I actually enjoyed the different subplots within the family, whereas I usually find them tedious.
I enjoyed the mathematics and story. Have already recommended to several friends.
I enjoyed the mathematics and story. Have already recommended to several friends.
karenavila85's review
2.0
The Last Equation of Isaac Severy felt it was more about the family than finding his mysterious equation. I originally picked up this book because I thought it would follow the footsteps of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code where Hazel, the main protagonist would jump through hoops in solving riddles or finding clues that would lead to her grandfather's equation. Sadly, it is not so. The equation only plays a minor role but focuses on the troubles of Isaac's family while going through their own personal problems. It is very slow-paced with too many characters to keep up with, leaving you unsatisfied as you reached the ending.
notesonbookmarks's review
4.0
I just absolutely enjoyed this mathematical adventure and mystery. Family drama ensues after the untimely death of the patriarch Isaac Severy, father to three, grandfather to many, and mathematican extraordinaire. He leaves clues to the mathematical equation of his life's work with his foster granddaughter Hazel, who is decidedly bookish instead of numbers-brained like her adoptive siblings. As Hazel struggles with the loss of her grandfather, the impending loss of her bookstore at home, AND being dumped by her lousy boyfriend, she also needs to piece together clues, attempting to beat the others also seeking out Isaac's equation, and we are along for the ride. This is an exciting and fun debut novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
eroof514's review
3.0
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. There were some parts of this book I liked and others that I didn't. The whole idea of a mystery surrounding an equation sounded fun and I was excited to see what would happen. The equation part of the book and what it showed seemed really far fetched. Some of the characters were pretty awful people! My favorite storyline in the book was Gregorys and the mystery surrounding his actions which didn't really fit well with the main story. The writing was good and the author shows promise, but I really felt kind of meh about the whole thing. If you like the mystery genre than this one might be for you.
brittany_tellefsen's review
3.0
After famed mathematician Isaac Severy dies by apparent suicide, his family converges to mourn is loss.
Among them, is Hazel, who was Isaac's adopted granddaughter. She received a cryptic message from Isaac, making claims that a pivotal equation of his was being sought by dangerous people, and that she needed to find his work, deliver it to one specific person, and then destroy the rest. But as she is one of the only people not mathematically inclined in the family, she has a problem solving the puzzling clues left for her.
But soon realizes she is not the only one desperate to find Isaac's work, and if his work were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be catastrophic so she is determined to unravel the mystery he left behind.
Also involved are follow various other members of Isaac's family and we learn of their role within the story and in mystery that Hazel is trying to solve.
This was one of the very first books I ever ordered from Book of the Month and, as I am trying to cull down the oldest books on my physical TBR, it was time to tackle this one. Sadly, I didn't find it to live up to the expectations I'd set for it.
I would like to insert the caveat that I found the concept of this story to be very clever and it had quite a bit of potential. The execution; however, left a lot to be desired in my opinion, which is why this is only garnering a three stars from me.
This story fell into the same trap that many books I rate three stars do: It tried to fit too much in too few pages, there was very little character development and it was told in third-person omniscient, which only ensures you will not be able to connect to the characters or care about their fate.
Since this is ultimately the story of the Severy family, we are meeting them all but directly following four: Hazel, her brother Gregory, their uncle Phillip (Isaac's son), and Alexis, another of Isaac's grandchildren.
We follow their individual stories and exactly how they are connected to the secretive equation that Hazel is trying to locate.
As you can imagine, there were quite a few characters throughout this book we had to keep straight. Even if we were not given a direct perspective of them, they were still mentioned and we had to keep their relations overall. Because there were so many people involved, not to mention the short nature of the book, it was impossible to truly know and connect to any of them. which made it difficult to tether myself to the story.
Additionally, it could sometimes be hard to follow the overall plot, as many of the storylines woven throughout one another in one form or another, not to mention all of the mathematical language involved.
Ultimately, this had a great deal of potential, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. I can almost guarantee I will never think about this book again, nor will I remember anything about it after a length of time has passed. It seems yet another book doomed to be abandoned in the catacombs of lost memory.
Among them, is Hazel, who was Isaac's adopted granddaughter. She received a cryptic message from Isaac, making claims that a pivotal equation of his was being sought by dangerous people, and that she needed to find his work, deliver it to one specific person, and then destroy the rest. But as she is one of the only people not mathematically inclined in the family, she has a problem solving the puzzling clues left for her.
But soon realizes she is not the only one desperate to find Isaac's work, and if his work were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be catastrophic so she is determined to unravel the mystery he left behind.
Also involved are follow various other members of Isaac's family and we learn of their role within the story and in mystery that Hazel is trying to solve.
This was one of the very first books I ever ordered from Book of the Month and, as I am trying to cull down the oldest books on my physical TBR, it was time to tackle this one. Sadly, I didn't find it to live up to the expectations I'd set for it.
I would like to insert the caveat that I found the concept of this story to be very clever and it had quite a bit of potential. The execution; however, left a lot to be desired in my opinion, which is why this is only garnering a three stars from me.
This story fell into the same trap that many books I rate three stars do: It tried to fit too much in too few pages, there was very little character development and it was told in third-person omniscient, which only ensures you will not be able to connect to the characters or care about their fate.
Since this is ultimately the story of the Severy family, we are meeting them all but directly following four: Hazel, her brother Gregory, their uncle Phillip (Isaac's son), and Alexis, another of Isaac's grandchildren.
We follow their individual stories and exactly how they are connected to the secretive equation that Hazel is trying to locate.
As you can imagine, there were quite a few characters throughout this book we had to keep straight. Even if we were not given a direct perspective of them, they were still mentioned and we had to keep their relations overall. Because there were so many people involved, not to mention the short nature of the book, it was impossible to truly know and connect to any of them. which made it difficult to tether myself to the story.
Additionally, it could sometimes be hard to follow the overall plot, as many of the storylines woven throughout one another in one form or another, not to mention all of the mathematical language involved.
Ultimately, this had a great deal of potential, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. I can almost guarantee I will never think about this book again, nor will I remember anything about it after a length of time has passed. It seems yet another book doomed to be abandoned in the catacombs of lost memory.
minty's review against another edition
3.0
Really this is 2.5 stars. I was SO into this book for about the first half--I was won over early on with mention of Ellen Raskin, and the math + mystery were right up my alley. But the story's plotting faltered toward the denouement, with some leaps that seemed a bit out of nowhere. In the end I was left a bit disappointed.
Also I agree with my friend Erin that there were too many characters to keep track of. I listened to the audiobook and was always guessing if someone was a cousin, aunt, or sibling to whoever else was in the scene.
Also I agree with my friend Erin that there were too many characters to keep track of. I listened to the audiobook and was always guessing if someone was a cousin, aunt, or sibling to whoever else was in the scene.
Spoiler
And how did she not possibly guess the meaning of the two dots with the same date and time? She solved the puzzle of the typewritten letter, which was complicated, but did not realize that one immediately!? It was so obvious!tarabethidaho's review
5.0
“The Last Equation of Isaac Severy” was so captivating I had to stay up late to finish it! Unpredictable, expertly crafted, perfectly balanced. Nothing at all like any of the other best-selling mysteries I’ve read lately — which is a good thing.