aimeesblog's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
4.0
A bit too depressing for me right now. Good writing
jalba18's review against another edition
4.0
I am not always into historical type fiction but I really enjoyed this book. It made me immediately want to look up what parts were fact and fictional. It held intellectual interest with the content and history but also an emotional interest with the character descriptions and story. I did not expect to like it as much as I did based on my usual preferences and I was pleasantly surprised.
msnyderk's review against another edition
3.0
I think my rating falls at 3 1/2 stars. I was intrigued by the premise of this book and by the end I was wanting so much more for Mileva and women of her time. I think where I'm feeling the lack in the story is the length of under 300 pages. I feel like it only delved so deep. Yes, I know it's fiction but in some ways I don't feel like it got to deep into any part of their lives. Another chapter would happen and that would be a new time period. Overall, I liked the book.
nancydream's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not based on the life of Einstein but it was based on the authors thoughts. "You and I aren't so different except in the choices we've made. And remind yourself that a new choice is always possible. "
justjoel's review against another edition
2.0
The Other Einstein is a fictionalized account of the relationship between Mitza Maric and Albert Einstein. A brilliant mathematician and scientist, Mitza turned away from a promising future to become the first Mrs. Albert Einstein.
I read this to fulfill the prompt of “ A novel based on a real person “ for the 2018 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge.
While Mitza was a real person, and many of the pivotal events in the novel are based on actual events, a lot is supposition and speculation. These events—even the entirely fictionalized ones—are what makes the book special. But there are far more things that detract from it.
The romance and the way the author chose to tell it were BORING. Literally, you could take any tale of a woman conflicted between a man and a career and insert the names of famous people as the characters and the result would be the bulk of this book.
I really wanted to like this more. I wanted to feel more for this woman that was overshadowed by her spouse due to cultural expectations (not entirely uncommon even now, over a century later). Instead I felt she consistently made bad choices, and I constantly wanted to ask, “Well, what did you THINK would happen?”
Overall, I found it disappointing and lacking. It was a generic doomed romance with the names of famous people attached. That’s all.
2 out of 5 stars.
I read this to fulfill the prompt of “ A novel based on a real person “ for the 2018 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge.
While Mitza was a real person, and many of the pivotal events in the novel are based on actual events, a lot is supposition and speculation. These events—even the entirely fictionalized ones—are what makes the book special. But there are far more things that detract from it.
The romance and the way the author chose to tell it were BORING. Literally, you could take any tale of a woman conflicted between a man and a career and insert the names of famous people as the characters and the result would be the bulk of this book.
I really wanted to like this more. I wanted to feel more for this woman that was overshadowed by her spouse due to cultural expectations (not entirely uncommon even now, over a century later). Instead I felt she consistently made bad choices, and I constantly wanted to ask, “Well, what did you THINK would happen?”
Overall, I found it disappointing and lacking. It was a generic doomed romance with the names of famous people attached. That’s all.
2 out of 5 stars.
read_with_pinot's review against another edition
2.0
The writing was pretty straightforward which made for an easy and an engaging story initially but I lost interest as Mileva gave up more and more of herself while Einstein treated her with less and less regard and respect. I don’t think the reasons for this were well-explained given how Mileva was initially portrayed - her strong sense of self, desires, ambitions and support from her father to live a different kind of life.
I had no issue with historical accuracy - this is a fictionalised account of Mileva’s life - I don’t read historical fiction for facts.
I had no issue with historical accuracy - this is a fictionalised account of Mileva’s life - I don’t read historical fiction for facts.
ravit's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The book is based on a very lean historical basis. The vast of it is fictional and historically inaccurate, to say the least. I don't understand why using real figures in such a case. Clearly, in our bookclub group certain members took the fictional events as real. I dont blame them, it can be very confusing. In addition the fictional story is very simplistic, an always good carachter vs. an always nasty carachter. Life is more complicated than that.
spinningwheeler's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed reading this book, but I am left wonder what is actually true. The author’s constant speculation and what-if, as indicated in the author’s note hardly qualifies this for true historical fiction.
jenleah's review against another edition
3.0
I know that this is a work of fiction based on actual people. My biggest criticism is that it isn't based on verified events. I know nothing substantial about Albert Einstein, so perhaps the portrayal of him was accurate. Perhaps he's a horrible man who stole his wife's work, never met their first child, and was generally a terrible human. Certainly Mileva faced tremendous battles. Being a woman during that time would have been so maddening. I just would have liked a more accurate? researched? less speculative?portrayal of their relationship.
madhatter360's review against another edition
4.0
Berta Fanta, mentioned in chapter 33 (pg 233 of my edition) was my great-great grandmother.