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bookiesanta's review
2.0
Collection of short stories which are connected by a few characters and not much in the way of similar themes, except for maybe "scientists are a**holes too"? I needed more than that.
sci_mom's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading the stories in this book, right up until the last one. The way this author used the characters to demonstrate the evolution of scientific thought in different time periods was wonderful. In describing females in science, she captured the essence of the struggle of women to be taken seriously in a male-dominated field at that time. Overall, I was very pleased. Unfortunately, I did not care for the final story. Maybe I missed the point, or the symbolism, or something, but I simply did not understand how it tied in at all. It was the least compelling narrative, by far, and that made the fact that it ended there even more upsetting. I considered giving it 3 stars for that reason, but that would be doing a disservice to the rest of the book.
disreputabledog's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
snowmaiden's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this collection of five interlinked stories. They are linked in two ways: first, each has something to do with scientific discovery, and second, some of the characters overlap from story to story. However, since Barrett has not presented the stories in chronological order, the relationships between characters can be surprising. The grizzled old scientist in one story just might turn out be the bouncing baby boy in the next!
Barrett has a very light touch and manages to describe a whole host of scientific concepts without ever lapsing into jargon. As long as the reader is interested in science, he or she will find much of interest here.
When I first picked up this book, I was wondering why a title like Archangel was chosen for such a scientific work. As it turns out, there are two reasons. The first is the epigraph by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the second is the setting of the final story in the collection-- the Archangel province of Russia.
I'm very glad I was able to win an advance reading copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway, and I hope some of my friends will take a look at it when it comes out in August.
Barrett has a very light touch and manages to describe a whole host of scientific concepts without ever lapsing into jargon. As long as the reader is interested in science, he or she will find much of interest here.
When I first picked up this book, I was wondering why a title like Archangel was chosen for such a scientific work. As it turns out, there are two reasons. The first is the epigraph by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the second is the setting of the final story in the collection-- the Archangel province of Russia.
I'm very glad I was able to win an advance reading copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway, and I hope some of my friends will take a look at it when it comes out in August.
knitter22's review against another edition
4.0
I can't think of any author that can write about science and the people involved with science in such a compelling way as Andrea Barrett, and Archangel is a stunning example of her abilities. In this group of five interconnected stories, she writes about early aviation, Darwin's theory of evolution, Einstein's theory of relativity, genetics research, and early x-ray technology. This is historical fiction, and the scientific pioneers are either named or easily recognizable, but Barrett writes so well that these real scientists never overtake the fictional characters she has created.
The interconnectedness of the stories is truly original. The young boy, Constantine Boyd, in the first story, "The Investigators", returns as a grown man and soldier in World War I in the last story, "Archangel". In "The Investigators", Constantine comes to know a neighbor named Miss Atkins who is interested in blind cave fish. Henrietta Atkins returns as a student and teacher in "The Island" where she comes to understand Darwin's theory of evolution from The Professor (Louis Agassiz, although he is not named in the story), but her understanding is quite different from what he is trying to teach. "The Ether of Science" deals with widowed science writer Phoebe Cornelius trying to reconcile what she knows and feels with the ideas of Sir Oliver Lodge. Phoebe's son, Sam, accompanies her to a lecture given by Lodge, one where she is just baffled and confused, but Sam understands what is going on very well, and writes a paper that amazes his mother. This scene has some of the best writing I have ever read about science, humans, emotion, and the reconciliation of science and spirituality. Sam later appears in "The Particles" as a geneticist aboard the Athenia, a British ship sunk by the Nazis in World War II.
I've most likely made this seem more jumbled and confused than Barrett's exceptional writing in Archangel really is, but these stories are all clear, direct, and simply beautiful. I listened to this as an audiobook, and while this was a fine way to experience the book, I will definitely be rereading this in print, so as to not miss any details and for the real pleasure of reading stories so beautifully written.
The interconnectedness of the stories is truly original. The young boy, Constantine Boyd, in the first story, "The Investigators", returns as a grown man and soldier in World War I in the last story, "Archangel". In "The Investigators", Constantine comes to know a neighbor named Miss Atkins who is interested in blind cave fish. Henrietta Atkins returns as a student and teacher in "The Island" where she comes to understand Darwin's theory of evolution from The Professor (Louis Agassiz, although he is not named in the story), but her understanding is quite different from what he is trying to teach. "The Ether of Science" deals with widowed science writer Phoebe Cornelius trying to reconcile what she knows and feels with the ideas of Sir Oliver Lodge. Phoebe's son, Sam, accompanies her to a lecture given by Lodge, one where she is just baffled and confused, but Sam understands what is going on very well, and writes a paper that amazes his mother. This scene has some of the best writing I have ever read about science, humans, emotion, and the reconciliation of science and spirituality. Sam later appears in "The Particles" as a geneticist aboard the Athenia, a British ship sunk by the Nazis in World War II.
I've most likely made this seem more jumbled and confused than Barrett's exceptional writing in Archangel really is, but these stories are all clear, direct, and simply beautiful. I listened to this as an audiobook, and while this was a fine way to experience the book, I will definitely be rereading this in print, so as to not miss any details and for the real pleasure of reading stories so beautifully written.
jenaemn's review against another edition
3.0
I tend not to like short stories very much. Once I start to care about the characters and get into the story, it is over and on to a new one. I liked that these stories were loosely linked to one another and I really like Andrea Barrett's style. I was just so-so about the book as a whole - mostly because of my frustration with short stories.
adammck's review
4.0
A thoughtful collection of stories that demands - and rewards - the reader's patience. Barrett returns repeatedly and poignantly to the theme of great thinkers on the wrong side of science + history - men soon to be left behind by the likes of Einstein and Darwin. Barrett drops enough science to make the layman occasionally scratch his lay-head - and I'm certain I missed a few references here and there - but it never threatens to collapse under its own weight. I don't think I've ever read short stories quite like them. This was my first brush with Barrett. I look forward to the next.
The first story is the weakest of the five, so don't be put off.
**I received this book via a Goodreads giveaway**
The first story is the weakest of the five, so don't be put off.
**I received this book via a Goodreads giveaway**
mimii's review
2.0
Just couldn’t enjoy this book. Some of the writing was well done, and some of the characters had the potential, but the stories just didn’t engage me.
sar0503's review
3.0
It was an intelligent read and I enjoyed it, however, it is not for everyone to pick up and read.
cchu1215's review
4.0
I was excited to win this giveaway - I have been an enthusiastic reader of Ms. Barrett's work since Ship Fever. This collection of stories did not disappoint. I admire the characters that she creates with their intellectual curiosity, passion for science, and keen observations, as well as the vivid historical background surrounding the characters.