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justacatandabook's review
3.0
Twelve-year-old Ethan is a bright boy, who loves physics and science. His mom, Claire, loves him with a fierceness that she can barely fathom sometimes. It's just Ethan and Claire living happily together in Sydney. However, a sudden accident forces Claire to confront her past, especially what happened with Ethan's father, Mark. At the same time, Ethan must deal with his own emotions about his absent father.
Hayes' book is well-written, with strongly developed, complicated characters who jump off the page. It's a small cast of characters: Ethan, Mark, Claire, and a few others. I fell immediately for Ethan, who is lovable, sweet, and slightly nerdy. Claire and Mark are slightly more problematic. Mark especially is a very difficult character with whom it is hard to sympathize. Hayes does an excellent job of unfurling her plot in such a way that the reader is as perplexed as the characters. The storyline is tense and runs the gamut of emotions.
The book revolves a lot around science. While much of the storyline uses science and physics to its advantage--for instance, I found the idea of genetic memory fascinating--at times, I also found my eyes glazing over at the scientific passages. Sometimes the science overshadowed the actual plot. Still, overall this is a sharp, well-written novel with in-depth characters. A strong 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!); it is available everywhere on 5/3/2016.
Hayes' book is well-written, with strongly developed, complicated characters who jump off the page. It's a small cast of characters: Ethan, Mark, Claire, and a few others. I fell immediately for Ethan, who is lovable, sweet, and slightly nerdy. Claire and Mark are slightly more problematic. Mark especially is a very difficult character with whom it is hard to sympathize. Hayes does an excellent job of unfurling her plot in such a way that the reader is as perplexed as the characters. The storyline is tense and runs the gamut of emotions.
The book revolves a lot around science. While much of the storyline uses science and physics to its advantage--for instance, I found the idea of genetic memory fascinating--at times, I also found my eyes glazing over at the scientific passages. Sometimes the science overshadowed the actual plot. Still, overall this is a sharp, well-written novel with in-depth characters. A strong 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!); it is available everywhere on 5/3/2016.
penny_literaryhoarders's review
4.0
I was captivated by this story. There was something very uplifting about it - this is the first book in a group of 5 for a Simon & Schuster Canada blog tour. A full review will be written for the LH site for mid-June.
queenbeemimi's review
3.0
The writing was good and the character of Ethan had an authentically confused tone for a young boy at the mercy of elements beyond his control. Honestly, if I could give this a 2.5, I would. I'm not sure what the point of it was supposed to be, because it presented several conflicting narratives-- which I guess makes it realistic, although not in a particularly nuanced way. Part scientific and judicial breakdown of shaken baby syndrome, part sprawling family epic, part coming-of-age story, it feels disjointed and was difficult to invest in.
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review
5.0
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Relativity is a gem! Ethan is an amazing tween, smart, open-minded and extremely attaching. His story is complicated, and filled with equal measures of heartache and hope.
I didn't really know what to expect when I started Relativity, such a strong, heart-wrenching story was not it, though. That's what I got - Ethan was such a great main character to follow. He's young, but very wise, and so smart! Some of the things he talked about went way over my head, but I still never felt stupid. Since he was a baby, Ethan has lived with his mom, Claire, and they have done really well for themselves. Even with Ethan's problems - which in many ways won't really be problems once he becomes an adult - Ethan and Claire managed to have a great relationship, and Ethan did really well in school. In the back of his mind, however, Ethan has been wondering who his father is, and why he isn't a part of their lives.
As the story unfolds, Relativity shows the many layers of the characters, and also how there is always more than one side to each story. I was also struck by how a good person can definitely do a very bad thing, and thus not only have their own life completely changed, but the lives of those around them as well. There is also a very strong sense of all actions having some kind of consequence - and sometimes, those consequences are very hard to live with.
The characters really drove the story in Relativity, Claire, Mark and Ethan all have their specific personalities, and their voice was very different. I loved that they each had chapters where their perspective was shared, because it gave a lot of insight into how they dealt with life in general, and their problems in particular. The storyline itself felt very realistic to me, and there are some truly heart-breaking moments - for all three of the characters, but in different places and for various reasons.
The writing is really good, and I enjoyed the science parts - even the ones that were a bit difficult for me to grasp - and especially the conversations between Ethan and Mark, or between Ethan and Allison when he tried to explain wormholes to her with his perfect science-speak. The whole story unfolds in third person past tense, and the narrator is omniscient, even as each of the three main characters have their own chapters. Relativity captivated my mind and my heart from start to finish, and the road was beautiful, even with the difficult turns it sometimes took.
"Mum, do you think they ever miss me?" "Who?" "The other eggs. My brothers and sisters inside your ovaries. So far, I'm the only one who's successfully made it out." "Oh," she said. "Well the other eggs would all be your sisters. Only men have the Y chromosome that makes baby boys. At the moment, all the eggs are girls."
She loved her son in unexpected ways, with the same sort of visceral obsession that one might have for the idiosyncrasies of a lover. Claire loved his physicality - the way Ethan laughed so hard he farted, how he picked at the dry scabs on his knees, the weight of his musty head resting on her shoulder as they sat together on buses or trains. She enjoyed that silent intimacy most of all.
Time had stopped. It was an ordinary pocket watch: pale gold with a white face, a halo of black roman numerals around its edge. But the enamel of the dial had browned, the golden casing was coated in orange rust. Gears and shifts had frozen; there was no tick to follow the tock. No hand heaving forward, shaving another second off the future. Ethan pushed his nose against the glass. Time had stopped at seventeen minutes past eight.
Relativity is a gem! Ethan is an amazing tween, smart, open-minded and extremely attaching. His story is complicated, and filled with equal measures of heartache and hope.
I didn't really know what to expect when I started Relativity, such a strong, heart-wrenching story was not it, though. That's what I got - Ethan was such a great main character to follow. He's young, but very wise, and so smart! Some of the things he talked about went way over my head, but I still never felt stupid. Since he was a baby, Ethan has lived with his mom, Claire, and they have done really well for themselves. Even with Ethan's problems - which in many ways won't really be problems once he becomes an adult - Ethan and Claire managed to have a great relationship, and Ethan did really well in school. In the back of his mind, however, Ethan has been wondering who his father is, and why he isn't a part of their lives.
As the story unfolds, Relativity shows the many layers of the characters, and also how there is always more than one side to each story. I was also struck by how a good person can definitely do a very bad thing, and thus not only have their own life completely changed, but the lives of those around them as well. There is also a very strong sense of all actions having some kind of consequence - and sometimes, those consequences are very hard to live with.
The characters really drove the story in Relativity, Claire, Mark and Ethan all have their specific personalities, and their voice was very different. I loved that they each had chapters where their perspective was shared, because it gave a lot of insight into how they dealt with life in general, and their problems in particular. The storyline itself felt very realistic to me, and there are some truly heart-breaking moments - for all three of the characters, but in different places and for various reasons.
The writing is really good, and I enjoyed the science parts - even the ones that were a bit difficult for me to grasp - and especially the conversations between Ethan and Mark, or between Ethan and Allison when he tried to explain wormholes to her with his perfect science-speak. The whole story unfolds in third person past tense, and the narrator is omniscient, even as each of the three main characters have their own chapters. Relativity captivated my mind and my heart from start to finish, and the road was beautiful, even with the difficult turns it sometimes took.
"Mum, do you think they ever miss me?" "Who?" "The other eggs. My brothers and sisters inside your ovaries. So far, I'm the only one who's successfully made it out." "Oh," she said. "Well the other eggs would all be your sisters. Only men have the Y chromosome that makes baby boys. At the moment, all the eggs are girls."
She loved her son in unexpected ways, with the same sort of visceral obsession that one might have for the idiosyncrasies of a lover. Claire loved his physicality - the way Ethan laughed so hard he farted, how he picked at the dry scabs on his knees, the weight of his musty head resting on her shoulder as they sat together on buses or trains. She enjoyed that silent intimacy most of all.
Time had stopped. It was an ordinary pocket watch: pale gold with a white face, a halo of black roman numerals around its edge. But the enamel of the dial had browned, the golden casing was coated in orange rust. Gears and shifts had frozen; there was no tick to follow the tock. No hand heaving forward, shaving another second off the future. Ethan pushed his nose against the glass. Time had stopped at seventeen minutes past eight.
itsallaboutthebooksuk's review
4.0
Relativity is a raw and emotional story, it’s a story about love, trust, hope and relationships and touches on a very difficult subject matter which the author has done brilliantly.
I fell in love with Ethan, a wonderfully clever 12 year old who loves physics and astronomy and due to this love he uses his knowledge to see the world and the changes within himself. His mum Claire is very protective and throughout the story we find out why.
I liked the way the main protagonist is Ethan but we also read in present time through Claire and Mark, Ethan’s Mum and Dad. We also get flashbacks to before and after Ethan is born and I think this added an extra element to the story.
Raltivity is a story that needs to be read, it’s a story that needs time and full commitment. It’s not a story you could pick up and put down at the drop of a hat. It draws you in and makes you feel so invested in the characters that if you do have to stop reading you think about them and the story until you get back to read again. A beautiful heartwarming and heartbreaking novel.
I fell in love with Ethan, a wonderfully clever 12 year old who loves physics and astronomy and due to this love he uses his knowledge to see the world and the changes within himself. His mum Claire is very protective and throughout the story we find out why.
I liked the way the main protagonist is Ethan but we also read in present time through Claire and Mark, Ethan’s Mum and Dad. We also get flashbacks to before and after Ethan is born and I think this added an extra element to the story.
Raltivity is a story that needs to be read, it’s a story that needs time and full commitment. It’s not a story you could pick up and put down at the drop of a hat. It draws you in and makes you feel so invested in the characters that if you do have to stop reading you think about them and the story until you get back to read again. A beautiful heartwarming and heartbreaking novel.
cupofbooksreviews's review
5.0
This book is about a twelve year old boy called Ethan, who is exceptionally gifted and very passionate about physics and astronomy. He lives in Australia with his single mother, Claire, who gave up her dreams of becoming a ballerina when she was younger. She completely adores Ethan and tries to protect him from everything. Especially from finding out the truth about his father, who he doesn’t know anything about …not even his name. That is until Ethan discovers a letter from his father.
Ethan is very different than the other children, but he doesn’t understand why that is until a serious matter happens at his school which causes him to have a seizure. Whilst Ethan is recovering in hospital, the doctor who is seen to him recognises his patient and reveals the reason for his seizure, which is due to Ethan’s brain injury he received when he was a baby. Now this secret has been revealed, it’s time for his mum to come clean about everything that she thought she had been protecting Ethan from knowing; about his father and how he had sustained a brain injury when he was only a few months old.
From the very first page of Relativity I was engrossed. This book had my uttermost undivided attention (unless I was sleeping or working). I didn’t want to miss a word on each page. Hayes has written a very beautiful and powerful novel, that touches on a serious issue in our would, called Shaken Baby Syndrome. It has been written in such a delicate way that it doesn’t feel overwhelming when reading about the main subject of the book.
I really enjoyed learning about the different personalities of the characters; Ethan, Mark and Claire. Reading how similar Ethan and Mark are and knowing that there’s already a strong bond between them about physics, even though they are just getting to know each other now, made me long for this family to be whole again.
I never really took an interest in Physics when I was at school, but reading about it in this book blew my mind. Especially the way Hayes interpreted science and wrote about it in an incredible way to make the audience understand. Yes, some scientific words flew over my head but I feel like I’ve learnt more about physics in Relativity than I ever did when I was at school.
A beautifully written debut novel by Antonia Hayes, that teaches you that although you may not be able to change the past, you can learn from it and make the most of what the future holds.
I look forward to reading more of her books in the future and most definitely recommend this book to all of you!
Ethan is very different than the other children, but he doesn’t understand why that is until a serious matter happens at his school which causes him to have a seizure. Whilst Ethan is recovering in hospital, the doctor who is seen to him recognises his patient and reveals the reason for his seizure, which is due to Ethan’s brain injury he received when he was a baby. Now this secret has been revealed, it’s time for his mum to come clean about everything that she thought she had been protecting Ethan from knowing; about his father and how he had sustained a brain injury when he was only a few months old.
From the very first page of Relativity I was engrossed. This book had my uttermost undivided attention (unless I was sleeping or working). I didn’t want to miss a word on each page. Hayes has written a very beautiful and powerful novel, that touches on a serious issue in our would, called Shaken Baby Syndrome. It has been written in such a delicate way that it doesn’t feel overwhelming when reading about the main subject of the book.
I really enjoyed learning about the different personalities of the characters; Ethan, Mark and Claire. Reading how similar Ethan and Mark are and knowing that there’s already a strong bond between them about physics, even though they are just getting to know each other now, made me long for this family to be whole again.
I never really took an interest in Physics when I was at school, but reading about it in this book blew my mind. Especially the way Hayes interpreted science and wrote about it in an incredible way to make the audience understand. Yes, some scientific words flew over my head but I feel like I’ve learnt more about physics in Relativity than I ever did when I was at school.
A beautifully written debut novel by Antonia Hayes, that teaches you that although you may not be able to change the past, you can learn from it and make the most of what the future holds.
I look forward to reading more of her books in the future and most definitely recommend this book to all of you!
leahmichelle_13's review
5.0
Relativity was a book I wasn't 100% sure was my cup of tea, but I was more than willing to give it a read because the publicist for the book was so insistent that it was such a good read. But, I was nervous to get started. I needn't have been, mind because Relativity was an awesome read. It was so nuanced, so beautiful, so evocative, and as I always say with books about geniuses, especially genius kids, Ethan reminded me of a certain Sheldon Cooper, and I have The Big Bang Theory to thank for my knowledge of physics, and this book made way more sense since I do watch The Big Bang Theory.
Relativity is very much a novel about family, and what Claire does for Ethan is extraordinary, and more women should get credit for raising a kid by themselves, whether it's someone special like Ethan or just a regular kid. Even more so with what happened to Ethan as a baby, because it's unforgivable - isn't it? How can you forgive something like that, get past it, let that person back in to your life? I was genuinely shocked by what happened. I was very curious to know why Ethan's father Mark wasn't around, what would happen when he returned, and the book didn't disappoint. There's no silly dramas, either, which was an absolute bonus.
There's honestly not a lot I can say about the book. It was really, really good, but I just don't have a lot to say, review-wise. It's one of those understated stories that you enjoy for the pure pleasure of reading. I lost myself in the world of Claire, Ethan and Mark, because it's such a captivating story, the kind that usually leads to reading group questions in the back. Antonia Hayes is an extraordinary writer, and this is an extraordinary book, I really, really loved it.
Relativity is very much a novel about family, and what Claire does for Ethan is extraordinary, and more women should get credit for raising a kid by themselves, whether it's someone special like Ethan or just a regular kid. Even more so with what happened to Ethan as a baby, because it's unforgivable - isn't it? How can you forgive something like that, get past it, let that person back in to your life? I was genuinely shocked by what happened. I was very curious to know why Ethan's father Mark wasn't around, what would happen when he returned, and the book didn't disappoint. There's no silly dramas, either, which was an absolute bonus.
There's honestly not a lot I can say about the book. It was really, really good, but I just don't have a lot to say, review-wise. It's one of those understated stories that you enjoy for the pure pleasure of reading. I lost myself in the world of Claire, Ethan and Mark, because it's such a captivating story, the kind that usually leads to reading group questions in the back. Antonia Hayes is an extraordinary writer, and this is an extraordinary book, I really, really loved it.
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