Rachel Barenbaum

The personal completes with science and disaster in this novel. Anna Berkova is a talented Soviet scientist, whose work helped the Soviets built both atomic weapons and nuclear reactors. Then, when Chernobyl explodes, she accidentally time-travels for the first time - a consequence of nuclear explosion that she's been working towards for decades. But when Anna time-travels, she discovers the family she's cut herself off from is in danger. As Anna travels across time to save her family and correct mistakes, she struggles to find a way to save them and to prevent the Chernobyl disaster, ultimately realizing she can't do both. An interesting and enjoyable read, even if I found the conclusion slightly jarring.… (meer)

In 1914 Russia, siblings Miri, a doctor, and Vanya, a scientist, are living with their grandmother, a Jewish matchmaker. The Great War is just beginning. Vanya is competing with Einstein to prove the theory of relativity. He embarks on a jury with Miri’s fiancé, Yuri, to meet an American, take photos of an eclipse, and arrange passage for their family to America. Miri travels with a soldier, to find Vanya and Yuri. The novel follows each journey through the vast terrain of Russian landscapes, cities, and towns. It is a story of ambition, love, science, prejudice, and resilience.

The book is structured around the Jewish calendar, which fits with the themes of cosmic phenomena, time, and being Jewish in czarist Russia. I enjoyed the historic setting and complexity in the narrative. There is one major plot issue toward the end that bothered me, but overall a successful debut. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
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Russia, 1914. Miri Abramov and her brother Vanya have been raised by their grandmother after their parents' death years before. There is unrest in the country and the Jewish communities are especially at risk. Miri Abramov is now one of few female surgeons, while Vanya is a physicist who dreams of solving the final puzzle concerning Einstein's theory of relativity. Now an eclipse is coming and this could be the answer to solving the puzzle. However, with Russia at war, it is unsure if Vanya will be able to take the photographs he needs to confirm his theory. But, he will not give up and together with Miri's fiance he sneaks away from the army in hopes of taking photographs of the eclipse...

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!… (meer)