The Middle Ages

by Jennie Fields

When you least expect it, life can turn you around. Take forty-something Jane Larson. Although she views her situation with wry humor, her life feels frozen. An architect, she's had the same job for eighteen years, designing chain banks, grocery stores, and dry cleaners instead of the beautiful houses she craves to create. Living in Brooklyn with her difficult teenage daughters, she's lost all hope for the possibility of love or excitement. Then she's let go from her firm and is suddenly free to pursue her career dreams. And when she contacts her old college flame, an exhilarating long-distance correspondence with him reawakens that part of her she's long ignored. Does Jane have the courage to gamble with her heart? Can happily-ever-after be a reality for people who've done it all before? With warmth and humor Fields explores the territory of middle age, proving that it's never too late to reinvent your life, or to take the risks that bring us the pleasures we all deserve.

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

When I was child, bookstores and libraries were sanctuaries, my invitation to adventure, escape, satisfaction. Wanting to be a part of the action, I wrote my first 'novel' when I was six. Years later, my first real book arrived in bookstores.

But it's taken me until my fifth novel to tackle a topic that's always called to me: women in science. My mother was trained as a biochemist at the University of Chicago during World War II, and remained at the University afterwards, researching cures for cancer. But as was typical in that era, when she married, she gave up her career to be a wife. She spent the rest of her life aching for science. As a result, science flowed into her cooking, cleaning, our healthcare. She measured, she weighed, she considered, she hypothesized.

My mother's best friend was her cousin Jean. Walking together to campus each day, they discussed everything. But no matter how many times she asked, Jean refused to tell my mother a single detail about what was going on at the 'Metallurgical Laboratory' where she worked. As it turns out, Jean was a clerical worker for the Manhattan Project and stayed true to her oath of secrecy until long after the atom bomb was dropped.

That story of silence stuck with me. And my research revealed there was one female physicist involved in those early Chicago years of the Manhattan Project: Leona Woods, the youngest member of the team. Atomic Love is in no way based on Woods' life. Still, her presence at that critical time and place in history allowed me to create my main character, Rosalind Porter, a female physicist who is asked to risk love and limb to protect her country.

Adventure. Escape. Satisfaction. I hope you will find these things and more in Atomic Love.

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Reviews

[Santhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy light read that suited my moping mood

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a nice, enjoyable read. Perfect for light reading but when you want an interesting story that does touch on the emotions faced by people in their middle ages such as frustrations with work, family, and also the reality of facing old age. I thought it was more of a 3.5 star rating.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful story. This book exceeded my expectations.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy read for the summer with a character I could relate to. I enjoyed rooting for the main character throughout an easy paced story. But then I felt like the author suddenly decided to wrap it up quickly and I was left feeling like I was missing something in the end. Still enjoyed it.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

Excellent. I laughed and I cried. Jane keeps thinking that she's lacking, until she finally realizes she's not. Doesn't sound like a good book; but it truly is. There's humor, there's wisdom and a feeling that you'll miss these people.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm almost done with this book (have maybe 10 pages to go).

My only gripe with it is the situation with Jane's employment. She's living on her severance? What, they don't have unemployment compensation in New York State? Why do characters in books never collect UC?

And she has the luxury to consider not taking another job with another architectural firm? What about health insurance? Does her ex-husband's policy cover her and their twin daughters, too? Sounds like he is self-employed as much as she would be if she went out on her own and founded her own architectural practice.

I guess these two things really got on my nerves because I was out of work for 3 years. Health insurance is one of the reasons I work for other people. And I can't even afford the insurance my employer offers!

Rant over.

Aside from those issues, I thought the book was really excellent, and I could identify with Jane and her middle aged issues.

[Ellie Revert · Rating 3 out of 5]

My way to judge a book? How much do I care about the characters--and in this case, I loved Jane and wanted things to go really well for her. There was a side story about Aunt Aggie and Uncle Barney------who had a wonderful marriage--one that makes me think of us. And "maybe it was because he had such a strong tie to her that he might be able to let go of her sooner than the rest of us"------Brent and I are considering this thought. And I hope that her future includes Jack, and the other precious people in her life.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of rekindled love after a 30 year hiatus. An architect divorcee, Jane Larsen, mother of two teen girls is feeling under-appreciated and restless. Out of curiosity, she Googles an old college boyfriend and they begin a long-distance email relationship. Meanwhile, Jane is confronted with different career options after 18 years at the same job. With everything changing, Jane is weary yet eager to forge ahead and finally live again. A bit predictable and the male character is a little overly sentimental and sensitive. But all in all, worth a read.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would've given this book five stars, because I truly enjoyed it, but it ended poorly. For the entire novel we have a slow progress, really getting to know Jane, but suddenly, at the end of the novel, we get a hurried wrap-up in a few pages. Supposedly it's to let us know that everything turns out ok, but all we have is the main character chatting about how it's tough work but everyone is doing great, and then the book is over. Not a great way to end what was a great story.

[Melissa Lee-Tammeus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Passing this book on to my mom as I thought it was a nice way to escape for a time. A middle aged (when did 40 become middle aged?) is rethinking love, career, and what it means to move to another stage in life. Actually really liked this - a nice simple story but didn't treat me like I was an airhead. Interested in seeing what else I have missed from Ms. Fields.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Larson's life is just going along as she works as an architect for eighteen years for the same company, and raises her twin teenage daughters in New York City. She if fired from her job at the same time she renews her friendship with her college love, Jack. She now must decide which way her life will go. Good book.

[Therese Gilardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, on the upside i skipped a whole bunch of pages in the middle, something i rarely do, and i don't think it made a difference. kudos to the author for a likable protagonist. although i'm not keen on all the cliches of middle age ....

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting view of middle-age from a late 40s woman.
Heart-warming and sweet.
Can take you back to teenage youth and relationships!

Well I can't believe I've just read this again and not remembered it from the first time!
I loved the book - a middle-aged version of Bridget Jones!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not quite in the middle years myself, but this book did speak to me. I loved her first book and was glad to run across this one. A nice Sunday read.

[Sally Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was totally about me, but it wasn't.

[Vikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was very good. A divorced, middle-aged architect contacts her old college love via email. Their love grows.

[Karisa Sortor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful story. There was absolutely nothing I didn't like about it. I am 20 years younger than Jane but in some way, I can relate to her.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fine story- I didn't relate to it much so it was slightly hard to get into. I liked the ending but overall the story dragged.