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Relativity
There are so many moments Ruby Wright wishes she could change. The moment her dad uprooted her from California to live in backwoods Ohio with their new stepfamily. The moment she moved away without telling her best friend George she loved him. The moment a car accident ended her mother's life.
But no one can rewrite time. At least, that's what physics-obsessed Ruby believes.
Then she stumbles upon a lightning-powered tree—a doorway to a series of parallel universes. How many possible worlds will Ruby have to explore to find the one with the perfect combination of people, relationships, and experiences? And is she willing to risk everything she has to get back what she has lost?
With a deft blend of science and heart, Cristin Bishara's thought-provoking debut novel explored the laws of time and space...and the even more mysterious nature of love and loss.
But no one can rewrite time. At least, that's what physics-obsessed Ruby believes.
Then she stumbles upon a lightning-powered tree—a doorway to a series of parallel universes. How many possible worlds will Ruby have to explore to find the one with the perfect combination of people, relationships, and experiences? And is she willing to risk everything she has to get back what she has lost?
With a deft blend of science and heart, Cristin Bishara's thought-provoking debut novel explored the laws of time and space...and the even more mysterious nature of love and loss.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2013
29 people are currently reading
3418 people want to read
About the author
Cristin Bishara
4 books91 followersCristin Bishara writes fantasy and science fiction for kids. Her newly released middle-grade novel, Mothman, is a Choose Your Own Adventure® thriller with 19 endings, and is the first in the Cryptid Chronicles series. Her young-adult debut, Relativity (Bloomsbury, 2013), explores parallel universes, while Vial of Tears (Holiday House, 2021) was inspired by Phoenician mythology and earned starred reviews from both Kirkus and Shelf Awareness. Cristin graduated with a B.A. in English from Kenyon College, and earned her M.F.A. in creative writing (poetry) from St. Mary’s College of California. Over the years, she’s worked as a freelance copywriter, and has taught composition and fiction writing at the university level. She lives and writes in Tampa, Florida with her family and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
November 30, 2013
"I wish, I wish, I hadn't killed that fish."
No, that's not a quote from this story. That is a quote immemorial from one of my favorite The Simpsons specials, Time and Punishment. The gist of that episode is that Homer fried a toaster while trying to fix it (naturally the way to fix a toaster is by jamming random stuff in it until it works). That toaster ends up taking him back into the time of the dinosaur, where---crap---Homer's every action in the distant past hilariously changes the course of history. With every attempt, he tries to return home to find it irretrievably changed. Homer keeps going back and forth from the past to the present, searching for that perfect universe, the one closest to that which he originally left, and never quite reaches it. The sad thing is that Homer never realizes that his perfect universe---the one with a perfect family, the one with the huge mansion, the one in which the sky fucking rains donuts, is the one he left before realizing how good it was.
Homer's constant search for his perfect universe is what reminded me of this book. I have to say I prefer the Simpson's version, and not just because I'm a fan of the show. This book started off really well, and the scientific principles are truly well developed and explained, but my enjoyment of the main character grew increasingly slim as the book progressed. I started off sympathizing with Ruby. I ended up with a considerable amount of contempt for her.
Summary: Ruby Wright has a pretty shitty life at the moment. Her father has remarried and moved the two of them from San Francisco, California to smack in the middle of nowhere, Ennis, Ohio. Her stepmother is a good woman, her stepsister is a bomb waiting to explode. Ruby is fascinated by a gigantic oak tree in a field near her home. Legend has it that anyone who tries to chop it down will die. Ruby is drawn to it, and during her exploration around the tree, discovers a door---a wormhole to different parallel universes.
She begins to explore each universe, which is pretty much identical to her original one, and sees how her life could have been different in each. They're pretty nice, she has an older brother, she has a mother, she has different personalities. The trouble comes when Ruby decides to shop around for the universe that best fits her wants.
The Characters & The Romance (you can't have one without the other in this book): I started off feeling really bad for Ruby. Fuck, the girl has been uprooted from everything and everyone she knows in California (an awesome state, I should know, I live there ^_^) to the cornfields of Ohio. She misses her friends, above all, she misses George, her friend's boyfriend, on whom she secretly has a crush. Ruby's got a shitty new high school with crap extracurricular activities, and she's got the stepsister from hell. Kandinsky (who goes by Kandy) is a nightmare in the form of a teenaged girl. She is psychotic, she is violent, she needs to be medicated. Poor, poor Ruby.
And Ruby is really fucking smart. So it started off well: I liked Ruby. I felt bad for her. It's good, right? She can only get better?
Fucking wrong. Let's get one thing straight. I don't expect my heroines to be perfect. I was a bitch of a teenager, and I don't expect complete maturity from my book heroines. I do expect them to learn from their experience, and I do expect them to make reasonable decisions. I expect them to have reasonable priorities, and Ruby, as book smart as she is, turned out to be another stupid, shallow girl, far from my expectations.
She is angry when we first meet her. That's understandable. But then she visits one of her parallel universes and turns into a moron.
Fact #1: Ruby's mom is dead in her original universe, and alive in the other ones. Ruby is desperate to see her mother again, so she takes a chance and goes back to Universe #2 to see her mother. Mom, mom, where are you, I want to see you, I miss you so much, I love you so much, I want so desperately to have you back in my life again----OOH, THE BOY I HAVE A CRUSH ON.
And while we're at it, George and I were meant to be!!!!!!!! In every universe! We're destined to be together!!!!!
She proceeds to go totally obsessive and stalkerish over George, telling him every detail she shouldn't have known about his life.
And instead of being totally creeped out by her behavior, George thinks Ruby's the most adorable thing in the world.
Ruby is a bitch and an idiot. Instead of adapting to her new life in the new universe, she tries to fit the new universe to her own needs. There is no effort at bonding with her new (and really sweet) older brother, Patrick. She is not the least bit inconspicuous. She goes around muttering dumb things, not trying to fit in one bit. And she is a huge, huge asshole to her own father. Ruby fat shames her own dad.
Needless to say, after this point, Ruby could go wander off and get permanently lost in another universe and I wouldn't give a fuck. For the rest of the book, she is completely irredeemable. Ruby is a terrible character, and I outright hated her by the end.
The Premise: As with everything in this book, the premise started off well, and ended poorly. I have never read a book about parallel universes and wormholes that ended up being entirely well written; this book came close, but the execution did not reach the scientific premise that it promised, instead relying on typical deus ex machina conventions instead of the awesome scientific background in which the book went into so much detail.
The science goes pretty deep in this one. One of the main reasons why I liked Ruby so much initially is because she is such a smart girl. She loves math, she loves science, and she is brilliant at it. Ruby not only has a deep love for quantum physics, string theory, she has a tremendous understanding of it through her readings of real-life physicists like Brian Greene and Michio Kaku. She book explains string theory in amazing detail, making it easy to understand...but then it all came crashing down when the concept of alternate universes is actually explained because the execution of the parallel universes within this book did not comply with the explanation of it.
I'll try to make this short, since really, it's the holidays, and nobody wants to hear a detailed analysis about string theory. There is an infinite possibility of parallel universes, as explained in the book, and the execution of it is too simplistic, the parallel worlds are too similar to her own to be completely believable. The crux of string theory is that there are multiverses in which anything is possible. It is so unlikely that Ruby wanders into one after the other, whose worlds are so, so completely similar to her own. Out of all the multiverses out there, Ruby happens to travel conveniently through each universe by her own choosing, through a wormhole door located in a tree. The variances between the universes are too similar to our own, too similar to her actual life, to feel real. In several parallel universes, Ruby's mother is alive, and she has a brother. It is just too coincidental, out of all the possible choices out there, that she just happens to wander into such convenient onces.
What became of the other Rubys? Why is everything so relatively normal? Come on, where are the three-legged fish? Where are the people with horns growing out of their heads? Think of The Simpsons, man! As Ruby says herself, every action has a multitudinous effect. A butterfly effect. The parallel universes in this book are just too damn good to be true.
Good theory, poor execution. Michio Kaku would be disappointed.
No, that's not a quote from this story. That is a quote immemorial from one of my favorite The Simpsons specials, Time and Punishment. The gist of that episode is that Homer fried a toaster while trying to fix it (naturally the way to fix a toaster is by jamming random stuff in it until it works). That toaster ends up taking him back into the time of the dinosaur, where---crap---Homer's every action in the distant past hilariously changes the course of history. With every attempt, he tries to return home to find it irretrievably changed. Homer keeps going back and forth from the past to the present, searching for that perfect universe, the one closest to that which he originally left, and never quite reaches it. The sad thing is that Homer never realizes that his perfect universe---the one with a perfect family, the one with the huge mansion, the one in which the sky fucking rains donuts, is the one he left before realizing how good it was.
Homer's constant search for his perfect universe is what reminded me of this book. I have to say I prefer the Simpson's version, and not just because I'm a fan of the show. This book started off really well, and the scientific principles are truly well developed and explained, but my enjoyment of the main character grew increasingly slim as the book progressed. I started off sympathizing with Ruby. I ended up with a considerable amount of contempt for her.
Summary: Ruby Wright has a pretty shitty life at the moment. Her father has remarried and moved the two of them from San Francisco, California to smack in the middle of nowhere, Ennis, Ohio. Her stepmother is a good woman, her stepsister is a bomb waiting to explode. Ruby is fascinated by a gigantic oak tree in a field near her home. Legend has it that anyone who tries to chop it down will die. Ruby is drawn to it, and during her exploration around the tree, discovers a door---a wormhole to different parallel universes.
She begins to explore each universe, which is pretty much identical to her original one, and sees how her life could have been different in each. They're pretty nice, she has an older brother, she has a mother, she has different personalities. The trouble comes when Ruby decides to shop around for the universe that best fits her wants.
The Characters & The Romance (you can't have one without the other in this book): I started off feeling really bad for Ruby. Fuck, the girl has been uprooted from everything and everyone she knows in California (an awesome state, I should know, I live there ^_^) to the cornfields of Ohio. She misses her friends, above all, she misses George, her friend's boyfriend, on whom she secretly has a crush. Ruby's got a shitty new high school with crap extracurricular activities, and she's got the stepsister from hell. Kandinsky (who goes by Kandy) is a nightmare in the form of a teenaged girl. She is psychotic, she is violent, she needs to be medicated. Poor, poor Ruby.
And Ruby is really fucking smart. So it started off well: I liked Ruby. I felt bad for her. It's good, right? She can only get better?
Fucking wrong. Let's get one thing straight. I don't expect my heroines to be perfect. I was a bitch of a teenager, and I don't expect complete maturity from my book heroines. I do expect them to learn from their experience, and I do expect them to make reasonable decisions. I expect them to have reasonable priorities, and Ruby, as book smart as she is, turned out to be another stupid, shallow girl, far from my expectations.
She is angry when we first meet her. That's understandable. But then she visits one of her parallel universes and turns into a moron.
Fact #1: Ruby's mom is dead in her original universe, and alive in the other ones. Ruby is desperate to see her mother again, so she takes a chance and goes back to Universe #2 to see her mother. Mom, mom, where are you, I want to see you, I miss you so much, I love you so much, I want so desperately to have you back in my life again----OOH, THE BOY I HAVE A CRUSH ON.
Does he know me? What am I to him here? A friend, a fling, a complete stranger? I want to hug him and tell him how happy I am to see him. Tears rush to my eyes. I miss you! I need you!MOM? FUCK SEEING MY MOM AGAIN. SHE'S BEEN DEAD TO ME FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS. SHE'LL LAST ANOTHER DAY IN THIS UNIVERSE. LET'S GO HAVE LUNCH WITH MY CRUSH FIRST ^_^
And while we're at it, George and I were meant to be!!!!!!!! In every universe! We're destined to be together!!!!!
A Ruby and a George, both living in this small Ohio town, both in the same French class. It makes my heart swell, my hands shake. What are the chances? What could it mean? Is my parallel Ruby destined to be with this parallel George, and they just haven’t clicked yet? Am I fated to be with my George, back in Universe One?Are you fucking kidding me?
She proceeds to go totally obsessive and stalkerish over George, telling him every detail she shouldn't have known about his life.
And instead of being totally creeped out by her behavior, George thinks Ruby's the most adorable thing in the world.
Ruby is a bitch and an idiot. Instead of adapting to her new life in the new universe, she tries to fit the new universe to her own needs. There is no effort at bonding with her new (and really sweet) older brother, Patrick. She is not the least bit inconspicuous. She goes around muttering dumb things, not trying to fit in one bit. And she is a huge, huge asshole to her own father. Ruby fat shames her own dad.
“Your weight!” I say.ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? YOU'RE WEIGHT-SHAMING YOUR OWN FATHER FOR NO FUCKING REASON, YOU BITCH.
Dad is a good fifty pounds heavier. His shirt stretches across his belly. The worn holes in his belt mark the progression of his weight gain.
“What’s going on?”
“I could ask the same,” I say. Dad’s eyes are practically lost in his fleshy face. “You’re a cheeseburger away from a heart attack...You’re just stupid selfishness, everywhere I go! Look at yourself!...Obviously you have no trouble feeding your own needs,” I say, motioning to his belly.
Needless to say, after this point, Ruby could go wander off and get permanently lost in another universe and I wouldn't give a fuck. For the rest of the book, she is completely irredeemable. Ruby is a terrible character, and I outright hated her by the end.
The Premise: As with everything in this book, the premise started off well, and ended poorly. I have never read a book about parallel universes and wormholes that ended up being entirely well written; this book came close, but the execution did not reach the scientific premise that it promised, instead relying on typical deus ex machina conventions instead of the awesome scientific background in which the book went into so much detail.
The science goes pretty deep in this one. One of the main reasons why I liked Ruby so much initially is because she is such a smart girl. She loves math, she loves science, and she is brilliant at it. Ruby not only has a deep love for quantum physics, string theory, she has a tremendous understanding of it through her readings of real-life physicists like Brian Greene and Michio Kaku. She book explains string theory in amazing detail, making it easy to understand...but then it all came crashing down when the concept of alternate universes is actually explained because the execution of the parallel universes within this book did not comply with the explanation of it.
I'll try to make this short, since really, it's the holidays, and nobody wants to hear a detailed analysis about string theory. There is an infinite possibility of parallel universes, as explained in the book, and the execution of it is too simplistic, the parallel worlds are too similar to her own to be completely believable. The crux of string theory is that there are multiverses in which anything is possible. It is so unlikely that Ruby wanders into one after the other, whose worlds are so, so completely similar to her own. Out of all the multiverses out there, Ruby happens to travel conveniently through each universe by her own choosing, through a wormhole door located in a tree. The variances between the universes are too similar to our own, too similar to her actual life, to feel real. In several parallel universes, Ruby's mother is alive, and she has a brother. It is just too coincidental, out of all the possible choices out there, that she just happens to wander into such convenient onces.
What became of the other Rubys? Why is everything so relatively normal? Come on, where are the three-legged fish? Where are the people with horns growing out of their heads? Think of The Simpsons, man! As Ruby says herself, every action has a multitudinous effect. A butterfly effect. The parallel universes in this book are just too damn good to be true.
Good theory, poor execution. Michio Kaku would be disappointed.
September 12, 2014
Also reviewed for Addicted2Heroines
I like the idea that there are other alternate realities out there, and in that respect this book is a win. Can you imagine being able to scroll through other (maybe better) versions of your life? To be able to see the What If factor first hand? Very cool.
Ruby is dissatisfied with her life. Her mother was killed in a car accident years ago, and now her father has remarried. The package comes complete with a psychotic step-sister. Oh, and she had to move away from her best friend (aka boy of her dreams) in order to go live with her wacky new family.
So, no. Life is not good.
But it suddenly gets interesting when she discovers an old tree that has the power to take you to alternate dimensions. Kind of like Dr. Who's phone booth, only without the time travel and ever-changing sidekick. The how's and why's of the tree are never fully explained, even though Ruby spends a great deal of time trying to collect information and figure it out.
Did I mention that Ruby is some sort of child-genius? Good thing, too. 'Cause if I got stuck in that tree there's no way my tiny mind would have been able to figure out how to make it work. Thankfully, our heroine doesn't still use her fingers to add and subtract.
Don't judge me. Not all of us were good at that whole 'math' thing....
Anyway, because Ruby enjoys a healthy understanding of physics, she is able to get into this tree and travel to these other dimensions. She gets to see what it would be like if things had played out differently.
Is it everything she hoped for?
Well, here's where I didn't really care for the story. I mean, what was the point? To find out that in a different world you could have had an awesome brother? To find out that your mother might still be alive out there in another reality, but she wants you gone and her (rather ungrateful) daughter back? To find out that...what? I felt a bit disappointed by the ending. She came, she saw, she barely made it back. Something just didn't feel complete to me after the last page. Maybe I just need more closure in my books?
I guess the point is that life is what you make of it.
This isn't a bad book, it just wasn't exactly my cuppa.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.
I like the idea that there are other alternate realities out there, and in that respect this book is a win. Can you imagine being able to scroll through other (maybe better) versions of your life? To be able to see the What If factor first hand? Very cool.
Ruby is dissatisfied with her life. Her mother was killed in a car accident years ago, and now her father has remarried. The package comes complete with a psychotic step-sister. Oh, and she had to move away from her best friend (aka boy of her dreams) in order to go live with her wacky new family.
So, no. Life is not good.
But it suddenly gets interesting when she discovers an old tree that has the power to take you to alternate dimensions. Kind of like Dr. Who's phone booth, only without the time travel and ever-changing sidekick. The how's and why's of the tree are never fully explained, even though Ruby spends a great deal of time trying to collect information and figure it out.
Did I mention that Ruby is some sort of child-genius? Good thing, too. 'Cause if I got stuck in that tree there's no way my tiny mind would have been able to figure out how to make it work. Thankfully, our heroine doesn't still use her fingers to add and subtract.
Don't judge me. Not all of us were good at that whole 'math' thing....
Anyway, because Ruby enjoys a healthy understanding of physics, she is able to get into this tree and travel to these other dimensions. She gets to see what it would be like if things had played out differently.
Is it everything she hoped for?
Well, here's where I didn't really care for the story. I mean, what was the point? To find out that in a different world you could have had an awesome brother? To find out that your mother might still be alive out there in another reality, but she wants you gone and her (rather ungrateful) daughter back? To find out that...what? I felt a bit disappointed by the ending. She came, she saw, she barely made it back. Something just didn't feel complete to me after the last page. Maybe I just need more closure in my books?
I guess the point is that life is what you make of it.
This isn't a bad book, it just wasn't exactly my cuppa.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.
June 18, 2013
***A version of this review will be posted to Ashley Loves Books at a later date.***
Something I loved about Relativity is the different approach it takes to parallel universes and string theory. It’s not drastically different universes filled with pandas or fantasies, or completely different futures and trajectories – it explores how a fork in the road can alter things but still have some things remain the same. As a big believer in fate, destinies, and 'meant to be's, I like how Relativity incorporated the concept of things that would stay the same no matter what choices are made. That some things are meant to happen, no matter where you are or in what dimension.
This was a really great story, guys. Ruby is a fantastic main character, filled with a lot of little things everyone will recognize. The element of her mom being alive in some dimensions and not in the other was really sad and made me cling and get quite invested. Seeing Ruby in all these different situations that were completely familiar was also really fun and gave a great dimension (no pun intended!) to her character. You really get to see a broad range of reactions and personality to her, and I liked that a lot.
The secondary characters were a great mix, though I admit a few of them fell just a little for me. I really loved Sally, Ruby’s mom- she was the perfect mom while remaining her own person. I thought Kandy was a straight up psychotic bitch (in most dimensions), but that was the interesting part to her. I wanted a little more to her story, but what was given was pretty satisfactory. Willow, the step-mom, was kind of the same; she was a bit flat, but what she did lend I really liked. And of course George, who for a character that’s actually not too present in a lot of the book (or dimensions) was REALLY fantastic. I loved him and Ruby and how open he was to all the craziness Ruby threw at him. I wish there was more of him.
Oddly, I really loved the science and how it was worked into this book. I am loving that YA books are getting more into explanation, into giving you the actual research behind certain situations rather than trying to dumb it down or insinuate- and Relativity did it quite well. It was integrated into each character’s personality so smoothly, I barely realized I’m reading about the science of wormholes and string theory.
Relativity was a fun, fascinating read that really made me think about the things in my life that would be there no matter which world I’m in. The ending did leave me slightly unfulfilled somehow (not to be mistaken by incomplete!), but overall I’m really happy to have read this and added it to the growing pile of Parallel Universe YA. If you’re into this style – or even if you’re not—you should definitely give it a try.
Something I loved about Relativity is the different approach it takes to parallel universes and string theory. It’s not drastically different universes filled with pandas or fantasies, or completely different futures and trajectories – it explores how a fork in the road can alter things but still have some things remain the same. As a big believer in fate, destinies, and 'meant to be's, I like how Relativity incorporated the concept of things that would stay the same no matter what choices are made. That some things are meant to happen, no matter where you are or in what dimension.
This was a really great story, guys. Ruby is a fantastic main character, filled with a lot of little things everyone will recognize. The element of her mom being alive in some dimensions and not in the other was really sad and made me cling and get quite invested. Seeing Ruby in all these different situations that were completely familiar was also really fun and gave a great dimension (no pun intended!) to her character. You really get to see a broad range of reactions and personality to her, and I liked that a lot.
The secondary characters were a great mix, though I admit a few of them fell just a little for me. I really loved Sally, Ruby’s mom- she was the perfect mom while remaining her own person. I thought Kandy was a straight up psychotic bitch (in most dimensions), but that was the interesting part to her. I wanted a little more to her story, but what was given was pretty satisfactory. Willow, the step-mom, was kind of the same; she was a bit flat, but what she did lend I really liked. And of course George, who for a character that’s actually not too present in a lot of the book (or dimensions) was REALLY fantastic. I loved him and Ruby and how open he was to all the craziness Ruby threw at him. I wish there was more of him.
Oddly, I really loved the science and how it was worked into this book. I am loving that YA books are getting more into explanation, into giving you the actual research behind certain situations rather than trying to dumb it down or insinuate- and Relativity did it quite well. It was integrated into each character’s personality so smoothly, I barely realized I’m reading about the science of wormholes and string theory.
Relativity was a fun, fascinating read that really made me think about the things in my life that would be there no matter which world I’m in. The ending did leave me slightly unfulfilled somehow (not to be mistaken by incomplete!), but overall I’m really happy to have read this and added it to the growing pile of Parallel Universe YA. If you’re into this style – or even if you’re not—you should definitely give it a try.
April 12, 2013
I was nervous about reading this book because (SPOILER ALERT) Cristin is one of my writing partners. I'm not the type to automatically throw five stars at someone just because they're my friend, so when I read it for the first time I was worried because WHAT IF I DIDN'T LIKE IT?!
Silly me.
I love this book. LOVE. Ruby is SMART (See those capital letters? I'm not joking. I wasn't going to admit it but some of the science in this book that Cristin Bishara just drops so casually? Makes me feel like an idiot. So.) And Ruby doesn't have to TELL you how kick-ass she is because she JUST IS. She's brave and resourceful and even though she can be prickly at times, she is so full of heart that I couldn't help but root for her.
This book has everything going for it--science, adventure, family, and romance--and I'd recommend it to everyone.
Silly me.
I love this book. LOVE. Ruby is SMART (See those capital letters? I'm not joking. I wasn't going to admit it but some of the science in this book that Cristin Bishara just drops so casually? Makes me feel like an idiot. So.) And Ruby doesn't have to TELL you how kick-ass she is because she JUST IS. She's brave and resourceful and even though she can be prickly at times, she is so full of heart that I couldn't help but root for her.
This book has everything going for it--science, adventure, family, and romance--and I'd recommend it to everyone.
May 21, 2013
My Thoughts: This was very interesting! And I enjoyed it alot! We are introduced to Ruby who lives with her father. They have an okay relationship. Also living in the house is her father’s new girlfriend (or was it wife?) and her daughter. Ruby does not get along with the daughter at all.
They move into this new house and Ruby notices a big tree on the property. Its mysterious and kind of weird looking. Ruby is drawn to it! Ruby was such a fun girl. She was in love with her best friend from back home, and hopes someday he sees he feels the same.
One day, Ruby gets chased to the tree and she’s hurt, her leg. She ends up going into this tree (secret door) and she finds herself in a new reality. She realizes this tree is pretty magical. It can take her to different realities and she can see how her life is different and how things play out. She gets to see her best friend in a new light and she gets to meet her mother!
Relativity was a creative story and I enjoyed it. I liked seeing how Ruby’s life could be different. This one had some major deep hidden messages but it was also a fun little novel. She got to see her life in nine different wormholes!
Overall: Loved it! I enjoyed reading it and read late into the night and finished it. I had to know what was going to happen before I went to sleep! I thought this one was great. I loved Ruby and how she looked at things.
Cover: Like it! I think I would pick this up in a bookstore. It’s neat enough to catch my attention!
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
_________
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
They move into this new house and Ruby notices a big tree on the property. Its mysterious and kind of weird looking. Ruby is drawn to it! Ruby was such a fun girl. She was in love with her best friend from back home, and hopes someday he sees he feels the same.
One day, Ruby gets chased to the tree and she’s hurt, her leg. She ends up going into this tree (secret door) and she finds herself in a new reality. She realizes this tree is pretty magical. It can take her to different realities and she can see how her life is different and how things play out. She gets to see her best friend in a new light and she gets to meet her mother!
Relativity was a creative story and I enjoyed it. I liked seeing how Ruby’s life could be different. This one had some major deep hidden messages but it was also a fun little novel. She got to see her life in nine different wormholes!
Overall: Loved it! I enjoyed reading it and read late into the night and finished it. I had to know what was going to happen before I went to sleep! I thought this one was great. I loved Ruby and how she looked at things.
Cover: Like it! I think I would pick this up in a bookstore. It’s neat enough to catch my attention!
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
_________
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
June 13, 2013
Relativity is an amazing read! Lord who would not want to live a different reality? Every kid has wished their life was different in one way or another. The only difference is that the reality of it is that it won't happen but for Ruby she gets a whole lot of realities.
Ruby wishes for so many things. She wished her mother was still alive. She wished her best friend George liked her more than a friend. She wishes her father never re-married Willow because with Willow came her nasty daughter. Ruby knows wishes don't come true but yet everyday she wishes for something in the hopes it will come true. Then one day Ruby discovers a tree with a hole in it. When she enters the hole she realizes that she can have any reality she wants.
Ruby can have her mother alive. She can have George as much more than a friend and she can have her father back with no step mother or step sister. But what happens when those fake realities are not enough? What happens when you can't change the fact that your mother is dead and you father has moved on? What happens when you realize that your best friend is just that your best friend? Ruby will have to face these realities so to speak but what unfolds is such an amazing story.
I have to say this because I usually don't read books like this but man oh man this book took me by surprise. It had so much in it that I was hooked right from page one and when I finished I wanted more because Ruby was such a great character that kept me entertained!
Ruby wishes for so many things. She wished her mother was still alive. She wished her best friend George liked her more than a friend. She wishes her father never re-married Willow because with Willow came her nasty daughter. Ruby knows wishes don't come true but yet everyday she wishes for something in the hopes it will come true. Then one day Ruby discovers a tree with a hole in it. When she enters the hole she realizes that she can have any reality she wants.
Ruby can have her mother alive. She can have George as much more than a friend and she can have her father back with no step mother or step sister. But what happens when those fake realities are not enough? What happens when you can't change the fact that your mother is dead and you father has moved on? What happens when you realize that your best friend is just that your best friend? Ruby will have to face these realities so to speak but what unfolds is such an amazing story.
I have to say this because I usually don't read books like this but man oh man this book took me by surprise. It had so much in it that I was hooked right from page one and when I finished I wanted more because Ruby was such a great character that kept me entertained!
July 29, 2017
I liked the concept, I just couldn't be bothered to read through the scientific jargon.
One of the things that peeves me the most about these books, is that they all present background information as if it was actual scientific information. However, whether the information is correct or not is up to the reader to research, and I haven't the time for that
That aside, the book was slightly snooze-worthy. To be honest, I started off the book wanting it to end, and nearing the end of the book that want slightly diminished. Having read Dark Matter , this book seemed almost exactly the same, while Dark Matter was more developed.
I wish there was more screentime (page time) for Kandy, cos those parts were the funniest, or in the very least the most interesting.
One of the things that peeves me the most about these books, is that they all present background information as if it was actual scientific information. However, whether the information is correct or not is up to the reader to research, and I haven't the time for that
That aside, the book was slightly snooze-worthy. To be honest, I started off the book wanting it to end, and nearing the end of the book that want slightly diminished. Having read Dark Matter , this book seemed almost exactly the same, while Dark Matter was more developed.
I wish there was more screentime (page time) for Kandy, cos those parts were the funniest, or in the very least the most interesting.
August 13, 2013
Read more: http://www.sarcasmandlemons.com/2013/...
It's pretty funny. While I was reading this, my boyfriend was reading Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward, which also deals with wormholes and is one of the most scientifically dense science-fiction books ever written. Don't worry--Relativity is not that dense. Bishara definitely did her research about string theory and wormholes, and she explains them in a way that's easy-to-understand and plot-relevant. And the plot! Oh boy. I was hooked. Each universe has something crazy going on and it's no fun jaunt; Ruby definitely comes out worse for the wear. It's definitely an exciting genre plot, but Bishara uses it to explore deeper issues: is there a perfect universe? What does it mean to be you? When one little thing changes, how big are the effects? Ruby is also a great nerdy character and very sympathetic. She also goes through a lot of change and growth. The ending isn't insanely happy, but it's content--my favorite kind. I thought the pacing sped up too much towards the end, but most of the book was well-done and exciting.
plot . 4/5
The plot gets points off for its final third. It felt like there should have been either less or more. The first two third were paced perfectly. We get enough set-up to justify the plot, and then a lot of detail as Ruby jumps between universes. We get a thorough view of each one and each one contributes substantially to the story progression. Then we hit the climax and it seems like Bishara wanted to do too much before the end. The last few universes are cursory and barely-there. And Ruby's change of heart seems too quick and not as believable as I'd have hoped. I think Bishara would have done better to pick one final universe and explore that more--or give Ruby more time at the turning point to struggle with her decision. As it is, it seems rushed. However, if you take it as it is, the ending is pretty cool and open-ended, which I liked. It's young adult science-fiction that goes deeper than the cool techie stuff. There's also a touch of really adorable romance.
concept . 5/5
I love the idea of string theory and wormholes. I mean, I'm a Doctor Who fan. But it's funny--I've always watched more sci-fi than I've read. Maybe it's because sci-fi wasn't as big in young adult for a while. Now it's back with a vengeance, and Bishara is here to stay. She incorporates a lot of good, hard science and real scientific figures into an exciting plot. She also takes really neat concepts and makes them easy to understand for those of us who aren't theoretical physicists. The concept of multiple parallel universes is a great way to explore a lot of deeper issues. Bishara uses them to their full advantage, while also just making it really cool.
characters . 5/5
I don't think there was one I didn't buy. Ruby is annoying at times, but you understand why. She's also clever, tragic, and resourceful. I found her instantly loveable, even when I wanted to smack her. The side characters don't all get a lot of screen time, but Bishara knows how to fit a lot of characterization into a small space. They feel real. Kandy, the villain, is more than just a flat bitch. Ruby learns more about her and finds real reasons behind her cruelty. And even cooler, the fact that we get multiple versions of every character means that Bishara gets a lot of time to explore what each character is like in the real world and how they differ in the other universes. Layers and layers! I loved it.
style . 5/5
I'm actually annoyed at myself, because I dog-eared so many fun quotes and forgot to write them down before I mailed it out. Bishara is a great young adult writer. She knows how to combine some pretty phrasing and lush description with clear, concise language. It makes for an easy read that doesn't have a lot of useless language, which is a problem in so many other books. I wouldn't say it's incredibly memorable, but it's good for sure. And, I think, less technical than a lot of other science-fiction, so it feels less scary.
mechanics . 5/5
Nothing to complain about. Bishara has a good grasp of grammar and mechanics. No unnecessary spoon scenes here!
take home message
A clever science-fiction that uses multiple universes to explore deep issues about the tiny turning points that make us who we are.
It's pretty funny. While I was reading this, my boyfriend was reading Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward, which also deals with wormholes and is one of the most scientifically dense science-fiction books ever written. Don't worry--Relativity is not that dense. Bishara definitely did her research about string theory and wormholes, and she explains them in a way that's easy-to-understand and plot-relevant. And the plot! Oh boy. I was hooked. Each universe has something crazy going on and it's no fun jaunt; Ruby definitely comes out worse for the wear. It's definitely an exciting genre plot, but Bishara uses it to explore deeper issues: is there a perfect universe? What does it mean to be you? When one little thing changes, how big are the effects? Ruby is also a great nerdy character and very sympathetic. She also goes through a lot of change and growth. The ending isn't insanely happy, but it's content--my favorite kind. I thought the pacing sped up too much towards the end, but most of the book was well-done and exciting.
plot . 4/5
The plot gets points off for its final third. It felt like there should have been either less or more. The first two third were paced perfectly. We get enough set-up to justify the plot, and then a lot of detail as Ruby jumps between universes. We get a thorough view of each one and each one contributes substantially to the story progression. Then we hit the climax and it seems like Bishara wanted to do too much before the end. The last few universes are cursory and barely-there. And Ruby's change of heart seems too quick and not as believable as I'd have hoped. I think Bishara would have done better to pick one final universe and explore that more--or give Ruby more time at the turning point to struggle with her decision. As it is, it seems rushed. However, if you take it as it is, the ending is pretty cool and open-ended, which I liked. It's young adult science-fiction that goes deeper than the cool techie stuff. There's also a touch of really adorable romance.
concept . 5/5
I love the idea of string theory and wormholes. I mean, I'm a Doctor Who fan. But it's funny--I've always watched more sci-fi than I've read. Maybe it's because sci-fi wasn't as big in young adult for a while. Now it's back with a vengeance, and Bishara is here to stay. She incorporates a lot of good, hard science and real scientific figures into an exciting plot. She also takes really neat concepts and makes them easy to understand for those of us who aren't theoretical physicists. The concept of multiple parallel universes is a great way to explore a lot of deeper issues. Bishara uses them to their full advantage, while also just making it really cool.
characters . 5/5
I don't think there was one I didn't buy. Ruby is annoying at times, but you understand why. She's also clever, tragic, and resourceful. I found her instantly loveable, even when I wanted to smack her. The side characters don't all get a lot of screen time, but Bishara knows how to fit a lot of characterization into a small space. They feel real. Kandy, the villain, is more than just a flat bitch. Ruby learns more about her and finds real reasons behind her cruelty. And even cooler, the fact that we get multiple versions of every character means that Bishara gets a lot of time to explore what each character is like in the real world and how they differ in the other universes. Layers and layers! I loved it.
style . 5/5
I'm actually annoyed at myself, because I dog-eared so many fun quotes and forgot to write them down before I mailed it out. Bishara is a great young adult writer. She knows how to combine some pretty phrasing and lush description with clear, concise language. It makes for an easy read that doesn't have a lot of useless language, which is a problem in so many other books. I wouldn't say it's incredibly memorable, but it's good for sure. And, I think, less technical than a lot of other science-fiction, so it feels less scary.
mechanics . 5/5
Nothing to complain about. Bishara has a good grasp of grammar and mechanics. No unnecessary spoon scenes here!
take home message
A clever science-fiction that uses multiple universes to explore deep issues about the tiny turning points that make us who we are.
September 5, 2013
This review was originally posted on Alice in Readerland: I love the concept of hopping from one parallel universe to the next and Relativity played that part to perfection, in my opinion. I think it really captured the excitement and wonder of stepping into a parallel universe.
What’s different in this other universe? Who’s here and who’s not?
I was so excited each time Ruby stepped out of the tree so that the both of us could discover what type universe she landed in and who “she” was in that universe. For instance, the fashion-allergic Ruby finds out that, in one universe, she loves pink; in another universe, Ruby discovers that she excels at French (which is troublesome, since our Ruby has no idea what French quote mom just told her). I also love how the family dynamics changed from universe to universe, especially the relationship between Ruby and her mom. It was so sweet and sad to watch Ruby, who lost her mom in her universe, discover that her mom is alive in other universes. There was also a very poignant scene at the end that really was a breakthrough for Ruby and held a great (yet bittersweet) message that I loved.
Cynical Cindy Says
I thought that Ruby’s stepsister Kandy was really out of control violently attacking Ruby. It’s said that parallel universe Kandys are on meds/kleptomaniacs/have had a tough past, but still, that’s no excuse for Ruby not to tell anybody about Kandy harassing her.
I’ve got to say, out of all of the parallel universe books I’ve read this year, I loved the way the concept was handled best in Relativity.
Fast paced and thought-provoking, I’d recommend all you SciFi and Action-adventure readers pick up Relativity. Who knows? Maybe you’ve already read it in a parallel universe.
What are some of your favorite parallel universe stories?
**See more reviews on Alice in Readerland: aliceinreaderland.com**
What’s different in this other universe? Who’s here and who’s not?
I was so excited each time Ruby stepped out of the tree so that the both of us could discover what type universe she landed in and who “she” was in that universe. For instance, the fashion-allergic Ruby finds out that, in one universe, she loves pink; in another universe, Ruby discovers that she excels at French (which is troublesome, since our Ruby has no idea what French quote mom just told her). I also love how the family dynamics changed from universe to universe, especially the relationship between Ruby and her mom. It was so sweet and sad to watch Ruby, who lost her mom in her universe, discover that her mom is alive in other universes. There was also a very poignant scene at the end that really was a breakthrough for Ruby and held a great (yet bittersweet) message that I loved.
Cynical Cindy Says
I thought that Ruby’s stepsister Kandy was really out of control violently attacking Ruby. It’s said that parallel universe Kandys are on meds/kleptomaniacs/have had a tough past, but still, that’s no excuse for Ruby not to tell anybody about Kandy harassing her.
I’ve got to say, out of all of the parallel universe books I’ve read this year, I loved the way the concept was handled best in Relativity.
Fast paced and thought-provoking, I’d recommend all you SciFi and Action-adventure readers pick up Relativity. Who knows? Maybe you’ve already read it in a parallel universe.
What are some of your favorite parallel universe stories?
**See more reviews on Alice in Readerland: aliceinreaderland.com**
September 13, 2020
2019
3.5-4 stars
I've always loved the idea of parallel universes (and I root for my parallel counterparts - you go, girls!), although a magic/mystical tree for a portal is a little out there for me. I think Ruby handled it really well, though. She travels through time and space to find all sorts of different families, searching for the perfect one, and learns a little bit about what family means each time. She was a pretty cool character (it did get a little annoying that each time she landed in another universe everyone made a big deal about how crazy she looked - she has short hair and a neck tattoo and wears glasses, oh my!).
Patrick was a pretty cool brother, except that he was weirdly attached to Ruby. Speaking as someone with an older brother, mine basically ignored me all through high school, so it was weird that every version of Patrick had him chasing Ruby all over the place. I mean, Kandy kept some of her basic personality traits, but she was a different person in different universes, so why didn't Patrick change as well?
The story lines were pretty interesting, and I would have loved to have more and more interactions between characters. But the whole science/equations/magic tree/parallel universes thing got a little old for me. It was fascinating, no doubt, but I was never much of a "science/math geek" in school, so those many paragraphs tended to pull me out of the story.
3.5-4 stars
I've always loved the idea of parallel universes (and I root for my parallel counterparts - you go, girls!), although a magic/mystical tree for a portal is a little out there for me. I think Ruby handled it really well, though. She travels through time and space to find all sorts of different families, searching for the perfect one, and learns a little bit about what family means each time. She was a pretty cool character (it did get a little annoying that each time she landed in another universe everyone made a big deal about how crazy she looked - she has short hair and a neck tattoo and wears glasses, oh my!).
Patrick was a pretty cool brother, except that he was weirdly attached to Ruby. Speaking as someone with an older brother, mine basically ignored me all through high school, so it was weird that every version of Patrick had him chasing Ruby all over the place. I mean, Kandy kept some of her basic personality traits, but she was a different person in different universes, so why didn't Patrick change as well?
The story lines were pretty interesting, and I would have loved to have more and more interactions between characters. But the whole science/equations/magic tree/parallel universes thing got a little old for me. It was fascinating, no doubt, but I was never much of a "science/math geek" in school, so those many paragraphs tended to pull me out of the story.
September 10, 2015
The only good thing about Relativity are the sci-fi tidbits. However, the parts focusing on string theory and parallel universes seemed to nullify themselves as the small nuances that brought them about were just too unbelievable. There are supposed to be infinite possibilities yet all the universes she travels to are just too similar and convenient to the plot itself to be believable. So while the idea was interesting, its execution wasn't.
On the whole, Relativity could have used a lot less of melodrama and a lot more depth to well, everything from the plot to the characters.
On the whole, Relativity could have used a lot less of melodrama and a lot more depth to well, everything from the plot to the characters.
October 16, 2013
I really love reading books about parallel universes. It's fascinating to think that there is another version of you out there living life- yet that life could be completely different than the one you are currently living. Our main character Ruby gets to test out this theory firsthand in Relativity. While a lot of the scientific jargon went way over my head, I was still able to enjoy the story and not overanalyze how it could all happen.
Ruby is a likeable character, though I have to say: my heart broke for the girl. She has just moved from California to Ohio with her dad, as he has remarried to a woman named Willow, who lives in Ennis, Ohio with her daughter Kandy. Moving across country is never easy, and leaving behind your best friend and the life you've always known is very difficult. Her father is a work-a-holic, her step mom is not someone she's bonded with, and her step-sister is HORRIBLE. It's no wonder Ruby is drawn to this old tree in the middle of a cornfield. I would be looking for an escape of some sort also, if I were in her position.
After accidentally finding herself in a different universe, Ruby is definitely scared and confused. People that shouldn't be alive are, and Ruby really struggles with this information- it doesn't seem fair that in a parallel universe her mom is still alive and she has a great big brother. Seeing this reality sends Ruby on a hunt for the perfect parallel universe- one where her parents are happy and together, she has a big brother, and her best friend George reciprocates her feelings. Watching Ruby land in the different universes was exciting and heartbreaking at the same time. I was excited to see what each place would be like for her and who she would find there, but I was heartbroken for her at the same time because no matter what- none of these were her universes. Not to mention, there always seemed to be something missing.
I was really torn up over the scenes with Ruby's mom. In her universe, her mom was killed in a car accident when she was younger. However, her mom lives in some of the other parallel universes, and watching Ruby try to let go of her mother was really hard to read. In my opinion, her parallel universe mom plays the most important role in this book. She offers Ruby wisdom and insight that Ruby is too blind to see on her own. Ruby realizes that she must make the best of what her own life has to offer and that even though things are difficult now, seeing these parallel universes provides her with hope.
There is not a whole lot of romance in this book. Ruby is in love with her best friend George, who she left behind in California. She wishes she could tell him how she feels, yet she doesn't. We get to see George in some of the parallel universes, where they are together. He is quirky and a bit nerdy just like her, so watching them interact was really sweet. She really feels hopeful for her and George's relationship- that somehow the universe will bring them back together, as it did in some of those parallel universes.
I wasn't crazy about the ending though. It's not that it left off in a bad place or anything, but I just felt a bit unfulfilled. It offers the promise of hope and acceptance for Ruby's life, but I guess I just wanted something more.
While I enjoyed reading this, I would have to say this book was still just an okay read for me. I would recommend it to big fans of time travel and science fiction, however.
*Received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
Ruby is a likeable character, though I have to say: my heart broke for the girl. She has just moved from California to Ohio with her dad, as he has remarried to a woman named Willow, who lives in Ennis, Ohio with her daughter Kandy. Moving across country is never easy, and leaving behind your best friend and the life you've always known is very difficult. Her father is a work-a-holic, her step mom is not someone she's bonded with, and her step-sister is HORRIBLE. It's no wonder Ruby is drawn to this old tree in the middle of a cornfield. I would be looking for an escape of some sort also, if I were in her position.
After accidentally finding herself in a different universe, Ruby is definitely scared and confused. People that shouldn't be alive are, and Ruby really struggles with this information- it doesn't seem fair that in a parallel universe her mom is still alive and she has a great big brother. Seeing this reality sends Ruby on a hunt for the perfect parallel universe- one where her parents are happy and together, she has a big brother, and her best friend George reciprocates her feelings. Watching Ruby land in the different universes was exciting and heartbreaking at the same time. I was excited to see what each place would be like for her and who she would find there, but I was heartbroken for her at the same time because no matter what- none of these were her universes. Not to mention, there always seemed to be something missing.
I was really torn up over the scenes with Ruby's mom. In her universe, her mom was killed in a car accident when she was younger. However, her mom lives in some of the other parallel universes, and watching Ruby try to let go of her mother was really hard to read. In my opinion, her parallel universe mom plays the most important role in this book. She offers Ruby wisdom and insight that Ruby is too blind to see on her own. Ruby realizes that she must make the best of what her own life has to offer and that even though things are difficult now, seeing these parallel universes provides her with hope.
There is not a whole lot of romance in this book. Ruby is in love with her best friend George, who she left behind in California. She wishes she could tell him how she feels, yet she doesn't. We get to see George in some of the parallel universes, where they are together. He is quirky and a bit nerdy just like her, so watching them interact was really sweet. She really feels hopeful for her and George's relationship- that somehow the universe will bring them back together, as it did in some of those parallel universes.
I wasn't crazy about the ending though. It's not that it left off in a bad place or anything, but I just felt a bit unfulfilled. It offers the promise of hope and acceptance for Ruby's life, but I guess I just wanted something more.
While I enjoyed reading this, I would have to say this book was still just an okay read for me. I would recommend it to big fans of time travel and science fiction, however.
*Received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
August 4, 2013
Relativity
is sharp, intelligent science fiction young adult novel, that is wonderfully gripping and compelling. Delightfully entertaining and highly imaginative, Cristin Bishara will definitely wow you with her storytelling abilities, imagination, and originality. The sci-fi element of this novel is just amazing and I fell in love with the characters and their journey. It's just a super fun read that was incredibly hard to put down. I was up until all hours of the night reading, because my curiosity level had sky rocketed through the roof.
One of the most gripping aspects of this novel, was the wormhole to nine different realities. The approach that Bishara took with each reality, was what made the story very much real and alive. Her ability to blend fantasy and sci-fi elements, as well as realism contemporary storytelling together in a way that worked flawlessly made this novel more enjoyable. The alternate realities weren't out of this world vastly different from normal reality, but yet illustrated slightly altered realism in different parallel universes. In a sense it reminded me of that old saying, "the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same." All of these elements seemed to come together organically and work in harmony with one another, creating an intriguing story full of some fantastic characters.
Ruby is such a kickass phenomenal character that I absolutely fell in love with. Bishara definitely won me over with her heart wrenching story. She was incredibly easy to connect with on an emotional level and it was easy to see why she wished for certain things to be different, to be honest, anyone in her shoes probably would I think. It was incredible, the depth and layers that Bishara gave to her character, when witnessed in the various altered realities. The complexity in her character and journey alone, is enough to definitely keep you invested in her story.
Relativity offers a fascinating spectrum of broad realism blended perfectly well with original sci-fi elements that anyone who enjoys both contemporary and science fiction would enjoy this book. I would highly recommend this to anyone. I think it's definitely near the top of my list of favorite reads this year, where science fiction and contemporary are concerned. Definitely give this book a shot, for sure. It's entertaining, fun, and completely amazing!
One of the most gripping aspects of this novel, was the wormhole to nine different realities. The approach that Bishara took with each reality, was what made the story very much real and alive. Her ability to blend fantasy and sci-fi elements, as well as realism contemporary storytelling together in a way that worked flawlessly made this novel more enjoyable. The alternate realities weren't out of this world vastly different from normal reality, but yet illustrated slightly altered realism in different parallel universes. In a sense it reminded me of that old saying, "the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same." All of these elements seemed to come together organically and work in harmony with one another, creating an intriguing story full of some fantastic characters.
Ruby is such a kickass phenomenal character that I absolutely fell in love with. Bishara definitely won me over with her heart wrenching story. She was incredibly easy to connect with on an emotional level and it was easy to see why she wished for certain things to be different, to be honest, anyone in her shoes probably would I think. It was incredible, the depth and layers that Bishara gave to her character, when witnessed in the various altered realities. The complexity in her character and journey alone, is enough to definitely keep you invested in her story.
Relativity offers a fascinating spectrum of broad realism blended perfectly well with original sci-fi elements that anyone who enjoys both contemporary and science fiction would enjoy this book. I would highly recommend this to anyone. I think it's definitely near the top of my list of favorite reads this year, where science fiction and contemporary are concerned. Definitely give this book a shot, for sure. It's entertaining, fun, and completely amazing!
April 11, 2015
Uno dei più belli letti ultimamente, dal quale non mi aspettavo tanto e che, invece, mi ha piacevolmente stupita. Tutto bello, bellissimo.
December 20, 2017
Ultimately, Relativity proved itself as a strong model for YA fiction centered on alternate realities/worlds. The novel has a strong plot with clear continuity and well-developed characters. Bishara writes economically in the sense that every scene and every detail directly relate to Ruby’s quest. Though the language is a bit rudimentary (a necessity considering the POV), it is also authentic and fluid. The one shortcoming is that Bishara follows the hero’s quest, only to end the novel abruptly when Ruby returns home and nothing has changed. Ironically, this is precisely why my own novel is falling flat (not enough changes when Quinn returns home). To that end, Relativity is both an excellent model and a perfect illustration of how quickly tension can dissolve.
Bishara’s biggest strength is incorporating scientific theories into the narrative. Relativity contains a significant amount of cosmological theory, as well as extensive information about the practice of encoding/decoding information. Naturally, most of this is couched in Ruby’s knowledge/interest. However, subtle details like making Ruby’s mother in one reality an advanced math teacher and cryptographer allow for the more complex ideas to develop through conversations without feeling forced or overt.
Bishara also has a strong understanding of detail. Every room is incredibly vivid, and every character has clearly defined physical and non-physical attributes. However, the reader never receives details that are unnecessary to the plot. For example, Ruby walks into her room in the second reality and is immediately aghast at its disarray. Papers are strewn and books are destroyed. This scene proves pivotal for two reasons: the destroyed books and papers are precisely the ones Ruby needs to understand the tree, and Ruby’s scan of the room hints that she isn’t in her home (or at least, not in the home she remembers).
The only real weakness in the novel is the ending. While Ruby has been fundamentally changed by her experiences, we don’t see those changes or how they will impact her life. She has just traveled to ten separate realities searching for one in which her brother survives birth and her mother does not die in a car accident. When she returns, though, the relationship with her step-sister is static and her father offers only to take her to a museum the following weekend. The most obvious reason for this shortcoming is that the ending is rushed. Traditionally, a hero’s quest (which this very much becomes) results in very obvious changes to the hero. This quest merely ends.
Bishara’s biggest strength is incorporating scientific theories into the narrative. Relativity contains a significant amount of cosmological theory, as well as extensive information about the practice of encoding/decoding information. Naturally, most of this is couched in Ruby’s knowledge/interest. However, subtle details like making Ruby’s mother in one reality an advanced math teacher and cryptographer allow for the more complex ideas to develop through conversations without feeling forced or overt.
Bishara also has a strong understanding of detail. Every room is incredibly vivid, and every character has clearly defined physical and non-physical attributes. However, the reader never receives details that are unnecessary to the plot. For example, Ruby walks into her room in the second reality and is immediately aghast at its disarray. Papers are strewn and books are destroyed. This scene proves pivotal for two reasons: the destroyed books and papers are precisely the ones Ruby needs to understand the tree, and Ruby’s scan of the room hints that she isn’t in her home (or at least, not in the home she remembers).
The only real weakness in the novel is the ending. While Ruby has been fundamentally changed by her experiences, we don’t see those changes or how they will impact her life. She has just traveled to ten separate realities searching for one in which her brother survives birth and her mother does not die in a car accident. When she returns, though, the relationship with her step-sister is static and her father offers only to take her to a museum the following weekend. The most obvious reason for this shortcoming is that the ending is rushed. Traditionally, a hero’s quest (which this very much becomes) results in very obvious changes to the hero. This quest merely ends.
July 10, 2013
Ruby is un-enthused to say the least about moving to Ohio from California. Especially when it means that she's gaining a new 'Mom' and a psychotic stepsister. So when the aforesaid stepsister, Kandy, is terrorizing her one day Ruby comes across a tree that is famed for being haunted - killing anyone who tries to chop it down. So when she sees a door in the tree she uses it to escape from further pain. Once inside the tree, things get really weird. When Ruby steps out again she's in a universe where her dead Mother is still alive, she has an older brother and she's a popular girl - an average student and purveyor of the color pink. Desperate to find out what's going on (especially when she realizes that the money is different and history has changed), Ruby does some investigating. She finds out that each time she goes in and out of the tree, she enters an alternate universe where everything might be different, or just a couple small things. In one she lives in Ohio, but so does her best friend George from California and they start dating. In another her Mom is her Math teacher, and lives in an apartment by herself, while Ruby and her brother live with their Dad. Will she ever be able to get back to the world she belongs in? Or will she choose to live in another universe, as a slightly altered version of herself?
I really thought that Bishara managed to be creative and fresh in a world of growing amounts of alternate dimensions/freakish time exchange novels. It managed to throw in some decently explained scientific stuff, while still packing in the action and keeping me glued to the edge of my seat. That said, I feel like it could have used another 50-100 pages so that a little more explanation could be done on the tree and some specific differences in the history of each dimension. The addition of a brother to Ruby's life in a couple of the dimensions was interesting and actually added something to it in my opinion. I did like Willow, her stepmother, but felt like she wasn't very interested in Ruby or what Kandy was really doing when no one was watching. Ruby's Dad seemed well-intentioned, but was more interested in his advertising campaigns than in making time for his daughter (leaving her mostly to her own devices). The relationship she has with George is obviously a really intense and close one, but I felt like it wasn't really the focus of the novel.
The main question of it was this: would you choose to live someone else's life just to have things exactly the way you always wanted them? Even if it meant you'd no longer be yourself? The ending (with the lightning strike) was pretty fitting, but I felt like this story was too open-ended for my liking as a reader. I really did like that Ruby got a chance to know the Mother she lost so young to a bad car accident. But at the same time, the action's focus did feel jerky sometimes. I guess I'm in the minority that likes a medium to slow pace on novels that have a complicated story to tell. My only complaint is that it gave me a lot, but not enough. Overall, a really great read that I would recommend to fans of sci-fi and time-travel/alternate universes. It's definitely a fresh piece of literature for someone who geeks on that stuff. I oughta know, cause I'm one of those people! :)
VERDICT: 3.75/5 Stars
**I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication is September 10th, 2013.**
I really thought that Bishara managed to be creative and fresh in a world of growing amounts of alternate dimensions/freakish time exchange novels. It managed to throw in some decently explained scientific stuff, while still packing in the action and keeping me glued to the edge of my seat. That said, I feel like it could have used another 50-100 pages so that a little more explanation could be done on the tree and some specific differences in the history of each dimension. The addition of a brother to Ruby's life in a couple of the dimensions was interesting and actually added something to it in my opinion. I did like Willow, her stepmother, but felt like she wasn't very interested in Ruby or what Kandy was really doing when no one was watching. Ruby's Dad seemed well-intentioned, but was more interested in his advertising campaigns than in making time for his daughter (leaving her mostly to her own devices). The relationship she has with George is obviously a really intense and close one, but I felt like it wasn't really the focus of the novel.
The main question of it was this: would you choose to live someone else's life just to have things exactly the way you always wanted them? Even if it meant you'd no longer be yourself? The ending (with the lightning strike) was pretty fitting, but I felt like this story was too open-ended for my liking as a reader. I really did like that Ruby got a chance to know the Mother she lost so young to a bad car accident. But at the same time, the action's focus did feel jerky sometimes. I guess I'm in the minority that likes a medium to slow pace on novels that have a complicated story to tell. My only complaint is that it gave me a lot, but not enough. Overall, a really great read that I would recommend to fans of sci-fi and time-travel/alternate universes. It's definitely a fresh piece of literature for someone who geeks on that stuff. I oughta know, cause I'm one of those people! :)
VERDICT: 3.75/5 Stars
**I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication is September 10th, 2013.**
March 29, 2016
Okay here's the thing...I thought the premise was awesome. Kinda Sliders and Fringe with a bit of Lost season 6 and less morbid The Butterfly Effect thrown in. I was digging that it was the little things in some universes and huge things in others that made the universe not ideal.
The execution and Ruby however frustrated me.
+++
What frustrated me most of all was the fact that Bishara jumped from glittery idea to glittery idea. For instance at one point we find out what's up with the Rubys of each Universe that Original Flavor Ruby visits. Other then a character having a massive meltdown over it all that's said is that Ruby disappeared. Why? Original Flavor Ruby isn't even all that worried--there's a glib comment that hopefully she returns--but its deemed unimportant.
Then there's the small differences vs. the large differences. At first Ruby contemplates why in her universe her dad is an ad copy writer and in another he's a published chef. Mostly everything else is the same (right down to Kandy's destructive trail of violence), but that one fact. While I freely admit I didn't understand most of what Ruby was talking about when it came to the science of the Universe Hopping, what I did understand was that as she became more desperate she cared less about the consequences.
This is driven home in the climax, when she's confronted about how extraordinarily selfish she's being by trying to not only find her 'ideal' reality, but by not caring how it effected those around her. Or the Ruby who was meant to be in that Universe. Not that Ruby seemed upset or remorseful. Sullen maybe.
She's also only 15, but you wouldn't guess it from half the stuff she pulls. I thought she was at least 17 almost 18 and was shell shocked when someone announced her age.
This next unhappiness is a bit of a spoiler so I'm putting it behind spoiler tags
I think this would have benefited from being more than one book or a longer book in general. At just under 300 pages it felt like Bishara didn't have enough time to tell the story as fully as it deserved. The premise and a lot of the questions brought up were very intriguing, but in the end I was just too meh to really care.
The execution and Ruby however frustrated me.
+++
What frustrated me most of all was the fact that Bishara jumped from glittery idea to glittery idea. For instance at one point we find out what's up with the Rubys of each Universe that Original Flavor Ruby visits. Other then a character having a massive meltdown over it all that's said is that Ruby disappeared. Why? Original Flavor Ruby isn't even all that worried--there's a glib comment that hopefully she returns--but its deemed unimportant.
Then there's the small differences vs. the large differences. At first Ruby contemplates why in her universe her dad is an ad copy writer and in another he's a published chef. Mostly everything else is the same (right down to Kandy's destructive trail of violence), but that one fact. While I freely admit I didn't understand most of what Ruby was talking about when it came to the science of the Universe Hopping, what I did understand was that as she became more desperate she cared less about the consequences.
This is driven home in the climax, when she's confronted about how extraordinarily selfish she's being by trying to not only find her 'ideal' reality, but by not caring how it effected those around her. Or the Ruby who was meant to be in that Universe. Not that Ruby seemed upset or remorseful. Sullen maybe.
She's also only 15, but you wouldn't guess it from half the stuff she pulls. I thought she was at least 17 almost 18 and was shell shocked when someone announced her age.
This next unhappiness is a bit of a spoiler so I'm putting it behind spoiler tags
I think this would have benefited from being more than one book or a longer book in general. At just under 300 pages it felt like Bishara didn't have enough time to tell the story as fully as it deserved. The premise and a lot of the questions brought up were very intriguing, but in the end I was just too meh to really care.
July 25, 2015
I received a free copy of Relativity in exchange for an honest review.
Relativity is the story of Ruby Wright, who, like most teenagers, hates her life. Unlike most teenagers, however, she's just been dragged from California to Ohio to live with her dad's new wife and her diabolical daughter, Kandy. Fearing for her life after a particularly bad fight with Kandy, Ruby takes refuge in a nearby tree, rumored to be dangerous, maybe even killer. This tree transports her to various parallel universes, in which one small detail, one different decision, changes everything.
Overall, the book was very entertaining. I thought the first half, where she was more excited about exploring the parallel universes, was better than the second half,
Although physics, especially string theory, has never been my thing, I appreciated that the main character was a smart teenage girl who didn't hide or make excuses for her interest in science. I can't tell you whether the science is correct or whether the use of string theory in the book makes sense, but the use of the tree as a portal/wormhole was something I hadn't previously seen in any books I've read, and it was refreshing to not find a rehashing of something I'd already read.
I had few issues with the book, but the thing that really confused me was That was the only thing that really bothered me throughout the book, which I guess says something.
Relativity is a quick and enjoyable read -- and I was reading an advance uncorrected proof. I imagine the final version will be even better.
Relativity is the story of Ruby Wright, who, like most teenagers, hates her life. Unlike most teenagers, however, she's just been dragged from California to Ohio to live with her dad's new wife and her diabolical daughter, Kandy. Fearing for her life after a particularly bad fight with Kandy, Ruby takes refuge in a nearby tree, rumored to be dangerous, maybe even killer. This tree transports her to various parallel universes, in which one small detail, one different decision, changes everything.
Overall, the book was very entertaining. I thought the first half, where she was more excited about exploring the parallel universes, was better than the second half,
Although physics, especially string theory, has never been my thing, I appreciated that the main character was a smart teenage girl who didn't hide or make excuses for her interest in science. I can't tell you whether the science is correct or whether the use of string theory in the book makes sense, but the use of the tree as a portal/wormhole was something I hadn't previously seen in any books I've read, and it was refreshing to not find a rehashing of something I'd already read.
I had few issues with the book, but the thing that really confused me was That was the only thing that really bothered me throughout the book, which I guess says something.
Relativity is a quick and enjoyable read -- and I was reading an advance uncorrected proof. I imagine the final version will be even better.
October 20, 2014
Alla ricerca del mondo perfetto
Simpatico Young Adult fantascientifico, che - una volta tanto - si fa perdonare la scontata situazione di partenza. Tanto per cambiare, infatti, il romanzo si apre col consueto trasferimento coatto di un'adolescente (causa matrimonio paterno) nel consueto luogo dimenticato da Dio. A convincermi a proseguire nella lettura, però, sono intervenuti due fattori: il primo è il tema. Adoro gli universi paralleli fin da quando, da ragazzina, guardavo affascinata la serie tv The Sliders (un telefilm scivolato miseramente nel caos dopo un paio di buone stagioni, ma questa è un'altra storia :P). Il secondo fattore è stato la protagonista, Ruby Wright. Mi è piaciuta a pelle: invece della solita imbranata ignorante come una capra, qui quantomeno abbiamo una tipa con un minimo di personalità e di passioni. In particolare quella per la scienza sotto qualunque forma. Un po' pedante e secchiona, ok... però simpatica.
Il dilemma in cui si ritrova la nostra viaggiatrice di realtà parallele si può riassumere come segue: se la nostra vita fosse parecchio lontana dal nostro ideale, e d'improvviso scoprissimo di poter visitare (e di poterci insediare in) una decina di mondi in cui forse le cose sono andate un tantino diversamente... cosa faremmo? Cercheremmo a tutti i costi di tornare alla nostra realtà, o tenteremmo di trovare il nostro mondo perfetto?
La storia di certo poteva essere più approfondita e in generale dare di più (i capitoli finali, in particolare, scivolano via un po' troppo in fretta), però non posso negare che sia stata una lettura gradevole e divertente. Meno ambizioso e interessante dell'italiano Multiversum, ma gestito più ordinatamente a livello stilistico e di trama (e ci mancherebbe altro, visto che l'autrice è un ex insegnante di scrittura creativa).
Mi ha fatto piacere, alla fine del libro, trovare i titoli di alcuni saggi sugli universi paralleli. Mi piacerebbe dare un'occhiata in particolare a "L'universo elegante" di Brian Greene.
E chissà mai che qualche ragazzina, leggendo le avventure di Ruby, non cominci a pensare che forse la Matematica e la Fisica non sono soltanto strumenti di tortura inventati appositamente per esasperare dei poveri studenti, ma possibili porte di accesso verso realtà impensate e meravigliose. Vorrei che, a suo tempo, qualcuno l'avesse fatto capire a me.
Simpatico Young Adult fantascientifico, che - una volta tanto - si fa perdonare la scontata situazione di partenza. Tanto per cambiare, infatti, il romanzo si apre col consueto trasferimento coatto di un'adolescente (causa matrimonio paterno) nel consueto luogo dimenticato da Dio. A convincermi a proseguire nella lettura, però, sono intervenuti due fattori: il primo è il tema. Adoro gli universi paralleli fin da quando, da ragazzina, guardavo affascinata la serie tv The Sliders (un telefilm scivolato miseramente nel caos dopo un paio di buone stagioni, ma questa è un'altra storia :P). Il secondo fattore è stato la protagonista, Ruby Wright. Mi è piaciuta a pelle: invece della solita imbranata ignorante come una capra, qui quantomeno abbiamo una tipa con un minimo di personalità e di passioni. In particolare quella per la scienza sotto qualunque forma. Un po' pedante e secchiona, ok... però simpatica.
Il dilemma in cui si ritrova la nostra viaggiatrice di realtà parallele si può riassumere come segue: se la nostra vita fosse parecchio lontana dal nostro ideale, e d'improvviso scoprissimo di poter visitare (e di poterci insediare in) una decina di mondi in cui forse le cose sono andate un tantino diversamente... cosa faremmo? Cercheremmo a tutti i costi di tornare alla nostra realtà, o tenteremmo di trovare il nostro mondo perfetto?
La storia di certo poteva essere più approfondita e in generale dare di più (i capitoli finali, in particolare, scivolano via un po' troppo in fretta), però non posso negare che sia stata una lettura gradevole e divertente. Meno ambizioso e interessante dell'italiano Multiversum, ma gestito più ordinatamente a livello stilistico e di trama (e ci mancherebbe altro, visto che l'autrice è un ex insegnante di scrittura creativa).
Mi ha fatto piacere, alla fine del libro, trovare i titoli di alcuni saggi sugli universi paralleli. Mi piacerebbe dare un'occhiata in particolare a "L'universo elegante" di Brian Greene.
E chissà mai che qualche ragazzina, leggendo le avventure di Ruby, non cominci a pensare che forse la Matematica e la Fisica non sono soltanto strumenti di tortura inventati appositamente per esasperare dei poveri studenti, ma possibili porte di accesso verso realtà impensate e meravigliose. Vorrei che, a suo tempo, qualcuno l'avesse fatto capire a me.
September 10, 2013
What if life was a choose your own adventure story? For Ruby Wright, a wormhole found in an Ohio cornfield of all places, gives her access to variations of her life, but is the grass really greener on the other side? Relativity by Cristin Bishara explores the possibility of accessing parallel realities in a fun and engaging way that will keep you on your toes until the very end!
This is one of those endearing stories that really touches the core of all of us. What if my mom was still alive? What if my friendship with that boy went beyond just friendship? What if… Ruby definitely goes through her fair share of life’s twists and turns and feels slighted by life until she finds the potential to experience different realities but those alternate realities come with costs that not only affect her, but those around her.
This read is one of the few “parallel” type stories that I actually felt had a sense of realism behind it. I say that because a lot of the novels today talk about time travel and parallel universes in a way that seems far-fetched but Bishara really develops and examines the math and science behind this possibility, which I personally really appreciated.
Relativity loosely reminded me of The Butterfly Affect, only in the way that we experienced alternate realities but none of them seemed absolutely perfect. Just like life, there is, and always will be, something that we’d like to change…life isn’t perfect and you really have to examine what is important and appreciate what you have in the present. Relativity is a fun, fast-paced, mind-bending look at life and appreciating those that surround you and the reality you live in.
This is one of those endearing stories that really touches the core of all of us. What if my mom was still alive? What if my friendship with that boy went beyond just friendship? What if… Ruby definitely goes through her fair share of life’s twists and turns and feels slighted by life until she finds the potential to experience different realities but those alternate realities come with costs that not only affect her, but those around her.
This read is one of the few “parallel” type stories that I actually felt had a sense of realism behind it. I say that because a lot of the novels today talk about time travel and parallel universes in a way that seems far-fetched but Bishara really develops and examines the math and science behind this possibility, which I personally really appreciated.
Relativity loosely reminded me of The Butterfly Affect, only in the way that we experienced alternate realities but none of them seemed absolutely perfect. Just like life, there is, and always will be, something that we’d like to change…life isn’t perfect and you really have to examine what is important and appreciate what you have in the present. Relativity is a fun, fast-paced, mind-bending look at life and appreciating those that surround you and the reality you live in.
February 11, 2014
It took me a while to get into this book. The first few paragraphs hooked me with their descriptive language, but after that the book got kind of dull and slowly built up steam after that. However, the last portion of made me so tense, because Ruby's leg injury got worse and worse as the book went on, and all the lightning had me worried. I wasn't sure how this was going to have a happy ending. So props to Bishara for the unpredictability of the buildup and climax.
Unfortunately though, Ruby was annoying and selfish throughout the story, and she only made the right decision (begrudgingly) after her parallel mother (my favorite character) convinced her. I didn't really care for any of the other side characters. Her dad and Kandy were terrible. Patrick wavered between annoying and sweet. Willow and George were just alright.
I like parallel universe stories and the parallel worlds in this were pretty good. I couldn't understand all the science stuff, but I just suspended my belief and went with the flow. (I usually do that when a concept is unbelievable or over my head.)
There was some cursing in the book, and that was also a drawback for me. There wasn't any sexual content though. (hooray!) This book was just kind of meh. If you like science and parallel worlds then be my guest, but otherwise I wouldn't bother.
Unfortunately though, Ruby was annoying and selfish throughout the story, and she only made the right decision (begrudgingly) after her parallel mother (my favorite character) convinced her. I didn't really care for any of the other side characters. Her dad and Kandy were terrible. Patrick wavered between annoying and sweet. Willow and George were just alright.
I like parallel universe stories and the parallel worlds in this were pretty good. I couldn't understand all the science stuff, but I just suspended my belief and went with the flow. (I usually do that when a concept is unbelievable or over my head.)
There was some cursing in the book, and that was also a drawback for me. There wasn't any sexual content though. (hooray!) This book was just kind of meh. If you like science and parallel worlds then be my guest, but otherwise I wouldn't bother.
September 9, 2013
I loved this book. The science was fascinating, the possibilities were scary and hopeful and heartbreaking.
Even without mulling over the possibilities that might stem from the existence of parallel universes there is a lot to think about with this book. About forks in the road, the butterfly effect, about how a seemingly unimportant decision can have major repercussions down the road.
I had not expected the book to take as long of a journey as it did through the parallels but I loved it. I loved seeing the differences in each. I felt for Ruby as she searched for what was missing from her life in her universe. And I was hopeful for her ability to accept and appreciate what she had.
Once I finished the read I let my imagination wander as to what might have happened to cause those changes, whether it was some insignificant thing or something more radical. It also got me wondering about fate and destiny.
I love books that make me think. This book definitely did. I'm still thinking about it.
While I would have liked a little more story at the end to see just how Ruby adjusted to everything she'd been through, it's not every book (YA or other) that makes me think about things beyond the world the author created in their story. This book did that.
Review TK.
Even without mulling over the possibilities that might stem from the existence of parallel universes there is a lot to think about with this book. About forks in the road, the butterfly effect, about how a seemingly unimportant decision can have major repercussions down the road.
I had not expected the book to take as long of a journey as it did through the parallels but I loved it. I loved seeing the differences in each. I felt for Ruby as she searched for what was missing from her life in her universe. And I was hopeful for her ability to accept and appreciate what she had.
Once I finished the read I let my imagination wander as to what might have happened to cause those changes, whether it was some insignificant thing or something more radical. It also got me wondering about fate and destiny.
I love books that make me think. This book definitely did. I'm still thinking about it.
While I would have liked a little more story at the end to see just how Ruby adjusted to everything she'd been through, it's not every book (YA or other) that makes me think about things beyond the world the author created in their story. This book did that.
Review TK.
September 13, 2015
Libro carinissimo, piacevole da leggere, dinamico e di compagnia.
La trama spiega bene cosa c'è da aspettarsi dalla storia, quindi non dico nulla di più.
Mi è piaciuta tutta l'avventura affrontata dalla "piccola" Ruby e mi sono ritrovata più volte a pensare "e se..."
Insomma a chi non è mai successo? Chi non vorrebbe vivere la versione perfetta della propria storia?
Per poi scoprire che in fondo siamo fatti del nostro passato e si, tutto potrebbe essere perfetto in un altro universo, ma sarebbe diverso, con una storia diversa e senza i nostri ricordi.
Consigliatissimo. :)
Citazione:
-Prima pensavo a quella poesia di Robert Frost. "Divergevano due strade in un bosco ingiallito, e dispiaciuto di non poterle percorrere entrambe, essendo solo nel viaggio, a lungo mi fermai, scrutandone una più lontano che potevo fin dove curvava tra i cespugli."
-"Poi presi l’altra, che era buona ugualmente" aggiungo.
La trama spiega bene cosa c'è da aspettarsi dalla storia, quindi non dico nulla di più.
Mi è piaciuta tutta l'avventura affrontata dalla "piccola" Ruby e mi sono ritrovata più volte a pensare "e se..."
Insomma a chi non è mai successo? Chi non vorrebbe vivere la versione perfetta della propria storia?
Per poi scoprire che in fondo siamo fatti del nostro passato e si, tutto potrebbe essere perfetto in un altro universo, ma sarebbe diverso, con una storia diversa e senza i nostri ricordi.
Consigliatissimo. :)
Citazione:
-Prima pensavo a quella poesia di Robert Frost. "Divergevano due strade in un bosco ingiallito, e dispiaciuto di non poterle percorrere entrambe, essendo solo nel viaggio, a lungo mi fermai, scrutandone una più lontano che potevo fin dove curvava tra i cespugli."
-"Poi presi l’altra, che era buona ugualmente" aggiungo.
August 4, 2022
A great YA novel about parallel worlds. I would have been absolutely obsessed with this book when I was 12 or 13. It certainly reads like YA, so Ruby can grate a bit at times. But it feels to me like an accurate portrayal of how a teenager would behave in such situations. (Spend time with your crush rather than find your mom? Worry about how all this affects you rather than consider others? Sounds completely realistic to me.)
I found myself wishing the book were longer and feeling a bit stressed out as I looked ahead to how many worlds there were and how few pages remained. I definitely wanted to see more of the worlds we didn't get to hang out in for long.
The narration on audible.com is excellent. Kudos to Elizabeth Evans for striking just the right tone as the voice of Ruby (and/or kudos to Audible for knowing she'd be just right).
I found myself wishing the book were longer and feeling a bit stressed out as I looked ahead to how many worlds there were and how few pages remained. I definitely wanted to see more of the worlds we didn't get to hang out in for long.
The narration on audible.com is excellent. Kudos to Elizabeth Evans for striking just the right tone as the voice of Ruby (and/or kudos to Audible for knowing she'd be just right).
February 2, 2014
I don't even know where to begin.
I started out liking this book - the main character, the premise, the science littered throughout it - all awesome.
By the end, I thought the plot was ridiculous and the main character horrible. Even the science went a little astray - why were there only ten options? Why were all but two so damn similar to each other? There should be infinite possibilities of alternate worlds.
Ruby was horrendous - supposedly so concerned with her mother, but taking time out to fawn over her not-boyfriend as soon as he appears. She dismisses her older brother, is cruel to her father, and generally acts like a twit the longer it goes on.
In the end, she doesn't even have personal growth - her mother from one of the universes has to hit her over the head with a clue bat to get her to go back to her own universe.
I started out liking this book - the main character, the premise, the science littered throughout it - all awesome.
By the end, I thought the plot was ridiculous and the main character horrible. Even the science went a little astray - why were there only ten options? Why were all but two so damn similar to each other? There should be infinite possibilities of alternate worlds.
Ruby was horrendous - supposedly so concerned with her mother, but taking time out to fawn over her not-boyfriend as soon as he appears. She dismisses her older brother, is cruel to her father, and generally acts like a twit the longer it goes on.
In the end, she doesn't even have personal growth - her mother from one of the universes has to hit her over the head with a clue bat to get her to go back to her own universe.
August 22, 2013
2.5 stars
I love the idea of this book. Who wouldn't want to see the different possibilities of their lives? However, it was a little too much work for me to read.
I struggled with physics in school, even with my good friend's mom as the teacher. And since the majority of the book talks about string theory and the like, I felt more like I was reading a lecture than a book.
Ruby is a good, smart character. She gets stronger as she travels through the universities and is definitely more level headed than I would have been.
Overall, it was a quick read. I just wish there would have been more of a human element to it, instead of all the equations.
**Thanks to NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
I love the idea of this book. Who wouldn't want to see the different possibilities of their lives? However, it was a little too much work for me to read.
I struggled with physics in school, even with my good friend's mom as the teacher. And since the majority of the book talks about string theory and the like, I felt more like I was reading a lecture than a book.
Ruby is a good, smart character. She gets stronger as she travels through the universities and is definitely more level headed than I would have been.
Overall, it was a quick read. I just wish there would have been more of a human element to it, instead of all the equations.
**Thanks to NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
October 29, 2014
After moving cross-country with her dad and in with a stepfamily she barely knows, Ruby is burdened by all the losses she can't change. Her mom died in a car accident when she was young, and now she's lost her best friend and secret love, George. When her scientific curiosity is piqued by a mysterious tree near her new house, she discovers it's a portal to nine alternate universes. As she finds surprises in each one, she feels more and more driven toward the perfect universe - one where her mom is alive and she and George are together. But she might lose them all in the process. This was a refreshing story, and I liked how unapologetically smart Ruby is. Get it, girl.
September 8, 2013
Wow. I really REALLY liked this book! I wasn't expecting it, I had the ARC from NetGalley on my Kindle for weeks before I gave it a chance.
It's such a fresh concept, really interesting characters, thrilling action. I got a tiny bit confused around the middle with all the universes, but not enough to deter me or bother me about the book overall.
Anyone who loves sci-fi or is kind of a geek will LOVE this.
It's such a fresh concept, really interesting characters, thrilling action. I got a tiny bit confused around the middle with all the universes, but not enough to deter me or bother me about the book overall.
Anyone who loves sci-fi or is kind of a geek will LOVE this.
June 21, 2017
Really loved this book. I teach seventh graders and book talk novels when I finish them in order to get kids interested in reading. This year I teach a kiddo who just lost her mom and is struggling with the loss... I recommended this book to her and she has been reading it voraciously. This particular student is a non-reader, so to see her so into a book that I also loved is such a treat. Thank you!!
December 7, 2014
Sono partita positiva e mi sono confermata sempre di più nel corso della lettura. Le mie impressioni erano esatte: che gioiellino. Consiglio vivamente. I mondi che l'autrice ha creato sono dei piccoli capolavori. Adorabile la protagonista. Complimenti. Che soddisfazione, aria fresca dopo un precedente romanzo letto e non troppo piacevole!
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