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The Movement of Stars
In 1845 Nantucket, Hannah Gardner Price, a young Quaker, strives to discover a comet that will win her recognition by the King of Denmark and falls in love with a young whaler from the Azores who also aspires to progress beyond his station.
497 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
66 people are currently reading
5867 people want to read
About the author
Amy Brill
7 books49 followersI'm a writer and producer, and my fiction and nonfiction have been published in Salon, Guernica, and Time Out New York, among other places, and anthologized in Before and After: Stories from New York and Lost and Found. I've been awarded fellowships in fiction by the Edward Albee Foundation, Jentel, the Millay Colony, Fundacion Valparaiso, the Constance Saltonstall Foundation, and the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, MA.
I've also worked as a fact-checker, a script doctor, and a copy writer. Basically, if it's in English, and it has a beginning, a middle, and an end, someone has paid me to write it. I live in Brooklyn with my husband and two young daughters. The Movement of Stars is my first novel.
I've also worked as a fact-checker, a script doctor, and a copy writer. Basically, if it's in English, and it has a beginning, a middle, and an end, someone has paid me to write it. I live in Brooklyn with my husband and two young daughters. The Movement of Stars is my first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
January 12, 2024
Why I chose to read this book:
1. my GR friend, Annette, who is an avid reader of historical fiction, reviewed it highly https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ;
2. I. too, enjoy HF, and the premise about a female astronomer intrigued me; and,
3. January 2024 is my self-appointed "Celestial Titles" Month!
Praises:
1. I liked how author Amy Brill was inspired by Maria Mitchell, America's first female astronomer who won a gold medal prize from the King of Denmark in 1848 for her discovery of a comet. I never heard of this woman before, so I learned a lot about her achievements (see Brill's Author's Note);
2. for a debut novel, I'm impressed with the quality of writing. It's obviously well-researched in regards to the whaling industry in New England, the Quaker society on Nantucket Island, and Mitchell's scientific and mathematical background regarding her famous discovery;
3. Brill's use of vocabulary, dialogue, and Quaker mores feels authentic to this time and place; and,
4. the atmospheric setting of Nantucket is accomplished well in this story. Brill's descriptiveness successfully made me feel a part of the landscape. Also, I appreciated the inclusion of maps from 1838 on the end pages depicting this historically vibrant island.
Niggles:
1. unfortunately, this isn't a historical fiction story portraying Mitchell herself as the main character. Instead, Brill planted Mitchell's scientific achievements onto a fictional character, Hannah Gardner Price; and,
2. most of the story focused on Hannah's thoughts and feelings about a Black whaler from the Azores, eventually leading to an illicit "coupling". Her discovery, travels, and overall accomplishments as an astronomer are covered in only a few short chapters.
Overall Thoughts:
A very good attempt for a debut novel; however, the "love story" seems forced. Was this a ploy to lure (female) readers to check out this titillating historical romance?
Well, this particular female reader has a couple of suggestions:
(a) focus on a historical fiction about the actual Maria Mitchell and her achievements. She never married in real life, nor had any children, so she could be depicted having troubling thoughts and feelings, eventually leading to an affair (true to the time and place) with someone who is "hands-off" (e.g. a non-Quaker, a married man, a non-local); or,
(b) write a historical fiction about a regular Quaker woman living on Nantucket Island who is drawn to a man of color.
Just my opinion.
1. my GR friend, Annette, who is an avid reader of historical fiction, reviewed it highly https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ;
2. I. too, enjoy HF, and the premise about a female astronomer intrigued me; and,
3. January 2024 is my self-appointed "Celestial Titles" Month!
Praises:
1. I liked how author Amy Brill was inspired by Maria Mitchell, America's first female astronomer who won a gold medal prize from the King of Denmark in 1848 for her discovery of a comet. I never heard of this woman before, so I learned a lot about her achievements (see Brill's Author's Note);
2. for a debut novel, I'm impressed with the quality of writing. It's obviously well-researched in regards to the whaling industry in New England, the Quaker society on Nantucket Island, and Mitchell's scientific and mathematical background regarding her famous discovery;
3. Brill's use of vocabulary, dialogue, and Quaker mores feels authentic to this time and place; and,
4. the atmospheric setting of Nantucket is accomplished well in this story. Brill's descriptiveness successfully made me feel a part of the landscape. Also, I appreciated the inclusion of maps from 1838 on the end pages depicting this historically vibrant island.
Niggles:
1. unfortunately, this isn't a historical fiction story portraying Mitchell herself as the main character. Instead, Brill planted Mitchell's scientific achievements onto a fictional character, Hannah Gardner Price; and,
2. most of the story focused on Hannah's thoughts and feelings about a Black whaler from the Azores, eventually leading to an illicit "coupling". Her discovery, travels, and overall accomplishments as an astronomer are covered in only a few short chapters.
Overall Thoughts:
A very good attempt for a debut novel; however, the "love story" seems forced. Was this a ploy to lure (female) readers to check out this titillating historical romance?
Well, this particular female reader has a couple of suggestions:
(a) focus on a historical fiction about the actual Maria Mitchell and her achievements. She never married in real life, nor had any children, so she could be depicted having troubling thoughts and feelings, eventually leading to an affair (true to the time and place) with someone who is "hands-off" (e.g. a non-Quaker, a married man, a non-local); or,
(b) write a historical fiction about a regular Quaker woman living on Nantucket Island who is drawn to a man of color.
Just my opinion.
May 30, 2013
Ugh, this book.
Ok, so maybe this isn't entirely fair. I always feel sorry for the books that come after 5-star, life changing, thought-provoking, emotion-squeezing books. And I just read two of them in a row. But seriously, this book.
Alright, so I'd never heard of Maria Mitchell before I read this. But now that I've checked out her Wikipedia article, I have to wonder....why not just write a book about Maria Mitchell? Why make up this person (Hannah Price), who I have have no attachment to and could not have cared less about, to live out Maria Mitchell's life, only with a cheesy romance shoehorned in?
AND, (feminist rant alert) WHY did Maria Mitchell's life have to be spiced up by including a romance? Why isn't "first female astronomer" make for a good enough book? Why can books about men be written without a romantic element and be just fine, but find an amazing story about a real historical woman, and since she doesn't have some grand romance we have to fictionalize her life so completely and somehow make the romance MORE IMPORTANT than her career and achievements? AAAAAARGH.
That isn't totally fair, because I'm sure that if I'd enjoyed the book, I wouldn't be complaining about that at all, but I didn't, so I am.
Basically, I didn't enjoy the book because it's written in a very "tell, not show" format that leaves you not connecting with or understanding the motives or emotions of any of the characters. You can't connect with Hannah's passion for astronomy, nor her passion for Isaac, nor Isaac's passion for her. These feelings are all just kind of ASSUMED without ever actually being shown.
I would really love to do some sort of study on why some books are so able to affect people emotionally and some aren't. The fiction book I read before this (Me Before You) was very plainly written, no big flowery words, and I can't for the life of me pinpoint what about the writing style affected me so deeply, or why the words in this book just didn't. But the fact remains, they just didn't.
Ok, so maybe this isn't entirely fair. I always feel sorry for the books that come after 5-star, life changing, thought-provoking, emotion-squeezing books. And I just read two of them in a row. But seriously, this book.
Alright, so I'd never heard of Maria Mitchell before I read this. But now that I've checked out her Wikipedia article, I have to wonder....why not just write a book about Maria Mitchell? Why make up this person (Hannah Price), who I have have no attachment to and could not have cared less about, to live out Maria Mitchell's life, only with a cheesy romance shoehorned in?
AND, (feminist rant alert) WHY did Maria Mitchell's life have to be spiced up by including a romance? Why isn't "first female astronomer" make for a good enough book? Why can books about men be written without a romantic element and be just fine, but find an amazing story about a real historical woman, and since she doesn't have some grand romance we have to fictionalize her life so completely and somehow make the romance MORE IMPORTANT than her career and achievements? AAAAAARGH.
That isn't totally fair, because I'm sure that if I'd enjoyed the book, I wouldn't be complaining about that at all, but I didn't, so I am.
Basically, I didn't enjoy the book because it's written in a very "tell, not show" format that leaves you not connecting with or understanding the motives or emotions of any of the characters. You can't connect with Hannah's passion for astronomy, nor her passion for Isaac, nor Isaac's passion for her. These feelings are all just kind of ASSUMED without ever actually being shown.
I would really love to do some sort of study on why some books are so able to affect people emotionally and some aren't. The fiction book I read before this (Me Before You) was very plainly written, no big flowery words, and I can't for the life of me pinpoint what about the writing style affected me so deeply, or why the words in this book just didn't. But the fact remains, they just didn't.
October 20, 2018
Hannah Gardner Price is a fictional character inspired by the work of Maria Mitchell, the first professional female astronomer in America. In 1847, Maria discovered a comet, which earned her a medal from the King of Denmark.
The story starts in 1845, Nantucket. “Hannah’s intention is: to find a comet that no one on Earth had yet seen. It was more than she could reasonably hope for, with no proper observatory, no hope of a higher education, and no instruments but the dear, battered, three foot-long Dolland telescope and her own two eyes.”
At 24, she dreams to win the King of Denmark’s prize – a gold medal and generous sum to anyone, who found a new comet.
One day, she hears a knock on the front door. It is Isaac Martin, a young, dark-skinned whaler from the Azores, who came to deliver chronometer for her father. He sees “the sextant, the telescope, the books” and asks her to teach him. She sees a reflection of herself in him, two ambitious people limited by the expectations of their stations in life. So she agrees.
She corresponds with George Bond, a “son of the man who oversaw the greatest observatory in the US.” George is his father’s assistant at Cambridge. A position he didn’t dream about, it was rather thrust at him.
“The work of American observatories – resolving nebulae, charting the entirety of the Heavens, even trying to photograph stars! – was revolutionary. (…) She’d given anything to be part of it.”
She enjoys being a teacher to Isaac, and what she gains along the way turns out to be much more valuable. He calls her attention to Truth, which she refused to see as she sees only what she was taught in a strict Quaker community.
Once she discovers a new Comet, “a slice of the Universe is offered to her.”
This beautiful story, vividly written, is based on a woman, who not too many know of unless you visited an isolated island of Nantucket. The story portrays a woman passionate about finding a new comet and diligent about doing her observations even with limited materials. The work she is doing is seen as “unsettled on religious matters” in her community. She is a woman of strong character, who persists in her dreams and reaches for the stars.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
The story starts in 1845, Nantucket. “Hannah’s intention is: to find a comet that no one on Earth had yet seen. It was more than she could reasonably hope for, with no proper observatory, no hope of a higher education, and no instruments but the dear, battered, three foot-long Dolland telescope and her own two eyes.”
At 24, she dreams to win the King of Denmark’s prize – a gold medal and generous sum to anyone, who found a new comet.
One day, she hears a knock on the front door. It is Isaac Martin, a young, dark-skinned whaler from the Azores, who came to deliver chronometer for her father. He sees “the sextant, the telescope, the books” and asks her to teach him. She sees a reflection of herself in him, two ambitious people limited by the expectations of their stations in life. So she agrees.
She corresponds with George Bond, a “son of the man who oversaw the greatest observatory in the US.” George is his father’s assistant at Cambridge. A position he didn’t dream about, it was rather thrust at him.
“The work of American observatories – resolving nebulae, charting the entirety of the Heavens, even trying to photograph stars! – was revolutionary. (…) She’d given anything to be part of it.”
She enjoys being a teacher to Isaac, and what she gains along the way turns out to be much more valuable. He calls her attention to Truth, which she refused to see as she sees only what she was taught in a strict Quaker community.
Once she discovers a new Comet, “a slice of the Universe is offered to her.”
This beautiful story, vividly written, is based on a woman, who not too many know of unless you visited an isolated island of Nantucket. The story portrays a woman passionate about finding a new comet and diligent about doing her observations even with limited materials. The work she is doing is seen as “unsettled on religious matters” in her community. She is a woman of strong character, who persists in her dreams and reaches for the stars.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
May 27, 2013
Combining elements of history, science, astronomy, and romance; Amy Brill attempts to bring to life the role of female astronomers in 1845 based on real-life Maria Mitchell (America’s first female astronomer) in “The Movement of Stars”.
The initial description concerning “The Movement of Stars” is “sluggish”. Although Brill has clearly conducted ample research regarding the history of the era, science, and astronomy; the story does not come alive. Hannah, the main character, feels far away and doesn’t make any efforts to come closer. This causes “The Movement of Stars” to read more like a description of events versus any emotion or life involved. Basically, the storytelling feels monotone.
Brill also misses on consistency as the story has a slow pace with an ebb and flow of plot which inhibits truly compelling the reader. Oftentimes, many pages pass without any progression in the story and also have ample choppiness. However, the sections involving navigation and science are quite strong appearing as though Brill was confident in these areas without knowing how to diversify the story elsewhere making the skeleton of “The Movement of Stars” strong but with no sinews or skin. Plus, the foreshadowing is too strong, always hinting at the romance factor and then instantly introducing a mysterious male character (Isaac). The events are obvious and sappy.
Hannah’s characterization also lacks a proper arc and growth. One moment she is portrayed as a strong female while the next she is childish. Instead of a multi-layered character, it instead feels like two separate people. Further, Brill uses memory lapses in order to describe Hannah but there are not smooth and are forced.
Although this is somewhat minor: the use of “thee” is quite overdone even in accordance with the time period. It is borderline annoying. Scratch that: it IS annoying.
It takes approximately 200 pages (too late, in my opinion) for “The Movement of Stars” to slightly improve. Although the pace picks up in comparison to the beginning of the novel; it still reads like a YA novel. The subtle, forbidden romance between Hannah and Isaac lacks chemistry while events of note (religious, racial, etc) fail to truly evoke emotion. Everything is ordinary and one-dimensional. Snooze Fest!
The climax of the plot is so predictable and perfect ; that it is amateur, pathetic, and causes eyes to roll. Similarly, the conclusion of “The Movement of Stars” is bland, anti-climatic, and “cheesy”.
“The Movement of Stars” is hardly historical or scientific (although Brill provides notes and references) and is a YA romance novel, at best (and not a very good one). Being Brill’s first novel, “The Movement of Stars” does not seduce me to read more work from her in the future.
The initial description concerning “The Movement of Stars” is “sluggish”. Although Brill has clearly conducted ample research regarding the history of the era, science, and astronomy; the story does not come alive. Hannah, the main character, feels far away and doesn’t make any efforts to come closer. This causes “The Movement of Stars” to read more like a description of events versus any emotion or life involved. Basically, the storytelling feels monotone.
Brill also misses on consistency as the story has a slow pace with an ebb and flow of plot which inhibits truly compelling the reader. Oftentimes, many pages pass without any progression in the story and also have ample choppiness. However, the sections involving navigation and science are quite strong appearing as though Brill was confident in these areas without knowing how to diversify the story elsewhere making the skeleton of “The Movement of Stars” strong but with no sinews or skin. Plus, the foreshadowing is too strong, always hinting at the romance factor and then instantly introducing a mysterious male character (Isaac). The events are obvious and sappy.
Hannah’s characterization also lacks a proper arc and growth. One moment she is portrayed as a strong female while the next she is childish. Instead of a multi-layered character, it instead feels like two separate people. Further, Brill uses memory lapses in order to describe Hannah but there are not smooth and are forced.
Although this is somewhat minor: the use of “thee” is quite overdone even in accordance with the time period. It is borderline annoying. Scratch that: it IS annoying.
It takes approximately 200 pages (too late, in my opinion) for “The Movement of Stars” to slightly improve. Although the pace picks up in comparison to the beginning of the novel; it still reads like a YA novel. The subtle, forbidden romance between Hannah and Isaac lacks chemistry while events of note (religious, racial, etc) fail to truly evoke emotion. Everything is ordinary and one-dimensional. Snooze Fest!
The climax of the plot is so predictable and perfect ; that it is amateur, pathetic, and causes eyes to roll. Similarly, the conclusion of “The Movement of Stars” is bland, anti-climatic, and “cheesy”.
“The Movement of Stars” is hardly historical or scientific (although Brill provides notes and references) and is a YA romance novel, at best (and not a very good one). Being Brill’s first novel, “The Movement of Stars” does not seduce me to read more work from her in the future.
June 15, 2016
I picked this up on Friday night and finished it on Monday all while dealing with an all day conference, a six hour drive, working and being seriously distracted by the bombings at the Boston Marathon.
I identified with the bookish heroine and thank God that I was born into an age when being a woman doesn't hold me back from intellectual pursuits.
I don't read a lot of romance novels anymore but I deep down I do enjoy a good love story. This one is bittersweet and has some lovely, emotionally charged scenes.
Since Mother's Day is around the corner, I'll say this would be a great book to pick up for your Mom as a gift.
I identified with the bookish heroine and thank God that I was born into an age when being a woman doesn't hold me back from intellectual pursuits.
I don't read a lot of romance novels anymore but I deep down I do enjoy a good love story. This one is bittersweet and has some lovely, emotionally charged scenes.
Since Mother's Day is around the corner, I'll say this would be a great book to pick up for your Mom as a gift.
August 8, 2018
This was a really good story about the first professional woman astronomer. It is based on truth which I love historical fiction. It's a story about a very strong woman who helps other women. Very uplifting. There's a relationship story there about a woman who was a Quaker and was banished from the church because of her friendship with a black man when she was white and how she learned to stand up for herself and gain back the respect of the people in her community without going back into the church. Definitely recommend.
April 7, 2013
The Movement of the Stars by Amy Brill called to me immediately! As soon as I saw the cover, I knew the story would be connected to Maria Mitchell, the first professional female astronomer in United States. I had learned about her on my visit to Nantucket Island. But instead of a biography, this is historical fiction inspired by her. Amy Brill has researched her subject well. In the back of the book, she defines all the differences between Maria Mitchell and Hannah Gardner Price.
Hannah Gardner Price is fascinated by the heavens; it is her passion to study the night skies. Her desire is to discover a new comet and to be recognized publicly by winning a gold metal awarded by the King of Denmark. She lives with her father and is dismayed to hear from him that he was planning to marry and move to Philadelphia. How was she going to stay on Nantucket and continue to her search for the comet? Women cannot live alone in this strict Quaker community.
Isaac Martin, a handsome dark skinned second mate wants lessons in navigation so he can advance his career. Hannah undertakes that but she is also drawn to this man‘s intellect and physically. This love for him changes her life profoundly.
I loved the richly drawn characters, her fascination and devotion to the stars, the portrayal of Nantucket from 1845. I also loved the detail from the clothes that she wore to her inner feelings. My only negative is the pace. For the first third of the book, the book dragged a bit. Then suddenly, the story sped up and I could not lay it down! This is the author’s first book and I think it is an excellent start. If she could have thinned out the first part, it would have been a five star book.
I recommend this book to all who love historical fiction. Be patience with this book and you will be well rewarded.
I received this book as a win from Library Thing and that in no way influenced my review.
Hannah Gardner Price is fascinated by the heavens; it is her passion to study the night skies. Her desire is to discover a new comet and to be recognized publicly by winning a gold metal awarded by the King of Denmark. She lives with her father and is dismayed to hear from him that he was planning to marry and move to Philadelphia. How was she going to stay on Nantucket and continue to her search for the comet? Women cannot live alone in this strict Quaker community.
Isaac Martin, a handsome dark skinned second mate wants lessons in navigation so he can advance his career. Hannah undertakes that but she is also drawn to this man‘s intellect and physically. This love for him changes her life profoundly.
I loved the richly drawn characters, her fascination and devotion to the stars, the portrayal of Nantucket from 1845. I also loved the detail from the clothes that she wore to her inner feelings. My only negative is the pace. For the first third of the book, the book dragged a bit. Then suddenly, the story sped up and I could not lay it down! This is the author’s first book and I think it is an excellent start. If she could have thinned out the first part, it would have been a five star book.
I recommend this book to all who love historical fiction. Be patience with this book and you will be well rewarded.
I received this book as a win from Library Thing and that in no way influenced my review.
April 21, 2013
Of all the books that traveled home from Booktopia, VT 2013 with me, The Movement of Stars was the book I was most excited to read. It did not disappoint. Brill's protagonist, Hannah Gardner Price, is inspired by Maria Mitchell, an American astronomer and first woman to discover a comet. Through Hannah's character Brill explores themes of isolation and identity. There are few things that make this novel especially memorable to me:
1) setting - The Movement of Stars is set on Nantucket in the 1840s (primarily). Place and time are especially important in telling the story. Hannah is seeking a place in a male-dominated world in a time where women do not have a voice. Because of the time period, which is necessary to telling a story about a character based on Maria Mitchell, the novel also tackles the protagonist's ever-changing image of her identity within American society and Quaker society on Nantucket. Additionally, during the time of the action in the novel, there is quite a bit of change happening on Nantucket, just as there is a lot of change happening for Hannah. In addition to time, place becomes a character in this novel. As the novel opens, Hannah is very isolated from her community. She seems to be isolated by choice, spending hours each evening watching the skies. The readers get a sense of Nantucket at night when the rest of islanders are sleeping, and Hannah is prowling the island.
2) character development - Hannah Gardner Price is a truly dynamic character. I found myself cheering for her as I was reading. For fear of spoiling the novel, I will discuss the myriad of changes that take place and why. Suffice it to say, I do like to see character change when I'm reading, and HGP definitely changes.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Movement of Stars, and I look forward to reading Brill's future endeavors.
1) setting - The Movement of Stars is set on Nantucket in the 1840s (primarily). Place and time are especially important in telling the story. Hannah is seeking a place in a male-dominated world in a time where women do not have a voice. Because of the time period, which is necessary to telling a story about a character based on Maria Mitchell, the novel also tackles the protagonist's ever-changing image of her identity within American society and Quaker society on Nantucket. Additionally, during the time of the action in the novel, there is quite a bit of change happening on Nantucket, just as there is a lot of change happening for Hannah. In addition to time, place becomes a character in this novel. As the novel opens, Hannah is very isolated from her community. She seems to be isolated by choice, spending hours each evening watching the skies. The readers get a sense of Nantucket at night when the rest of islanders are sleeping, and Hannah is prowling the island.
2) character development - Hannah Gardner Price is a truly dynamic character. I found myself cheering for her as I was reading. For fear of spoiling the novel, I will discuss the myriad of changes that take place and why. Suffice it to say, I do like to see character change when I'm reading, and HGP definitely changes.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Movement of Stars, and I look forward to reading Brill's future endeavors.
June 3, 2013
This first novel by Amy Brill was inspired by a trip she made to Nantucket, and a brief mention of a teenaged female astronomer from the first half of the 19th century. For me, this had some elements that I'd have a hard time not enjoying - the setting of Nantucket, an early feminist out of sorts in a time period that expects women to marry and to abandon intellectual pursuits, and a character who works in a library. Set during a very real period in Quaker history where plain speech and dress was still the expectation, and Friends could be disassociated from their Meeting for being outside of the community's expectations.
I'm not sure what I think of the romance in the novel. The whole noble-savage element was present despite the fact that I could tell the author was trying to make him unique and a catalyst for the astronomer to learn how to think with emotion and not just fact. Despite my discomfort, the scenes of romantic tension were some of my favorites in the book. It didn't hurt that he was from the Azores, and the ongoing mention of two cold-weather islands catapulted me to the end.
I'm not sure what I think of the romance in the novel. The whole noble-savage element was present despite the fact that I could tell the author was trying to make him unique and a catalyst for the astronomer to learn how to think with emotion and not just fact. Despite my discomfort, the scenes of romantic tension were some of my favorites in the book. It didn't hurt that he was from the Azores, and the ongoing mention of two cold-weather islands catapulted me to the end.
July 5, 2018
I did not love it as much as I had hoped when I started reading. A lot of telling, instead of showing, which made the story sluggish with a lot of description. I thought the romantic arc could have been left out with the biggest focus on Hannah as a female astronomer in that particular time period. I liked the astronomy bits, but that's mostly to do with my own interest in the topic. Not a bad read, but not a great one either...
July 3, 2013
I felt a bit cheated by this book. It really was a young adult novel dressed up as literary historical fiction. No. Many of the characters - including the two main ones - were only sketchily drawn, and secondary characters were really sterotypes - the bumbling suitor, the forgetful old man, etc. In addition, Brill imposes 21st century desires, insights and motivations on a 19th century woman. This is not a bad book - just not a very good one, though I think young girls interested in science and astronomy would like it more than I did.
March 14, 2013
Set in 1845, Hannah Gardner Price is finding herself constrained by a time in history that doesn't value women's contribution to the workforce or science. She has been taught about astronomy by her father and her goal is to one day discover a comet. She finds herself in a dead end situation when her father decides to remarry and leave their Nantucket home. Of course, Hannah, a mere woman, cannot take care of herself and would only be able to stay on the island (to discover her comet) if she had a man marry and look after her. Hannah has no desire to marry, nor any prospects. When she starts to tutor Isaac Martin, a young dark-skinned whaler from Azores, she is drawn to him in a way she has never been drawn to a man before. Oh the scandal that ensues when Hannah is just seen walking with him on the beach at night. Hannah's religious faith and reputation are called into question which turns Hannah's entire world upside down. She begins to question her lifelong beliefs about faith, her community, love and these questions push her down a path that ultimately changes her life forever.
I really wanted to like this book a ton more than I did. I mean,it's right up my feminist alley. I really liked the characters and the setting. The author stayed true to Hannah's character and I never doubted the direction she was headed. I like that she never made Hannah choose a man over her own life's goals. I can't really point to a "flaw" but it just didn't draw me in and keep me. It took me forever to read because it was a story I could easily be pulled away from.
I really wanted to like this book a ton more than I did. I mean,it's right up my feminist alley. I really liked the characters and the setting. The author stayed true to Hannah's character and I never doubted the direction she was headed. I like that she never made Hannah choose a man over her own life's goals. I can't really point to a "flaw" but it just didn't draw me in and keep me. It took me forever to read because it was a story I could easily be pulled away from.
May 3, 2013
I love historical fiction. I love to read about a time and a place, to be able to see and feel that era and the people of the time.
I didn't really feel it with this book. I enjoyed the story, to an extent, but felt like it didn't quite take off like I wanted it to. Then when I finished the story I found that some of the hardest parts for me to accept while reading were the parts that the author made or added to make the story more interesting!?! What it ended up doing is making me feel more frustrated about the story.
Why did she feel the need to add those details? Her descriptions of Hannah were at odds with what happened in her life. Hannah is described as plain, and rather like her twin brother, telling me she's quite masculine. Her dislike and judgment of everyone tells me she's socially awkward, yet the author has two men proposing marriage to her, and both saying that they essentially don't have romantic feelings for her, but then acting as if they do. The author goes even further, and gives her a love interest who is not of her social class, and who is of a "different hue", something that would have been beyond unacceptable at the time. And yet we were told that Hannah was a very rational and orderly person. To me these don't mix, and even while I knew this was historical FICTION, I couldn't make it work.
I didn't really feel it with this book. I enjoyed the story, to an extent, but felt like it didn't quite take off like I wanted it to. Then when I finished the story I found that some of the hardest parts for me to accept while reading were the parts that the author made or added to make the story more interesting!?! What it ended up doing is making me feel more frustrated about the story.
Why did she feel the need to add those details? Her descriptions of Hannah were at odds with what happened in her life. Hannah is described as plain, and rather like her twin brother, telling me she's quite masculine. Her dislike and judgment of everyone tells me she's socially awkward, yet the author has two men proposing marriage to her, and both saying that they essentially don't have romantic feelings for her, but then acting as if they do. The author goes even further, and gives her a love interest who is not of her social class, and who is of a "different hue", something that would have been beyond unacceptable at the time. And yet we were told that Hannah was a very rational and orderly person. To me these don't mix, and even while I knew this was historical FICTION, I couldn't make it work.
September 16, 2013
Amy Brill, author of The Movement of Stars, chose the Quaker astronomer Maria Mitchell as the inspiration for her protagonist, Hannah Gardner Price. Readers should take the time to read the author's note at the end of the novel. Brill is very clear about what she takes straight from history, what is inspiration, and what is pure fiction.
I struggled with the pacing and the character development until chapter five. From chapter one to chapter four, I found Hannah Price priggish and unbending. In chapter five, Hannah transforms for me. She becomes much more human -- I still want to smack her on occasion.
Brill brings to life the struggle of women in the mid 1800s. In a time when women were offered very little education and had few opportunities, Quaker women (like Hannah Gardner Price) had a slightly more progressive life. Reading this novel makes me want to know more about other Quaker women (e.g. Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Blackwell, Lucretia Mott, and Jane Addams)...all leaders and forward thinkers.
I struggled with the pacing and the character development until chapter five. From chapter one to chapter four, I found Hannah Price priggish and unbending. In chapter five, Hannah transforms for me. She becomes much more human -- I still want to smack her on occasion.
Brill brings to life the struggle of women in the mid 1800s. In a time when women were offered very little education and had few opportunities, Quaker women (like Hannah Gardner Price) had a slightly more progressive life. Reading this novel makes me want to know more about other Quaker women (e.g. Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Blackwell, Lucretia Mott, and Jane Addams)...all leaders and forward thinkers.
May 21, 2014
I got this book as part of First Reads. I want to say that the book is very well researched when it comes to the history of the time period, and the inspiration for the main character. Outside of that, however, it was not so great. The characters seemed really flat, despite the narrator telling me a great deal about each character - I wanted to see, not be told. Hannah, the main character, is largely unlikable, in my opinion, and I didn't care what happened to her - good or bad. Also, the relationships are problematic; the romance was not believable; and Isaac, the object of Hannah's unexplained affection, doesn't receive any adequate back story until the very end...incidentally when it is no longer needed.
I don't think this book was terrible, but I had wanted it to be great. It was a quick read in that it wasn't intellectually challenging and towards the end I started seeking out just the dialogue because the paragraphs between speech were superfluous.It is a gallant effort for a first novel, and shows the author's potential. But, I wouldn't recommend this to my book clubs.
I don't think this book was terrible, but I had wanted it to be great. It was a quick read in that it wasn't intellectually challenging and towards the end I started seeking out just the dialogue because the paragraphs between speech were superfluous.It is a gallant effort for a first novel, and shows the author's potential. But, I wouldn't recommend this to my book clubs.
July 15, 2014
I liked this book, some of the story line was very good and others a bit boring. This book really deserves like three and one-half stars, but not really four.
August 4, 2020
Beautifully written, and based on the true story of a female astronomer in the 19th century. Her passion and desire lay in the discovery of a new comet, and her ability to adhere to both the behaviour expected of a woman, and as a Quaker, rides up against both her studies and observations, and the pupil that comes, requesting to study with her.
April 7, 2013
The year is 1845, and 24-year-old Hannah Price spends her nights watching the stars from the widow's walk of her modest Nantucket home. She has spent her life in the company of her father and her twin brother, fixing chronometers and scanning the heavens; what she dreams of is to discover a comet and thus win the King of Denmark's Prize. But in this mid-nineteenth century Quaker community, there is no room for a woman to pursue her scientific dreams. When her brother and father leave the island, Hannah is faced with the prospect of abandoning her studies and her dreams.
In Hannah, debut novelist Amy Brill has created a thoughtful, plucky heroine based on the real-life "lady astronomer" Maria Mitchell. Hannah does, eventually, make her long-anticipated discovery and earn her way into the astronomical community, but not before sullying her reputation due to a relationship with Isaac Martin, a black sailor, and cutting her ties with the Quakers. The Movement of Stars reminded me very much of Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable Creatures, another based-on-a-true-story novel about a self-taught female scientist struggling to find her way in a male-dominated profession in a time when women did not even have the vote. In both books, I appreciated the glimpse into the lives of these great female thinkers, and seeing how difficult it was not only to make their voices heard, but simply to be able to pursue their intellectual goals at all -- something many of us take for granted today, I think. For me, though, where Brill's novel lost some of its strength was in its predictable, somewhat trite romance between Hannah and Isaac; using it as a plot device to drive Hannah's Path to Self-Discovery seemed, to me, to be the easy way out.
Still, though, I found the book to be absorbing and enjoyable; in addition to the main plot, I also appreciated the look at Nantucket society at a time when it was very much in flux, changing from an old whaling port to the seaside summertime haven it is today.
ARC received as part of First Flights, the Penguin Debut Author Program
In Hannah, debut novelist Amy Brill has created a thoughtful, plucky heroine based on the real-life "lady astronomer" Maria Mitchell. Hannah does, eventually, make her long-anticipated discovery and earn her way into the astronomical community, but not before sullying her reputation due to a relationship with Isaac Martin, a black sailor, and cutting her ties with the Quakers. The Movement of Stars reminded me very much of Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable Creatures, another based-on-a-true-story novel about a self-taught female scientist struggling to find her way in a male-dominated profession in a time when women did not even have the vote. In both books, I appreciated the glimpse into the lives of these great female thinkers, and seeing how difficult it was not only to make their voices heard, but simply to be able to pursue their intellectual goals at all -- something many of us take for granted today, I think. For me, though, where Brill's novel lost some of its strength was in its predictable, somewhat trite romance between Hannah and Isaac; using it as a plot device to drive Hannah's Path to Self-Discovery seemed, to me, to be the easy way out.
Still, though, I found the book to be absorbing and enjoyable; in addition to the main plot, I also appreciated the look at Nantucket society at a time when it was very much in flux, changing from an old whaling port to the seaside summertime haven it is today.
ARC received as part of First Flights, the Penguin Debut Author Program
March 26, 2013
I always enjoy a good story with a strong female who gives a narrow minded society the finger. Which to me is what this story was all about. Some call it a love story which, without ruining the ending if I can manage, I must disagree most vehemently with. Was there a romance in it? Well, yes, Amy Brill must entice her readers, most of whom will most likely be females, with something other than a rebellious woman interested in science. But really, the romance is pretty secondary to the overall story, in fact, Isaac isn't given much of a backstory, though what little is given works quite well. In fact, for a book I wouldn't hail as a romance I sure was swooning when a mere touch of hands happened, though mostly because it was nice to get lost in a story where an innocent touch like that actually meant something. Not to mention that in being in love with Isaac, a colored person, Hannah was giving everyone the finger again. Yay for Hannah. This novel worked for me because of Hannah. She's passionate about astronomy & very little else, including men, which I liked very much, she's intelligent & closed off to people & polite, proper & somewhat stiff & only comes alive when her mind is challenged intellectually. All traits I liked in a female protagonist. Surrounded by the Quaker townsfolk she grows up abiding by the rules set out for her but as the book progresses she comes into herself & accepts that she indeed does not think like they do & embraces it without a bit of whining or carrying on too dramatically. All things to applaud for a book aimed at women. Well done Amy Brill, here's to many more I hope.
April 18, 2013
I enjoyed The Movement of Stars, but I really wanted to like it better than I did. The Movement of Stars is historical fiction based on the life of the very real Maria Mitchell, in the book she becomes a fictional character named Hannah, (their differences and similarities are discussed by the author at the end of the story). Hannah's life on Nantucket is centered most on her desire to learn and her passion for astronomy, and Brill does an excellent job of making the reader really understand, and even share this passion. This was my favorite thing about the book and about Hannah's character, and I really wanted the story to focus on that. But it is also a love story. I was a little disappointed by this, it seems like such a conventional plot choice, but the romance is very well done. Isaac is not the standard-issue romantic hero, which is very refreshing, and he has his own set of challenges that nicely mirror the challenges society throws at Hannah--neither of them fit well in traditional roles, and both are driven by their need to learn and improve. The Movement of Stars is a very enjoyable and satisfying read, one of those books that draw you in so far that the real world takes some getting used to. Who doesn't need that? I would certainly recommend The Movement of Stars, especially if you Tracy Chevalier's work. I felt that Hannah's story could have stood on its own, without being painted in the romantic glow of love, but Brill is a fine writer and may very well know more about it than me.� I will definitely be watching for her next book. Thanks to the publisher for my advance copy.
May 28, 2014
I can't remember the last time I finished a book and wanted to roll my eyes.
Not a single character was compelling. From the bland Nathaniel, Edward, and Mary to the ever-distant, unexciting Hannah, it's a parade of quick introductions with no real development.
It's clear that Brill has researched the subject matter, and most of that comes across fabulously. But the plot seems to drag constantly. Another reviewer compared it to a YA novel, but I'd argue that it felt more like a writing workshop first draft. There are there bare bones of a story there... however they're never developed into anything more complex, more nuanced.
The love story lacks chemistry or excitement. It seems to happen just because it can, with our only real indication that we should be rooting for anything being the constant assertion that Hannah is thinking about him. Altogether, it feels forced.
This could have been a great book. The setting is a new one for me, and in theory Hannah should be a fascinating character (though if the author was so taken with Maria Mitchell, a story about her may have been better).
Overall, there are some great foundations here. It does read more like a first draft of a first novel, but it's clear that Brill knows how to research and has a good command of language. However, the story and the characters felt uninspiring and more as if they were being moved by a story than by themselves.
Not a single character was compelling. From the bland Nathaniel, Edward, and Mary to the ever-distant, unexciting Hannah, it's a parade of quick introductions with no real development.
It's clear that Brill has researched the subject matter, and most of that comes across fabulously. But the plot seems to drag constantly. Another reviewer compared it to a YA novel, but I'd argue that it felt more like a writing workshop first draft. There are there bare bones of a story there... however they're never developed into anything more complex, more nuanced.
The love story lacks chemistry or excitement. It seems to happen just because it can, with our only real indication that we should be rooting for anything being the constant assertion that Hannah is thinking about him. Altogether, it feels forced.
This could have been a great book. The setting is a new one for me, and in theory Hannah should be a fascinating character (though if the author was so taken with Maria Mitchell, a story about her may have been better).
Overall, there are some great foundations here. It does read more like a first draft of a first novel, but it's clear that Brill knows how to research and has a good command of language. However, the story and the characters felt uninspiring and more as if they were being moved by a story than by themselves.
May 12, 2013
Having read Tracy Chevalier's The Last Runaway earlier this year helped make this read even more interesting, as the main characters are both Quakers, both have issues with their community, families, churches, and the time frame is only 5 years apart. The Movement of Stars takes place in 1845 on Nantucket, the other in 1850 in Ohio. Knowing next to nothing about the science of astronomy, I found this story very engaging, especially as Hannah, the main character, fights to be recognized in her field and also struggles with her "place in society as a woman." Hannah's character was inspired by the real life Maria Mitchell, the firt professional female astronomer in America. Add the love interest of Isaac Martin, a young dark-skinned whaler who also wishes to rise above his station, and this makes for a wonderful story!
June 10, 2013
Love it! First you must like astronomy to enjoy this book; the first several chapters discuss this in details. Hang in there the story does pick up rather quickly after that and away we go.
I love to read stories about women who fought to be their own person, defying what society says they should be; strong, Independent women and “the plus” when they find that one man who understands and loves them for it.
I love to read stories about women who fought to be their own person, defying what society says they should be; strong, Independent women and “the plus” when they find that one man who understands and loves them for it.
October 14, 2021
Was hard for me to get through. Not for any specific reason, other than I just didn't get into the storyline. Sometimes was meandering.
March 12, 2025
this is what i get for not reading a fantasy book
April 9, 2018
Based on the true story of a woman astronomer at a time when there weren't woman astronomers, this books is incredibly empowering, inspiring, and beautifully written.
May 14, 2025
Three and a half stars. I found the book factually plausible and well researched. I enjoyed the atmosphere of Nantucket in its glory days of whaling. The author correctly highlights that a whaling port was a place of great diversity and tolerance not found in other regions of the US. I wish we’d seen more of that community. I subtracted stars because I found it difficult to get a handle on Issac and why Hannah would fall in love with him. I also thought the ending of Hannah and Issac’s love story is much more modern and not true to the times. But the book presents a good story well told, and with atmosphere.
August 26, 2013
While living in the constrictive Quaker society of 19th Century Nantucket, Hannah Price dreams of discovering a comet. This feat would make her a professional astronomer. So goes the premise to Amy Brill’s first novel: The Movement of Stars. Yet this book is not about astronomy. Rather, it focuses on a gifted protagonist struggling to avoid pitfalls that would leave her ordinary.
Hannah’s increasing attraction to a dark-skinned sailor named Isaac Martin quickly becomes the novel’s primary source of suspense, overtaking Hannah’s observations of the night sky. They meet when Hannah agrees to teach him navigation, which in the 19th century required astronomy. The inevitable social tension generated by their association threatens to foil both Hannah and Isaac’s worthy professional ambitions.
19th Century gender and racial dynamics are of course well-worn trappings for novelists, in part because they can be so engrossing. Still, so much of the book reads dry and rather stiff. Certainly a great deal of this can be attributed to the culture being depicted: a religious community for whom restraint and decorum are elevated forms of religious expression. However, the novel spends a surplus of time in the doldrums. I almost gave up reading a third of the way in. Fortunately, I was rewarded by seeing the novel to its conclusion.
Partly due to my personal experience growing up in conservative religion, I could appreciate the excessive posturing and naivety stemming from Hannah's sexual repression. Early on she lacks the ability to interpret even basic biological attraction to Isaac Martin. Ms. Brill is careful and cautious in escalating the attraction between Hannah and Isaac. As their attraction deepened, so did my interest in it.
In terms of drama, things really get going when Isaac challenges Hannah's intellectual assumptions. This is a great storytelling choice, given that Hannah begins the novel as one of the more enlightened characters. Yet Isaac teases out her shortcomings, almost always in a gentlemanly way. By halfway through the novel I wanted these two together. And if you can get a curmudgeon like me invested in a love story, you have accomplished something not easily done.
Yet even as she begins to open up and take chances, Hannah remains difficult to connect with. She keeps others at arm’s length, including those most well-intentioned. Before novel's end, she is faced with at least three positive outcomes. I found myself somewhat annoyed with her devout hesitance. I wanted to lock eyes with her and say, "Hannah, say yes to someone." Yet her destiny remains fixed in orbit around the fate of real life female astronomer Maria Mitchell, whom the author crafted Hannah after. Far from parroting history though, Brill finds emotional depth and significance by tying pseudo-historical Hannah’s fate up with fictional Isaac’s…which is to say I haven’t spoiled the ending.
The Movement of Stars fits well alongside two other commendable works I have enjoyed: Percival's Planet and Shine Shine Shine . All three offer rich character-driven stories while integrating compelling science. Science fiction often indulges the latter while neglecting the former, thus alienating itself from a broader readership. Yet I can recommend this novel independent of its astronomical motifs. You may not end up on the edge of your seat, but The Movement of Stars rewards the committed reader with a genuine and touching human journey.
Hannah’s increasing attraction to a dark-skinned sailor named Isaac Martin quickly becomes the novel’s primary source of suspense, overtaking Hannah’s observations of the night sky. They meet when Hannah agrees to teach him navigation, which in the 19th century required astronomy. The inevitable social tension generated by their association threatens to foil both Hannah and Isaac’s worthy professional ambitions.
19th Century gender and racial dynamics are of course well-worn trappings for novelists, in part because they can be so engrossing. Still, so much of the book reads dry and rather stiff. Certainly a great deal of this can be attributed to the culture being depicted: a religious community for whom restraint and decorum are elevated forms of religious expression. However, the novel spends a surplus of time in the doldrums. I almost gave up reading a third of the way in. Fortunately, I was rewarded by seeing the novel to its conclusion.
Partly due to my personal experience growing up in conservative religion, I could appreciate the excessive posturing and naivety stemming from Hannah's sexual repression. Early on she lacks the ability to interpret even basic biological attraction to Isaac Martin. Ms. Brill is careful and cautious in escalating the attraction between Hannah and Isaac. As their attraction deepened, so did my interest in it.
In terms of drama, things really get going when Isaac challenges Hannah's intellectual assumptions. This is a great storytelling choice, given that Hannah begins the novel as one of the more enlightened characters. Yet Isaac teases out her shortcomings, almost always in a gentlemanly way. By halfway through the novel I wanted these two together. And if you can get a curmudgeon like me invested in a love story, you have accomplished something not easily done.
Yet even as she begins to open up and take chances, Hannah remains difficult to connect with. She keeps others at arm’s length, including those most well-intentioned. Before novel's end, she is faced with at least three positive outcomes. I found myself somewhat annoyed with her devout hesitance. I wanted to lock eyes with her and say, "Hannah, say yes to someone." Yet her destiny remains fixed in orbit around the fate of real life female astronomer Maria Mitchell, whom the author crafted Hannah after. Far from parroting history though, Brill finds emotional depth and significance by tying pseudo-historical Hannah’s fate up with fictional Isaac’s…which is to say I haven’t spoiled the ending.
The Movement of Stars fits well alongside two other commendable works I have enjoyed: Percival's Planet and Shine Shine Shine . All three offer rich character-driven stories while integrating compelling science. Science fiction often indulges the latter while neglecting the former, thus alienating itself from a broader readership. Yet I can recommend this novel independent of its astronomical motifs. You may not end up on the edge of your seat, but The Movement of Stars rewards the committed reader with a genuine and touching human journey.
March 7, 2013
The year is 1845, the place Nantucket. Miss Hannah Price, in her early 20s, eagerly awaits the return of her twin brother, Edward, who is at sea, as she follows a certain routine for her life: library work, attend Meetings, and search the sky for her own comet.
There are many discoveries in this book, and the ones among the stars and improved ways to seek out more treasures in the skies shine brightly, but not as much as Hannah's self discoveries. She learns, the hard way, that she is limited by seeing the world as she's been taught, not necessarily as she believes. Her friendship with Isaac Martin, an ambitious sea-faring man who becomes Hannah's student, leads the way to Hannah's growth and success as a great lady astronomer.
I enjoyed seeing Hannah learn, grow, find her voice and use it, become independent and more confident, and travel the world. Mary, Hannah's sister-in-law, was my favorite secondary character because she presents a realistic view of a lesson many people either can't or won't learn: just because you initially don't like someone doesn't mean you're seeing the situation clearly or that you know the important stuff about the other person, the stuff that may make a dear friend out of who you initially view as an enemy. Sometimes it takes time to get to know someone and it's well worth the effort to try even when you don't want to.
Hannah's family, friends as well as those who bully her and don't stand by her, all fit well into Hannah's life (all have a purpose and make their own points). But some of them lack color and depth. While I really did like Isaac, who Hannah came to love, the time the two spent together feels too short and strained, their reconnection also too brief and not quite as satisfying as I had hoped. Their relationship seemed to have depth but felt lacking at the same time. On the other hand, it does reflect realistically on the times Hannah lived through - there are not always happy endings. And I'm sure society's rules and the way things were prevented Hannah and Isaac from having any kind of opportunity to pursue their relationship. But for both of them, lives rich with promise bloomed; each enjoyed a wide range of different experiences, growth and love, and it was an enjoyable enough journey to travel with them for awhile.
There are many discoveries in this book, and the ones among the stars and improved ways to seek out more treasures in the skies shine brightly, but not as much as Hannah's self discoveries. She learns, the hard way, that she is limited by seeing the world as she's been taught, not necessarily as she believes. Her friendship with Isaac Martin, an ambitious sea-faring man who becomes Hannah's student, leads the way to Hannah's growth and success as a great lady astronomer.
I enjoyed seeing Hannah learn, grow, find her voice and use it, become independent and more confident, and travel the world. Mary, Hannah's sister-in-law, was my favorite secondary character because she presents a realistic view of a lesson many people either can't or won't learn: just because you initially don't like someone doesn't mean you're seeing the situation clearly or that you know the important stuff about the other person, the stuff that may make a dear friend out of who you initially view as an enemy. Sometimes it takes time to get to know someone and it's well worth the effort to try even when you don't want to.
Hannah's family, friends as well as those who bully her and don't stand by her, all fit well into Hannah's life (all have a purpose and make their own points). But some of them lack color and depth. While I really did like Isaac, who Hannah came to love, the time the two spent together feels too short and strained, their reconnection also too brief and not quite as satisfying as I had hoped. Their relationship seemed to have depth but felt lacking at the same time. On the other hand, it does reflect realistically on the times Hannah lived through - there are not always happy endings. And I'm sure society's rules and the way things were prevented Hannah and Isaac from having any kind of opportunity to pursue their relationship. But for both of them, lives rich with promise bloomed; each enjoyed a wide range of different experiences, growth and love, and it was an enjoyable enough journey to travel with them for awhile.
May 22, 2013
I'm not a big reader of historical fiction when it's set prior to the 20th century. The main reason is that they're often slow reads, as the author often has to do more work to frame the story in a particular time and place. One of the best things about books is the ability to transport to other times and places, and you can learn a lot about the world that way, but I just don't often find myself interested in the fiction that's set that far back.
I am a bad reader, I know.
I read this one because the cover was pretty and the jacket copy was intriguing. Hannah is a young Quaker woman in 1845 Nantucket. She helps out in her father's business repairing navigation equipment for ships, but her true passion is in the night sky. At 24, the expectations of her community is that she'll marry and raise good Quaker children, but Hannah's dream is to discover a comet and become the first woman to win a prize for astronomy awarded by the King of Denmark.
When Isaac, a dark-skinned second-mate from a whaling ship, asks Hannah to help him improve his navigational skills, she finds herself drawn to him in a way that is a serious no-no for nineteenth century Nantucket. Their friendship causes a stir in the community, which in turn threatens Hannah's celestial pursuits.
This is kind of a slow book. It's obvious that it's meticulously researched, and there's a lot of science talk when Hannah is teaching Isaac navigation or explaining why the award means to much to her. It's really a book about Hannah's sense of self-discovery more than a book about a swiftly moving plot.
I enjoyed this book because I found Hannah such an intriguing character. She's a strong woman in a time when women weren't encouraged or allowed to be anything but docile and domestic. She's a bit of a loner, often assumed to be looking down on everyone else in the community. She sort of does, but not in a malicious way; it's partially an inability to relate and partially the realization that her community's doctrine isn't always the right, moral path for herself. There's a lot of ideas explored here, but Hannah's growth as she struggles with how to balance society's expectations with her own dreams and beliefs was fascinating for me. It made for a pleasant surprise of a book.
I am a bad reader, I know.
I read this one because the cover was pretty and the jacket copy was intriguing. Hannah is a young Quaker woman in 1845 Nantucket. She helps out in her father's business repairing navigation equipment for ships, but her true passion is in the night sky. At 24, the expectations of her community is that she'll marry and raise good Quaker children, but Hannah's dream is to discover a comet and become the first woman to win a prize for astronomy awarded by the King of Denmark.
When Isaac, a dark-skinned second-mate from a whaling ship, asks Hannah to help him improve his navigational skills, she finds herself drawn to him in a way that is a serious no-no for nineteenth century Nantucket. Their friendship causes a stir in the community, which in turn threatens Hannah's celestial pursuits.
This is kind of a slow book. It's obvious that it's meticulously researched, and there's a lot of science talk when Hannah is teaching Isaac navigation or explaining why the award means to much to her. It's really a book about Hannah's sense of self-discovery more than a book about a swiftly moving plot.
I enjoyed this book because I found Hannah such an intriguing character. She's a strong woman in a time when women weren't encouraged or allowed to be anything but docile and domestic. She's a bit of a loner, often assumed to be looking down on everyone else in the community. She sort of does, but not in a malicious way; it's partially an inability to relate and partially the realization that her community's doctrine isn't always the right, moral path for herself. There's a lot of ideas explored here, but Hannah's growth as she struggles with how to balance society's expectations with her own dreams and beliefs was fascinating for me. It made for a pleasant surprise of a book.
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