The Laws of Gravity

by Liz Rosenberg

An exquisite tour de force, The Laws of Gravity is a testament to what it means to be a family, what it takes to save a life, and the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love.Two families, bound by blood. One decision holds the key to survival. Nicole, red-haired and beautiful, discovers that her life is in danger. She turns to her cousin and childhood best friend Ari for the cord blood he's been banking for his own children. His decision brings them before the scales of justice. Solomon Richter, a state Supreme Court judge on the brink of mandatory retirement, finds himself embroiled in a legal battle unlike any other. A case that calls into question the very things we live family, loyalty, friendship and love. It's Nicole's last chance, Ari's last stand, and the judge's last case. A novel of heartbreaking honesty, humor and depth; an unforgettable story of justice and The Laws of Gravity heralds award-winning Liz Rosenberg as a new storytelling sensation.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Book Club, Literature, Womens Fiction, Ebooks

299 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 16, 2013

About the author

Liz Rosenberg is an American poet, novelist, children's book author, and book reviewer. She is currently a professor of English at Binghamton University.

Reviews

[Lu F Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to get hold of an advance reader's copy of THE LAWS OF GRAVITY. So far this is my favorite book of 2013. It has everything I hope for in a book... a large cast of lovable characters, a quick paced plot, beautiful writing, philosophical issues, some comedy, a love story, more than a few tears. From the description I wasn't sure I'd like it, because I had not loved Jodi Picault's MY SISTER'S KEEPER, and this book will probably be compared to that one. In some ways they are alike. Both deal with a family crisis, a medical issue and family dilemma.

But in more important ways the two books are different. There is no trick ending in THE LAWS OF GRAVITY, but without spoiling anything I can say it's one of my favorite endings of all time. And yes, for sure I was sobbing but not for the reasons you might think. I was just moved beyond words.

This novel is about two cousins whose lives are torn apart by a legal case. But still I found myself chuckling in many places in the book. I loved the two main children in the book, they were believable and brave unlike many fictional kids. Some of my favorite characters were the minor characters, like the flamboyant actress aunt, the brassy vulnerable sister-in-law (there is a hysterical birthday party scene near the front of the book) and a rabbi who is something of a romantic hero. I like books that keep surprising you. At one point, no spoilers here, I shouited, No way! and just sat with the book in my lap for a minute. My family came running in to see what I had dropped.

I think this book is like Saul Bellow meets Ann Hood (who gave it a nice review on line). It is hard to categorize this book, just read it!

[Colleen Lahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would mark this book higher if I could. Yes, this book is a real tear jerker but it has an important message. Cord blood is a new, technological advance that many of us are just becoming aware of. What do you do if someone in your family could be saved by it and yet the intent was to save it for your own immediate family....as a just in case??

The story is about Nicole who contracts leukemia and lymphoma. Her only chance at life is cord blood that was saved from her cousin's child during birth. To share the blood, however, means that should her cousin's family need it in the future, it will not be available. She and her cousin were exceptionally close as children. As they have gotten older, their families have remained close. The cord blood, though, proves to be a crisis. The lawsuit that ensues is a real heartbreaker.

For those readers who love Jodi Picoult, you will love this story. It is relevant, thought provoking and heart rendering. Be prepared to sit down and read in one sitting because once you start, you will not want to stop till you get to the bitter end.

Ms Rosenberg has done a great job with character development. You come to know and love [and DESPISE (ARI)]these characters as if they were living, breathing individuals. I love books that have complex, family situations and this one definitely fits the bill in spades. The book will touch your heart.

I recommend you run...not walk...to the nearest bookstore to purchase this book.

[Karen Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when I discover that I have read other books by an author that I am enjoying even if I didn't remember the name initially. I read HOME REPAIRS by Rosenberg and really enjoyed it. The Laws of Gravity is made of tougher stuff though. The benign cover art hints at a love story, and surely, it IS that, but this love runs deep and takes a twisted path. I can't really say more because I don't want to give away the story, but the characters are very real - you know them inside out as you are turning the pages - Rosenberg has the gift of letting the reader know not only what they look like, but where they live and how they think. The central dramatic device is a strong one, and lets the many tangents of the story unfurl in a captivating way. I laughed. I cried. And I will remember. One of the characters says, "I am remembering NOW." When you get that to that part.....let me know.

[David Kinchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drop whatever book you're reading and pick up a copy of Liz Rosenberg's stunning look at three Long Island families, "The Laws of Gravity". I learned a lot about cord blood storage and what it's good for, but most of all I delighted in Rosenberg's dissection of the Greene, Wiesenthal and Richter families told in clear-eyed, more often than not very funny prose.

Known primarily as an author of children's books, Rosenberg's "The Laws of Gravity" is her second novel for adults, after "Home Repair." It won't be her last; in fact, it's part of a two-book deal with Amazon.

Nicole Greene, wife of Jay, mother of Daisy -- with Daisy repeating with Julian the Ari-Nikki best friends model -- is in her mid thirties, too young to be dying of leukemia, but she is, despite the assertion of her friend and cousin Ari Wiesenthal that with treatment leukemia is chronic, not fatal. He offers her use of the cord blood extracted from the umbilical cord of his son Julian and stored for possible future use. He reminds her that he saved her life from drowning off Montauk Point decades before and he's ready to do it again.

Ari, three years older than Nicole, sends the Greenes a letter stating his intent, but soon withdraws the offer when his son Julian is discovered to have a nodule on his neck. The condition is benign, but Ari panics, deciding he wants all of the cord blood, chiding Jay and Nicole Greene for not harvesting the cord blood when Daisy was born. The cost of $5,000 is nothing for the affluent Wiesenthals, but is substantial for the Greenes. Living on the north shore of Long Island is not for those short of cash.

Ari's decision is not going to be ignored and Jay and Nicole bring suit against him, with the case assigned to Solomon Richter, a state Supreme Court judge on the brink of mandatory retirement as he turns 70. Richter knows he's going out with a bang, realizing that this is going to be a very high-profile case. We learn a lot about Richter's life, as his daughter Abigail breaks up with her live-in boyfriend, Tomas, and decides to adopt a Thai infant girl. Abigail and Sol's wife Sarah fly to Thailand, returning with a girl they've named Lily. It's love at first sight for Sol Richter.

A casualty of the lawsuit is the deep friendship between Nicole Greene, and Mimi, wife of Ari. I'm not going to give away plot points, except to say that nothing is permanent. I can state without reservation that Rosenberg is a marvelous storyteller, with a deep understanding of families honed by her many books.

[Donna Baier-Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Laws of Gravity and still feel like the characters - Nicole, Mimi, Ari, and the rest - are in my mind and heart. I cared about these people, thanks to Rosenberg's expertise at creating such realistic, compelling characters who are set down in what is truly a life-and-death situation. Each new appearance of a character adds another layer to his or her depth. The interaction between Nicole and her cousin Ari is especially complex, running the gamut of emotions we can have towards people we love, even if we sometimes fail them or they fail us. This novel was my first exposure to the idea of saving cord blood. I found the issue fascinating and appreciated the different perspectives brought to bear on it. There were easy shifts between points of view, resulting in a rich story filled with people I felt I knew. The book is a page-turner, too... easy to read and easy to become emotionally engaged in. I highly recommend you take the book to bed or to the beach with you. There are sad parts, yes, but the book is overall a paean to love and family--uplifting, inspirational and so worth the read.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because people wrote it was a tear-jerker and I almost wanted an emotional book to cry over. That did not happen. This book was ok, but so very boring at times. Nothing was going on. The court room drama I craved was not there. Just one instance of it occurring throughout the whole book. Some things were left unexplained, like the importance of the judges visits to the prison to see the woman he helped commit there. The decision came about halfway through the book and the rest of the story from there was so dull and no climax. No nothing, even the ending seemed as if it could be heartbreaking and sorrowful, but the author didnt portray it that way. A lot of the story was pointless like Abigail and the rabbis romance....did it tell us what happened in the end with that? Nope...Was there a point of that little side story in the book? To me there wasnt a point of it, it didnt even cross over with Nicoles story at all. Two seperate worlds, they didnt even clash and I was hoping towards the end of the book they would. To me this book wasnt thought out too well, and ended with the readers having many questions of how things turned out...

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC through Book Browse First Impressions for an honest review.

Family is extremely important but how far do you go to save someone when it could mean that your child might not be able to be saved in the future?

This story calls into question the issue of saved cord blood and can a court force someone to give it to save someone in their family.

The characters came alive for me and there were tears in my eyes almost through the whole book so be sure to keep a box of tissues nearby.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Laws of Gravity" is a touching and surprisingly suspenseful look at a family that unravels in the face of terrible misfortune. Liz Rosenberg manages to touch on topics including cancer, friendship, marriage, race relations, retirement and even international adoption without straying too far from the story that propels the novel forward. This would be a great book club selection as there's lots to discuss when you finish the story!

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Rosenberg, but it certainly NOT be my last. I really liked the family element, the courtroom scenes, and the overseas adoption. Additionally, I liked learned a little bit about the Jewish faith.

Nikki and Ari, closer than cousins, saved each other's lives once. However, when it counts, will Ari choose to save Nikki's life again? This reminds me of a Jodi Picoult novel, and for me, that is HIGH praise.

[Ellen C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is the best book I've read so far in 2013-- it is not flawless, but is so masterful it doesn't seem to matter. Real issues are at stake in this novel about a family torn apart from within. Shows the enduring power of love and friendship, in a wide cast of characters that remain indelibly in the mind. Elegant and sometimes even poetic prose. A fresh sense of humor. I'd call it a must read this summer.

[Neal Worthing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an advance reading copy of this book. It moves along at a galloping pace. Great mix of courtroom, medical and family story. Gripping plot and characters. Not sure why an earlier reviewer found it confusing. I think it has two flashbacks, at the beginning and end of the book. A deeper book than the usual fare, but certainly not hard to follow. Highly recommend.

[Robert Henkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would say that this is not only a well-written novel but an important one. It raises issues of justice, obligation and the fabric of love and society. In many ways a love story, it connects to deeper issues and provides great courtroom drama. Excellent choice for book club discussion.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 out of 5 stars - The law cannot compel altruism.

This novel centers on a legal question: can someone be forced to give cord blood (or other body parts) to a relative? And the moral dilemma: how could they refuse to help a family member in desperate need? Nicole and Ari are cousins and have been close throughout their lives. Now Nicole is sick and needs the last chance of cure that may be found in Ari's son Julian's cord blood. At first he agrees to let her use the banked blood, but then Julian has a health scare that makes Ari retract his promise. Does Nicole have the RIGHT to that blood? How can Ari withhold it from her when it holds the possibility of her health and life vs pain and death. He stands alone against a legal team and the state Supreme Court judge who is hearing his last case before retirement.

Halfway through the book I was getting so irritated by the characters, especially Nicole, that I almost stopped reading it. Melodramatic and manipulative, the author tries to get the reader to a high moral ground and to root for Nicole's case against her cousin. I really did not care for ANY of the stereotypical characters in the novel, nor was their portrayal believable. Too much angsting. Aside from the annoying reminder of how beautiful and good Nicole was (as opposed to her mean, hulking, selfish cousin), I really didn't ever become fully engaged with the drama playing out. The book became more of a morality lecture with religious sermons about conscience, purpose, duty, and being a "brother's keeper" from the Jewish point of view.

If you like Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain, and some of the other female authors who write about family drama, then you would enjoy this novel.

PS - I chose this book because I am concurrently having a bone marrow drive at the school where I work. Donors join the National Bone Marrow Registry and may be called to donate if they match someone who has the need. Their consent to be swabbed, and their registration, is voluntary. Even if they later prove a match, they can remove themselves from the registry and elect not to go through with the donation. The choice of giving their marrow must be FREE WILL. You can encourage people to help others, but you can't MAKE them do it. I also believe it is wrong to try to "guilt" someone into giving -- and I am glad there are laws that prevent the government and the courts from forcing people to do whatever they decide is the "right and just thing."

ARC Amazon Vine

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I must get my hands on this book. A subject that really hasn't been done much, very exciting and thrilling. I love anything court wise. Nicole and her cousin Ari used to be close when they were children. Now they aren't.

When Nicole becomes ill, she asks Ari if she can have some cord blood that he had taken the foresight to save in case one of his own children got sick. He promised. Then the unthinkable happened. One of his children does indeed get sick, and he is torn.

So the court battle ensues. I won't tell the outcome, but this book is so enjoyable and totally captured my attention. What would you do? I thought at times Ari was a bit mean, but I am not sure what I would do either!!!

Go read this book as soon as possible. You won't regret it!!!

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the beauty of this book. The characters were extremely relatable, and I have always loved courtroom fiction. This one gave me an inside view on the judge, which I rarely find in fiction, and I could see and understand the point of view of the two cousins who are dragged into a court case.

Most of all I thought this book was really about love, and the claims on us and on our hearts. So much to think about and discuss in this novel. Does the legal system only punish good but not really uphold the good? How does a person balance the demands of family and self? Who do we protect first? How far should you go to save a life?

Enthralling reading from first page to last. I would compare it to books like To Kill a Mockingbird and My Sister's Keeper.

[Cynthia Catts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from BookBrows. What a beautifully written and incredibly sad novel! It was thought-provoking & would be a perfect novel for book clubs. The strong story line & well-developed characters made it a book that I read almost at one sitting.

My only minor quibble would be that I would have liked to have a bit more background about what transpired between Ari & Nicole, after their close relationship as children, and when they became adults. I thought there must have been more to their story that would have caused him to react as he did.

Overall, a winning & insightful book - just make sure you have a box of tissues handy. You'll need them.

[Dawn Cronk · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! If you are a fan of Jodi Picoult’s, then you are going to love Liz Rosenberg. She has written many novels, and this one is as good as it gets. Nicole and Ari are best friends and cousins. Nicole gets very sick, is on chemo but needs stem cells that Ari had saved from their baby’s birth. Should he give them to help save Nicole’s life? Does Nicole have the right to ask? Very complex family situation that this author tackles very well. There is great dialogue, humor, and excellent character development. I highly recommend this to anyone with a heart! Very moving, so be sure and have your tissues handy.

[Briar Gregory · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up reading this syrupy tear-jerker at page 73, though I was starting to skim it at page 30. The characters were not convincing, and there was an irrelevant secondary theme about the judge that was a total mystery in the context of the main story.

The book addressed a very serious contemporary topic, the ownership of body parts, but I found it unenlightening and negative in the way it is presented by Rosenberg in this book.

[Lois Metzger · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Laws of Gravity" is an amazing read--I could not stop turning the pages! All the characters are great. I especially liked the judge and his struggle to do what's right. Recommend this book to anyone who wants a fantastic story that is moving, insightful, heartbreaking and beautifully done.

[Iantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book, an instant modern classic. Takes a big subject (justice and law, the debt we owe to others) and makes a gorgeous book about it that feels real and gripping. Sad at times, but the ending is a slam dunk.

[Brookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have the tissues ready if you're going to read this! This story will tug at your heart strings. Such a controversial topic of discussion too with the cord blood banking. I'll definitely read it again!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a review for it on my blog: http://musingaboutbooks.tumblr.com/po...

[Mary Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was utterly engrossed by this narrative and its exploration of the precarious nature of friendship and family loyalty.

[Kimberly Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total tear jerker. This novel is technically supposed to be about family and what you're willing to do for them under dire circumstances. I think I cried for a week after I finished reading the book.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicole and her cousin Ari grew up the best of friends and now their children, her daughter Daisy and his son Julian, are just as close. Ari's wife Mimi is Nicole's best friend and the two families spend much time together. When Nicole develops leukemia and chemo fails, her only hope might be the Julian's core blood cells. Initially, the obsessive worrier Ari reluctantly agrees, but he rescinds after Julian has a minor health scare. Thinking she had no other choice, Nicole takes Ari to court.
There's much to like about this novel. The premise is thought provoking, the characters though somewhat one-dimensional, are intriguing. The writing is pleasant.
My criticism are the timeline has glaring errors, the treatment for leukemia is poorly research, Ari is written as the "wrong" one, without giving readers enough positive features to see his POV. The sub plot about the judge seemed to detract from the major plot without adding anything to that plot.
I do recommend this novel, but keep your expectations tame.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am drawn to books about complex social issues especially those that impact families. Characters that are real, who are developed well enough so that I can feel their emotions and a strong story line make a book exceptional for me. This book had all of this and more. It is not a happily ever after story bur it is a book that I did not want to put down and was which evoked a depth of emotions that took me by surprise. The book is thought provoking and would provide an excellent springboard for book clubs that want an entertaining book with substance. The story reminded me of a Jodi Picoult book and I highly recommend it to her fans.

[Michele Whitecotton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The synopsis for this book is very misleading. Less than half of the book is about poor Nicole and the cord blood fight. Those parts of the book were interesting and worth reading however most of the book seemed to be centered around the judges home life that had no bearing on the book whatsoever. We had to read endless chapters about the judges daughter adopting a child from Thailand that had nothing to do with the cord blood lawsuit. Thank goodness this was a fairly short book because I couldn't wait to finish it. I gave this book 2 stars because I didn't find fault with the authors actual writing, the story just wasn't very good and I wouldn't recommend this one.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Laws of Gravity" is a phenomenal story that finds a brilliant balance between literary and commercial fiction. Rosenberg has obviously done her research and the story is well wrought. Her "jumping" in and out of thoughts made it a complex, challenging (in a good way) and rewarding read. There's so much I can say about Rosenberg's writing in this book but I'm going to leave it at this: it's a phenomenal work that is masterfully crafted and a pleasure to read.

[Jaime Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read an advanced copy of this novel so I don't know if the issues I had were worked out by the final publication. However, there were serious flaws in the timeline that made this story almost impossible to follow. Top that with a cast of very unlikable characters and you do not have a win, in my opinion.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find a quiet time and a comfortable chair, and then grab a box of tissues before reading this book. The author does a wonderful job making you feel for all her characters, even the one you'd love to hate. But you can't because she makes them all so human. This family drama about illness will make you think. It's also perfect for book clubs.