The Sound of a Thousand Stars

by Rachel Robbins

Oppenheimer meets Hidden Figures in this sweeping historical debut where two Jewish physicists form an inseverable bond amidst fear and uncertainty.

Sure to captivate readers of Kate Quinn and Bonnie Garmus, The Sound of a Thousand Stars eerily mirrors modern-day questions of wartime ethics and explores what it means to survive—at any cost.

Alice Katz is a young Jewish physicist, one of the only female doctoral students at her university, studying with the famed Dr. Oppenheimer. Her well-to-do family wants her to marry a man of her class and settle down. Instead, Alice answers her country’s call to come to an unnamed city in the desert to work on a government project shrouded in secrecy.

At Los Alamos, Alice meets Caleb Blum, a poor Orthodox Jew who has been assigned to the explosives division. Around them are other young scientists and engineers who have quietly left their university posts to come live in the desert.

No one seems to know exactly what they are working on–what they do know is that it is a race and that they must beat the Nazis in developing an unspeakable weapon. In this atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, and despite their many differences, Alice and Caleb find themselves drawn to one another.

Inspired by the author’s grandparents and sure to appeal to fans of Good Night, Irene, The Sound of a Thousand Stars is a propulsive novel about love in desperate times, the consequences of our decisions, and the roles we play in history.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Historical, Audiobook, Romance, Jewish

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2024

About the author

Rachel Robbins received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is a tenured assistant professor at Malcolm X College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago. A visual artist and two-time Pushcart Prize–nominated writer, her paintings have materialized on public transit, children’s daycare centers, and Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. She lives in Chicago with her husband, children, and Portuguese Water Dog. The Sound of a Thousand Stars is loosely based on her grandparents, who worked at Los Alamos but never spoke of their time there.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice Katz receives a mysterious call from the Office of Scientific Research and Development, and she was a student of Dr. Julius Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist and she accepts a job working on a secret government project, at a place called Los Alamos.

Here Alice meets Caleb Blum, a new recruit, and he’s been assigned to the explosives division. The pair find themselves working alongside young scientists and engineers who have quietly left their university posts and families to live in the desert in New Mexico. America is desperate to end the war and they have no clue what the Germans have been developing and it’s a race.

Alice and Caleb have concerns, about the substances their using and how safe it is, will it have lasting consequences and are enough precautions being taken, and during this time they developed romantic feelings for each other!

The narrative it told from three people’s points of view, Alice, Caleb and Haruki Sato's a survivor of the attack on Hiroshima and he’s known as a “Hibakusha” and this term means he was severely injured in the blast, suffered from the effects of radiation sickness, lost his family and later was discriminated against.

I received a copy of The Sound of a Thousand Stars by Rachel Robbins from the publisher and in exchange for an honest review. The author uses her grandparents real life experiences as inspiration for her debut novel and her grandfather was a scientist and the couple both lived at Los Alamos.

A story about the creation of the first nuclear weapon and the Manhattan Project and how America wanted to end the war. They targeted Hiroshima due to it being used as a base for Japanese military infrastructure, and however thousands of civilians were killed and suffered from horrendous wounds and were maimed for life. The pace and flow of the novel was a little slow at times, I did question the ethics around the development and use of nuclear weapons and four stars from me.

[Max · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I loved the AMC series MANHATTAN, so I figured this would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me.

What I love about historical fiction is that you are transported to a particular time period where you look at events through a lens that you haven’t had the opportunity to do so before, basically learning about history by being immersed in it.

The writing in this novel had way too much telling. I was never truly there on The Hill. There was an opportunity to capture the feelings of excitement and fear from those who worked on the project, but this novel had none of that. Even the camaraderie amongst the wives could have been expanded more to create a clearer picture of the secrets lurking behind what they were building.

Most parts felt like I was reading a science text book. I expected a little bit of that, given the subject matter, but some of it went on for a whole chapter. Even descriptions of the scenery were flat.

Told in three POVs, I felt zero connection to any of them. They were very surface characters and any attempt at adding depth to them was quickly glossed over. The two characters that are supposed to drive the love story had zero chemistry.

This was almost a DNF for me, but I’m not a quitter and I was holding out hope that the book would redeem itself. The concept had so much potential, especially after seeing all the success the film OPPENHEIMER garnered, but this wasn’t it.

[Yolanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the concept but thought it would be more historical fiction than romance. I didn’t like the romance element and felt it dragged the whole story down . By the end I just wanted it to be over . The historical aspect would have added so much more to the story if it had been explored instead of trying to write a romance novel thanks to publisher for review copy

[Marceleen Mosher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preordered! Haven’t read yet but I’m itching to read this story, written by a brilliant artist, academic, and the granddaughter of the love behind the inspiration of the story.

[Marie Girulat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Alcove Press and the author for this gifted amazing book. Also, thank you to @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook.

I was deeply moved by this captivating historical fiction novel. Set in 1944 Los Alamos, it follows the lives of Alice, Caleb, and other scientists working on a mysterious project that ultimately leads to the creation of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Interwoven with the scientific narrative is a poignant love story and the remarkable resilience of a Hiroshima survivor. The author’s meticulous research and inclusion of historical notes enriched my reading experience, and I believe this book will stay with me for a long time.

I enjoyed reading the book while simultaneously listening to the audiobook, as the narrator skillfully brought the characters' emotions to life.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, mark your calendars for October 8, as this book is definitely worth a read. You will not be disappointed.

[Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Alcove Press for my #gifted finished copy and thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted listening copy of The Sound of a Thousand Stars! #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #alcovepress #RachelRobbins #TheSoundOfAThousandStars

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐀 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐬
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐒𝐤𝐚𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝟰.𝟱★

Books like this make me love historical fiction even more! I am always drawn to historical fiction books that feature women in science or technology roles, and I just loved Alice and her character in this book. The Sound of a Thousand Stars is marketed as Oppenheimer meets Hidden Figures, and I can definitely see why! This book was told through a dual POV between Alice, a Jewish physicist and, Caleb, an Orthodox Jew who was assigned to work in the explosives division. In addition to the POV of Alice and Caleb, there were chapters told from Haruki’s point of view, in which the story is told backward. Haruki is one of the hibakusha, or a surviving victim of an atomic bomb. I found these short chapters to be so impactful to the story, and I am so glad the author included them.

The author’s note at the end and the historical note were amazing! I loved how much research went into this book. I also loved how meaningful this book was to the author and her family.

🎧I started reading the physical book, and eventually made the switch to the audiobook, which was narrated by the talented Sarah Skaer. I thought Skaer was phenomenal as the narrator. She was so dynamic in her role and I really loved my time listening to her narrate she distinct role. I believe this was my first time listening to a book narrated by Skaer, and would definitely listen to her again!

[LillyBooks]

DNF page 144.

I stopped this book because it wasn’t anything I hadn’t read before. It’s a love story set in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project, but there’s nothing particularly special about the characters' experiences compared to other books with similar plots. Also, I wasn’t buying their love story; it felt like they had hardly had a conversation, and instead, they just fell into each other.

The one part of the book I did enjoy was far too brief: the story of Haruki, who survived the atomic blast in Hiroshima. Once I decided to stop reading, I skipped through to finish the chapters concerning his story. If the book had dedicated equal time to his trials (or even the entire book), it would have been more enjoyable. What a missed opportunity.

[Kate Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful tribute to the author's grandparents who were personally part of the Manhattan Project community of Los Alamos, New Mexico. As my own grandfather had been consulted on the project, I was most eager to read more about it.

The writing is solid; the characters well developed; the tension taut throughout, and the mise en scène is quite cinematic at times. The research which went into this book was herculean and the science concepts well described. There were actually two stories juxtaposed against one another: the historic lead-up of one against the other in retrograde. Eventually, both stories connect and the book draws to a satisfactory conclusion. Although both stories focused on romantic entanglements, the historic lead-up of the one definitely outshone the other.

The author did a spectacular job of expressing the female scientists' frustration of working in a predominantly male environment even though they were equally knowledgeable and well educated. The swagger of the male PhD's and assisting engineers carried well throughout the book. That is until they faced their own and their colleagues mortality. This all while facing the gravitas of their actions as the atomic bomb was released into the world. The crisis of conscience was palpable.

I am grateful to author Rachel Robbins and her publisher, Penguin Random House for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher:‎ Alcove Press
Publication Date: October 8, 2024
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1639108961

[Cheryl Sokoloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Los Alamos and The Manhattan Project and the people that worked blindly (with the exception of Oppenheimer / Oppi). Do not let the cover of this book fool you. This is a very tough read, author Rachel Robbins has spared no gruesome details of the toxicity of working with radioactivity.

I am drawn to books about the bomb. If you are too, pick this one up. Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Robin Rashcovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Manhattan Project, secrets, radiation, women scientists, antisemitism,love/romance

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a minute to get into this book but it was so good. Highly recommend it.

[Aviva Altmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so special to me to read this book authored by my dear childhood friend.

I never realized that her grandparents worked at Los Alamos. The story feels eerily close - between the references to San Francisco and the Jewish traditions of the characters and our shared ancestors.

The story juxtaposes new life, new parenthood, next to the creation of the atomic bomb and the potential end of humanity. Somehow across the story, love and romance blossoms among the scientists, in the face of dealing with approaching the edge of the earth.

I was touched to be able to read this story and imagine alongside Rachel about the potential love that her grandparents and others at Los Alamos may have experienced during their time on the Manhattan Project.

[Aj Yogi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 🌟

This book captivated me from the start. If you are interested in the history of the atomic bomb and WWII, this is a must read. After reading this and watching the Oppenheimer movie, I'm blown away (pun intented) by the fact that Einstein was alive and involved at the time of the atomic bombs creation 💣 🤯

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! This is a very interesting and gripping book! My emotions were all over the place. Happy, sad, terrified, and empathetic. It's a story about a time in history that changed thousands of lives.

The characters are brilliantly written! I found myself connecting with all of them. They all sacrificed in some way. The ramifications of what they created and were a part of have effects even now.

I really liked the author's note! Her link to the past created this book. Her historical notes were fascinating, too!

I was provided a copy of the book from Alcove Press via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Joseph Suglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A review of THE SOUND OF A THOUSAND STARS (2024)
by Dr. Joseph Suglia

These days, I read narrowly. Most of the authors I favor were active in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; a few were writing during the Renaissance. Every now and then, however, I put my lectionary aside. Much in the way that the hermit crab crawls free from its carapace during molting-season and scuttles onto the pavement of a beachfront sidewalk in search of another, I venture from the shelter of my hermitage and pick up a book written by a contemporanean.

I am delighted that I did so recently, for I discovered a novel which has inspirited me with a new curiosity for contemporary fiction: Rachel Robbins’s exquisitely written THE SOUND OF A THOUSAND STARS (2024). The novel succeeds inestimably when seen from the perspective of plot, character, and language.

Plot is an inessential element of a literary work of art. We know this because there exist unfadable novels, short stories, and plays that are void of plots. D. H. Lawrence’s novels, the greatest in the English language, have no plots at all. Overemphasis of plot is the mark of bad creative writing; there is no point in writing a literary work if its significance is reducible to an outline. Moreover, life is plotless, so why should art be plotted? However, an intricate yet engaging plot is a literary value.

One of the marvels of Professor Robbins’s book is the wizardly construction of its plot. It compasses two diegetic threads.

Intercalated through the novel is the heart-twisting narrative of Haruki, a Japanese man who surveys the past fifty years of his half-life with amazed astonishment. He is one of the hibakusha, one of the “explosion-affected people,” one of those who, ghoulified, stalks the world transparently, unremembered and unrecognized. “I died on August 6th, 1945,” he says. “I may have left Hiroshima, but I will never leave Hiroshima” [72]. His story is told reverse-chronologically. The narrative begins in August 1996—so, fifty-one years after the nuclear annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—and ends in October 1937, when he is a schoolboy overawed by photographs of Emperor Hirohito in a museum in the Hiroshima City Hall. The adult Haruki is of a much different disposition: He is endlessly nauseated by museums, by the museumization of the atomization of the two most populous cities of Japan and their people. And he is literally nauseated, as well, being someone who is afflicted with a rare leukemia, as were many of the hibakusha, who were poisoned by nuclear radiation.

A second narrative is interlaced throughout the text: the love-story of Dr. Alice Katz, young physicist, and Caleb Blum, “schmuck” [93], and their wryly watchful dog Pavlov. The narrative unspools from June 1944—so, shortly before the phantasmagoric detonations—until December 1945, shortly after “the fury of a thousand suns” [294].

Alice works in the Los Alamos laboratory of Oppenheimer, and she might very well “follow that man to the ends of the earth” [27]. Unhappily, she might also follow him to the End of the Planet Earth.

Caleb is a member of Oppenheimer’s first Special Engineer Detachment (the scientist is occasionally given the hypocorism “Oppie”). And Caleb will likely be wracked with guilt for the rest of his deteriorating life for his complicity in one of the worst genocides of the twentieth century. His brother Asher, who is a solider, does not let Caleb forget the latter’s dark complicity: “You still don’t get it, do you? … You’ve never seen corpses floating in the water like logs… I never thought you had it in you… On my worst day, I can only kill one person at a time” [242-43]. The atomic bomb, of course, can kill one million people at a time—and inscribe the silhouettes of the incinerated corpses in the pavement.

Both narratives are interleaved and concerted. What they hold in common is the feeling that both Alice and Haruki share: that they do not exist. Caleb himself feels as if dead: “I’m a dead man” [290; in italics]. Even Oppie has “the face of someone already dead” [202]. Haruki is declared unmarriageable (by the father of Shinju, the love of Haruki’s misfortune-addled life) because he is a “man perpetually about to die” [133].

And this is the leitmotif of the book: the cultural invisibility of unrecognized guilt. The zombification of an unremembered past.

Thankfully, Professor Robbins does not overemphasize the plot at the expense of the second and third elements I will discuss, character and language.

Strindberg writes of his characterless character-complexes: “My souls (or characters) are conglomerates, made up of past and present stages of civilization, scraps of humanity, torn-off pieces of Sunday clothing turned into rags—all patched together as is the human soul itself.”

Each one of the characters of Professor Robbins’s book is overwhelmingly complex. The characters are neither Good nor Evil. They are both Good and Evil and neither Good nor Evil. Oppenheimer is neither devil nor angel, both devil and angel. Caleb is angelic and diabolical at the same, neither angelic nor diabolical.

Professor Robbins is a word-painter. She is an ingenious verbalist, and her book is freighted with a certain gravitas. It refuses to treat its subject with levity.

You will find that most Germanic novels, novellas, and short stories are policed by narrators who insist upon spelling everything out for you (e.g. the works of Thomas Mann, Musil, Susskind). Telling, as opposed to showing, is very much a Germanic tendency.

Professor Robbins’s book, I gratefully report, does not tell the reader what to think. It is an art-book replete with elegantly conceited imagery, and its verbal paintings are of inestimable quality. Even the occasional expositional statements are interwebbed with imagery: “The destruction had been so widespread that even the soil itself was singed, barren of vegetation” [276]. You will notice that Professor Robbins eschews interpretive statements and thetic remarks and challenges the reader tacitly to think for oneself.

Flaubert remarked at his obscenity trial that he wrote MADAME BOVARY to evoke the color jaune (yellow). It might be said with justice that Professor Robbins’s novel evokes the color blue. In the way in which a painter mottles her painting with color, Rachel Robbins mottles her book with blues—lustrous blues, dark blues, every hue of blue, blues of every hue. This is a book of cerulean hazes, of azure skies, of powdery smalt, of Pacific deep blues. There is blueness everywhere in the text, from Alice’s “sky-blue dress” [44] and her “sky-blue party dress” [141] to her “faded denim blue jeans” [75] to Caleb’s eyes: “[H]is eyes flashed with alarm, seeming to change color behind his specs, going lighter blue” [92].

Exquisitely complex, THE SOUND OF A THOUSAND SUNS is a work of intelligent incandescence and incandescent intelligence.

Dr. Joseph Suglia

[Karen Axnick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel was a disappointment and certainly did not live up to the promotional synopsis which described it as a “sweeping historical debut where two Jewish physicists form an inseverable bond amidst fear and uncertainty.” It was tempting to not finish the book, but I kept on hoping for a positive shift.

I felt little or no connection to Alice and Caleb, the two main characters. Their love story held little emotional depth and was characterized by so much ambivalence that it did not seem credible. The story chronicles the development of the atomic bomb at Los Alamos under such high security that many of the staff (including highly placed physicists) did not know what they were creating. These people were putting their lives at risk without informed consent.

The writing style felt flat, and the pacing was slow. I was puzzled that the term “pantyhose” appeared in the context of a storyline set in 1944. Much of the descriptions of the recognized physicists, their spouses and other staff cast them as flawed, even unstable, human beings. Additionally, another storyline concerning a Japanese survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, is woven with the chapters; the story is told in a reverse timeline which did not embellish the novel and even proved to be a distraction at times. Lastly, the conclusion felt rushed by leapfrogging almost 50 years into the future with no definitive history to lay the foundation for the outcome.

Overall, the novel did not meet my expectations based on the book synopsis and I cannot recommend it.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sound of a Thousand Stars by Rachel Robbins is an interesting WWII-era historical fiction that involves Los Alamos and the questions that one asks about their own morals and loyalties during extreme times of conflict.

I have red a few things involving the scientists and labs involved in The Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb development, and this book added a more humanistic and dramatic element and perspective to my more factual knowledge and exposure.

Stepping back and thinking about the confusion, the desperation, the fear, and the daily struggles that could rock a person to the core…it would be so confusing and scary. Questioning your own morals and loyalties: whether to your own code, country, one another…definitely thought-provoking.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Alcove Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/8/24.

[Sara Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I've read nonfiction about the Manhattan Project, Rachel Robbins' The Sound of a Thousand Stars is my first fictional Manhattan Project novel. Two young Jewish people arrive in Los Alamos, New Mexico to help the United States beat the Nazis. Alice (one of the only female scientists at the site) and Caleb (a poor man placed on the explosives team) find themselves questioning what exactly they are building, as both are kept in the dark upon arrival. In the midst of technological weapons advancements, Alice and Caleb draw closer to each other in what feels like part desperation and part attraction. Interspersed in this dual narrator novel are multiple, two-page insertions from a Hiroshima survivor named Haruki, with his story told backward. The way his story intersects with Alice and Caleb's is my favorite aspect of this novel.

Robbins did a great job with the main and secondary characters wrestling with the concept of humans being God by determining who lives and dies with such a powerful weapon. There is a bit of science lingo that went over my head, but I still understood the concepts. Some of the dialogue is crass from the other males working with Alice. This novels truly feels like a novel of survival and morality. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[peachykeen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was a little difficult to follow. It seemed like the author was trying to tell two different stories, one about Alice, Caleb, and then the Japanese survivor, and the second about the making of the atomic bomb. Definitely need to consider what we are trying to write here

I don’t think that I would reread or recommend this book.

[Reader Views]

As Hitler rounded up Jews and the rest of the world fought in the war, the citizens of Los Alamos worked on something to end it all. Poor, Orthodox Jews, atheist Jews, Jewish physicists, local natives, famed scientists, and their families came together to work on an unthinkable weapon. Each with their own piece of the puzzle, none with the full scope of their work, their brains, brawns, and abilities saw to the end of the war.

They grappled with their own reasons for being there, their murky understanding of what they were doing, and the destructive power and dangers surrounding them. The Sound of a Thousand Stars by Rachel Robbins shines a light on the relationships, the humans, and the town behind the atomic bomb.

Alice Katz studied under the well-known Dr. Oppenheimer; off his recommendation, she soon finds herself called to the very same secret government project he’s leading. As a woman, Alice faces prejudice, isolation, and is left out of many conversations due to her gender alone. With only her dog for company and the many parties thrown by Oppenheimer himself, Alice soon finds herself drawn to a man.

Seeking his own place in the war after his brother joined up, Caleb Blum works in the explosives division of this desert secret. As a man, he’s invited into rooms Alice dreams of as he grapples with the morality of it all. Love blooms at Los Alamos while others are incinerated away. The Sound of a Thousand Stars takes readers inside the making of the atomic bomb, while showing us the devastating effects of its use.

Using her own grandparents’ letters, years after their deaths, author Rachel Robbins has reconstructed their romance, glimpses into their experiences there, and the role they played in a pivotal turning point in history. Robbins has penned a propulsive novel of love, decision, and destruction, opening readers’ eyes to the work happening at Los Alamos, the real people behind the bomb, and the atmosphere of those living within.

Despite the fictional nature of this read, Robbins has drawn from the real lives of people who were there, including her own grandparents, as she reconstructs this period. Relating to other popular books and movies such as Oppenheimer, Hidden Figures, Lessons in Chemistry, and The Atomic City Girls, Robbins’ The Sound of a Thousand Stars blows all those who have come before it away with this moving, thought-provoking, and captivating read.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know the story is classified as historical fiction, but it seems so real. I was transported to the desolate Los Alamos. I am amazed that the scientists and all the supporting employees and their families were able to live there. The author's words would have had me doing a u-turn and running toward the city lights. To be given a glimpse of what it might have been like had me in awe of what they went through.

The story deals with the creation of weapon that haunts many to this day. The author shares some of the struggles and dangers that the actual people might have dealt with. The scientists came from many different backgrounds. Those that assisted them were grabbed as undergrads and put to work, risking their lives. They went to sleep each night knowing they couldn't talk about it with others. All just got a glimpse of what they were building.

I became emotionally invested in the characters. How could I not? My heart bled for Alice as she fought to be there as a female metallurgist. Her brillance was second class, overruled by being a female. Her dedication was inspirational. I thought her falling for Caleb, an undergrad, would make for a lighter story.

I was so wrong. Sometimes being from the wrong side of the tracks can crush a person. The way Caleb grew up was so different from Alice in her fancy clothes and diamonds.

The Sound of a Thousand Stars is not a light read. It is a very emotional read with loss of life, innocence, and struggles. The author did a really cool thing. The story is broken up with the story of a survivor of Hiroshima. His story is told backwards. It was a great reminder of the consequences of the creation of the bomb.

I don't think I will ever forget the story. It has created a lasting impression. I think I need to go read some young children books to wash away the darkness.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical novel set against the backdrop of WWII and the Manhattan Project. One of the things that I really liked about the book is the insight it gave me into those working directly on the Manhattan Project. Most of them didn’t know what they were truly doing, the impact it would have on the world and the whole moral dilemma associated with the project. I also gained insight into what it felt like to be a survivor of the atomic bomb. This wasn’t a history lesson but rather insight into the thoughts and feelings of these characters.

Beyond what was going on in the New Mexico desert, there is a love story between Alice Katz, a young Jewish physicist and Caleb Blum, a Berkeley physics grad student. These two individuals couldn’t be more different from each other. Caleb is an Orthodox Jew whose is primarily working on this project so he can send money to his family and they can avoid foreclosure of their store. On the other hand, Alice is in a field that is male dominated and comes from a well to do family that wants her to settle down, get married and not work in a man's field.

There is another component of the book that takes us directly into the world of those who suffered from the atomic bomb. Told through Haruki Sato’s perspective, a survivor of the atomic bomb. We get a glimpse into what it is like to suffer from severe radiation sickness and the impact of the atomic bomb on him, his family and Hiroshima.

This book deals with some heavy issues such as ethical dilemmas, antisemitism, personal sacrifice and scientific advances that have grave consequences.

I received a complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. All thought and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

#NetGalley, #TheSoundOfAThousandStars, #Rachel Robbins

[Letha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't believe I have ever given a book two stars on GR because I usually DNF a book that I am not liking within the first two hours, especially a longer one (audiobook this one was 14 hours). This may be the right book for others but both as a historical fiction (my favorite genre) and a romance story (not a usual genre of mine but one I enjoy in historical context) it did not work for me.

This book got my attention firstly because it is promoted as a historical fiction based on true characters. I am very familiar with the Manhattan project and the Los Alamos story (even before the movie Oppenheimer) and have visited Los Alamos as a 'tourist' and was moved beyond words. I am also a woman in Physics and thought this combination of history, technology and gender biases for women in technology would land just right for me and the romance would be an icing on the cake. Sadly none of them really landed. There were snippets that were engaging like the arrival of the Uranium, the impact of radiation on the scientists, but the rest was monotonous and very top level. The parallel story in Japan was a nice touch but again I don't think it really pays tribute to the real human cost of the program. The romance itself reads more like a beach romance read.

So why did I continue reading/listening? Because I kept hoping it would get better and I some point having already invested so much time, I wanted to see it through. By the time I go to the details of her childbirth (and I am a mother too) I was gritting my teeth but was just an hour away from finishing.

[Deb Kiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tagline of "Oppenheimer meets Hidden Figures" captured my attention. What I liked about this book: it was inspired by the author's grandparents, set in Los Alamos, deals with some of the ethical conundrums of the era, based in science, had a story line about a Hiroshima survivor, author's notes and historical notes. What I did not like about this story: I struggled to connect with the characters, disappointed at how the Los Alamos and Hiroshima storylines connected, the romance between Alice and Caleb did not work for me. The book was missing the Hidden Figure expectation I was looking forward to. The main character, Alice, was not written strong enough and I was looking for more of her as a physicist. The epilogue finally connected Alice and the Hiroshima survivor, Haruki, but the meeting felt contrived. In the notes at the end, the author explains some of the liberties she took in timelines, but I wish she would have stuck closer to her grandmother's story as a teacher there in Los Alamos. I do agree with the author that these stories need to be saved and told of the survivors and there were recommended books for further exploration.
As an avid WW2 HF reader, I so wanted to love this story and there were parts that were well done. However, this will be one of the few books I do not recommend to others.
Thank you Alcove Press and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Erin Sparkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two young scientists are about to become apart of history. Alice finished her Phd and was surprised to receive an offer from Oppenheimer to be apart of a top secret project for the government in New Mexico. Caleb never quite finished his degree but an offer from the government to have a job and a salary that might just save his family’s home is too good to pass up. Working in the desert on a project they will become increasingly uncomfortable to be apart of, Alice and Caleb will turn to each other to help navigate the future they are influencing.
I really enjoyed the overall story of scientists slowly uncovering exactly what it is they are working on and struggling with the potential ramifications.
I did feel like the story jumped around a little, and the timeline could be a bit lost. It was definitely a slow start and took a minute to get into but it did pick up as it went. I think there were a couple of lose ends left at the end of the story that it would have been nice to have some hint of information on.
I liked that the love story was complicated because of the setting. This was not a normal time or place and it took its toll on the people living through it.
Thank you so much to Alcove Press and Netgally for letting me have an advanced copy to review. Look for The Sound Of A Thousand Stars October 8 2024

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sound of a Thousand Stars by Rachel Robbins is a dual perspective historical fiction and romance story about the scientists behind the atomic bomb and the Manhattan Project. The heart tugging story of a Hiroshima victim, Haruki, is told backwards in alternating chapters which added an emotive element.

In an era when female scientists were "computers" who took care of administrative tasks, Alice was a physicist who met Caleb whilst conducting dangerous lab experiments. The author describes the experiments in an atmosphere crackling with tensions of the war. She and Caleb navigate the scientific world as Jews.

I could feel the unease of the scientists as they knew their responsibility in placing the deadly weapon in the hands of the military. Physicists J. R. Oppenheimer and Marie Curie and radioactivity, Niels Bohr's atomic model and zoologist Helen Gwynne-Vaughan's contributions are referenced. The scientific information is fascinating and taught me a lot. Haruki's story is moving but it felt like the two perspectives were entirely different books. The romance did not feel convincing to me. But I did enjoy the writing style.

Do be sure to read the author's notes to learn about her inspiration and connection to this particular story

My sincere thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this captivating novel.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this complex and insightful World War II historical fiction novel, readers join scientists Alice Katz and Caleb Blum, working in very different roles in Los Alamos on the Manhattan Project. Alice, dealing with the rampant sexism in the labs at Los Alamos, and Caleb, dealing with the divide between the different levels of workers, have no idea what they are working on, only that it’s critical to the war effort and they must finish before the Nazis do. Based on the story of Robbins’ grandparents, Alice and Caleb must find their places in Los Alamos against the institutional odds which are against them. Alternating between their perspectives throughout the book, Alice and Caleb are complicated and flawed characters, and their relationship is equally complex, particularly in the context of the institutional biases and discrimination which they experience at Los Alamos and in their pre-war lives. This really adds to the complicated moral backdrop of the Manhattan Project. Robbins’ characters are the star of the novel, and the growth and development which Alice and Caleb experience over the course of the book engages readers with the larger emotional stakes. A strong, complex historical fiction novel about the unseen workers on the Manhattan Project, fans of World War II historical fiction are sure to enjoy this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the advance copy.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sound of a Thousand Stars by Rachel Robbins is a fascinating historical novel loosely based on true events.

Set in Los Alamos, NM, Jewish physicist Alice Katz and student Caleb Blum are invited to work with Oppenheimer on the Manhattan project. The people working on the project are bound by secrecy as they do their part in the construction of the first atomic weapon.

Alice is from a wealthy family and her parents do not approve of her decision to go to Los Alamos. Caleb is very poor and was forced to drop out of university to help out in his family store. They are also on the verge of losing their family home. He sends the money he is making at Los Alamos to his parents in hopes of saving their business and home. Despite their very disparate backgrounds, Alice and Caleb become friends and eventually fall in love. But do they have a future together once their time in Los Alamos ends?

The Sound of a Thousand Stars is an interesting historical novel. The characters are well-drawn and their work on the bomb is not without ethical doubts. The relationship between Alice and Caleb is filled with both passion and tension. The very real risks of working with dangerous elements is realistically portrayed. The Los Alamos work site, surrounding area and weather conditions spring vividly to life. This fabulous debut by Rachel Robbins is meticulously researched and very well written.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“The Sound of a Thousand Stars” is a WWII historical fiction book by Rachel Robbins. This book follows three people - Alice Katz and Caleb Blum, both at Los Alamos, along with Haruki, a Japanese survivor of the Hiroshima atom bombing. There are a number of things I should’ve liked more than I did in this book - Alice is a strong female scientist; Haruki’s story should have been more gripping - but this book has a number of faults. While I understand why Ms. Robbins wanted to show Haruki’s story “in reverse,” for me it distracted from the 1944 Los Alamos storyline. I also found the pacing of this story incredibly slow … along with there being a lot of telling, but little exploring/diving into the characters. The romance between Caleb and Alice I found distracting, which is sad because the romance took up quite a bit of this book. I did like that Ms. Robbins based this upon her own family’s story, but I wish that the science had been explored more (along with Alice being stronger in a male-dominated field) and the romance explored less. I really wanted to like this more than I did.

[Pamela Beckford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sound of a Thousand Stars is a humanized story of the Oppenheimer story of building the bomb. Alice is a physicist in a time when women weren't considered serious scientists - but she proves she is serious. She is recruited by Oppenheimer where she has a very siloed role because everyone was kept in the dark about what the other teams of scientists were working on. She meets another young Jewish scientist, and although they come from totally opposite backs socioeconomic backgrounds they are attracted to each other. The story unfolds as they work together building the bomb through the aftermath.

I found the scientific details were a little boring for me, but they wove this historical fiction together with the human side - there was the counter story of a survivor of the bombing that was told backwards.

I really enjoyed reading this book and am glad I had already seen the Oppenheimer movie to give me that perspective. But, of course, books are always better and this one deals with two lives in particular. I recommend that you read this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.