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Relativity
Twelve-year-old Ethan Forsythe, an exceptionally talented boy obsessed with physics and astronomy, has been raised alone by his mother in Sydney, Australia. Claire, a former professional ballerina, has been a wonderful parent to Ethan, but he’s becoming increasingly curious about his father’s absence in his life. Claire is fiercely protective of her talented, vulnerable son—and of her own feelings. But when Ethan falls ill, tied to a tragic event that occurred during his infancy, her tightly-held world is split open.
Thousands of miles away on the western coast of Australia, Mark is trying to forget about the events that tore his family apart, but an unexpected call forces him to confront his past and return home. When Ethan secretly intercepts a letter from Mark to Claire, he unleashes long-suppressed forces that—like gravity—pull the three together again, testing the limits of love and forgiveness.
Told from the alternating points of view of Ethan and each of his parents, Relativity is a poetic and soul-searing exploration of unbreakable bonds, irreversible acts, the limits of science, and the magnitude of love.
Thousands of miles away on the western coast of Australia, Mark is trying to forget about the events that tore his family apart, but an unexpected call forces him to confront his past and return home. When Ethan secretly intercepts a letter from Mark to Claire, he unleashes long-suppressed forces that—like gravity—pull the three together again, testing the limits of love and forgiveness.
Told from the alternating points of view of Ethan and each of his parents, Relativity is a poetic and soul-searing exploration of unbreakable bonds, irreversible acts, the limits of science, and the magnitude of love.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 24, 2015
66 people are currently reading
3706 people want to read
About the author
Antonia Hayes
4 books136 followersAntonia Hayes, who grew up in Sydney and spent her twenties in Paris, lives in San Francisco with her husband and son. Relativity is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 440 reviews
July 19, 2015
As both an astronomy and literature enthusiast, I was on the verge of giddiness when I found Relativity in the bookstore last week. Its cover, for starters, is striking: two silhouettes gazing up a time-lapse shot of the stars. Run your hand across this image and you will be able to feel the imprint of equations written over the sky, tilt it a little and they will reflect the light. Ah, science and story have never felt so beautiful.
Relativity sits in a comfortable middle ground between literary and popular fiction. So rarely do you find a book that can back up strong concepts, imagery and characterisation with a gripping plot. The story itself is so impressively paced that even though the allusions are galactic, I always felt grounded while reading this book.
Reading Relativity was like reading the book I’d always wanted to write. Am looking forward to whatever Hayes comes up with next!
(I also shamelessly loved that it was set in my home city of Sydney, and had a magical book-life moment of reading about the Anzac Bridge whilst traveling over it. Book-swoon!)
Relativity sits in a comfortable middle ground between literary and popular fiction. So rarely do you find a book that can back up strong concepts, imagery and characterisation with a gripping plot. The story itself is so impressively paced that even though the allusions are galactic, I always felt grounded while reading this book.
Reading Relativity was like reading the book I’d always wanted to write. Am looking forward to whatever Hayes comes up with next!
(I also shamelessly loved that it was set in my home city of Sydney, and had a magical book-life moment of reading about the Anzac Bridge whilst traveling over it. Book-swoon!)
December 5, 2017
Who would know that physics and astronomy could be so interesting.
When I first received this book from the publishers I just wasn't sure.
But I read every book that is sent to me (eventually) so started this one with less enthusiasm as needed.
I have been shockingly surprised how much I loved this. It's so well written and has some really heart turning and heart skipping moments.
Definitely one to be considered
Take a second look, then buy it.
July 29, 2016
*Note: An ARC of Relativity by Antonia Hayes was provided by Simon & Schuster Canada as part of their Summer Fiction Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review.
“Because it was denial — not remorse or mistakes — that ruled out second chances.”
Recently, I was asked by Simon & Schuster Canada if I would like to participate in their Summer Fiction Blog Tour. Of course I jumped at the chance! Relativity by Antonia Hayes was one of the novels that I was asked to read and review. I had heard nothing about this book before I was asked to read it, but the premise definitely grabbed my attention.
Relativity is a story told from three different perspectives about a family and their relationships with one another. Ethan Forsythe is a twelve year old boy that is very different from the average pre-teen. He is exceptionally smart and has an extreme knowledge of all things related to physics. Ethan lives with his single mother in Sydney, Australia, but as he continues to grow older, he begins wanting to learn more about his absent father. Claire is hesitant to re-introduce Ethan’s father, Mark, into his life, until one day Ethan falls ill due to a tragic event that took place in his past that may force Claire to contact Mark. Secrets begin to emerge from the shadows and the truth starts to become clear as to what exactly is happening with Ethan and how it is connected to his past.
I must say, Relativity was one hell of a pleasant surprise. Like I mentioned, I had never heard of this novel before becoming a part of Simon & Schuster’s Summer Fiction Blog Tour. I went into this story completely blind and I ended up really enjoying it.
One of the first things that I noticed when I began reading was how beautiful the writing style was. It was almost poetic. It had a really nice flow to it which made the transition from one perspective to the other blend together quite nicely. Each perspective, whether it was from Ethan, Claire or Mark, felt very different from one another, giving each of the characters their own individual voices.
I loved the story when it was being told from Ethan’s point of view. Sure, he is supposed to be an extremely smart person, but he is also supposed to be a twelve year old child. I think this was captured beautifully as he did say some pretty profound things, but he also still had the curiosity and naivety of a child.
However, I can’t say that I was a huge fan of Claire. Reading moments from her perspective kind of bothered me a little as she really couldn’t seem to make up her own mind. One moment she would have one thought and the next it would completely change. I understand why she would be this way, but for some reason, her behaviours did not jive with me personally.
I felt a little indifferent while reading from Mark’s perspective. For the most part it was okay, but I did really enjoy reading his parts when we reach the end of the novel. It dives more into his past and the truth behind the events that occurred providing a detailed backstory into their family and their story.
That being said, I’m not sure how I felt about the ending. To me, it felt like the story was leaning toward one explanation and then it decided to turn around and go the more obvious route. I was expecting something else from the ending, but maybe that was just me getting my hopes up.
I will say though, that Antonia Hayes did her research before writing this novel…or at least I think she did? I mean, I know nothing about physics, but this book was full of scientific talk that I definitely had a hard time understanding. I’m one hundred percent okay with that though. It was part of the beauty of the book. I didn’t need to understand all of the physics and scientific speak, but I believed that the characters knew what they were talking about. I believed that Ethan was an extremely smart twelve year old that had an extreme understanding of science.
As I mentioned, Relativity was a pleasant surprise for me. I had no idea whether or not I was going to enjoy it, and it ended up being one of those books that is genuinely hard to put down. Relativity is such a beautifully written story that I know will stay with me for a long time.
Initial post reading thoughts:
This one was a pleasant surprise for me! I had never heard of it before I received an ARC from the publisher and I had no idea what it was about. I went in blind and I ended up really enjoying this novel. It was written beautifully and it truly was a wonderful story.
April 22, 2017
Twelve year old Ethan lives with his mother Claire, in a Sydney suburb. His father, Mark, went away when Ethan was a baby and has never seen his son since. Claire has done a superb job bringing Ethan up single handedly – he is a thoughtful, bright and intelligent child with an enquiring mind and loves science and physics, especially astronomy. In fact he is so clever, he is bullied and taunted by other children at school who call him ‘Stephen Hawking’. His best friend Will has turned against him and joined with the bullies and Ethan spends his days lonely and friendless.
Claire is an ex-ballerina. She gave up a promising career to look after Ethan and loves him with every fibre of her body. He can be exhausting in his questions but she has encouraged and nurtured him all the way. Claire knows why Mark went away but she has kept secrets for so long they have now become part of her and she doesn’t know how to let them out.
Her husband Mark left when Ethan was 4 months old. We’re not sure why until later in the book when the whole story is recounted. Ethan misses having a dad – he writes Father’s Day cards but has no address to send them to. Until one day, he finds a letter sent by Mark to Claire and Pandora’s box is opened.
This is such a beautiful story that will tug at your heartstrings. At first I couldn’t understand why Claire would keep so much hidden from Ethan but its only when you know the full story that you understand. As a result of trauma suffered as a baby, Ethan has brain damage but not the conventional damage that we might think of. It is believed that his brain has re-wired itself – unlike most people he sees light and sound waves. It is only as Ethan gets older that the true extent of this damage is realised and it would seem that Ethan is a very special child indeed.
There is an awful lot of science in this book – and I must admit that a lot of the technical narrative I didn’t understand but it’s written from the view of a 12 year old and so doesn’t feel like a science text book. It didn’t really matter that I didn’t understand it, but the important thing was that Ethan did. When he finally does find a friend – someone who gets him – I was so happy for him.
There is a sadness to the story but there are also uplifting and humorous moments and the author does a really good job of keeping the balance. It’s a story of love between a parent and child and coming to terms with consequences of actions. The characters are so well defined – flaws and all and nobody is perfect; perhaps like me, you will even feel frustrated with them at times but the characters are what makes this book such a joy to read.
Relativity is the author’s debut novel and the beautiful writing drew me in from the beginning. It really is an emotional and thought provoking read and one which I am so glad didn’t pass me by.
Claire is an ex-ballerina. She gave up a promising career to look after Ethan and loves him with every fibre of her body. He can be exhausting in his questions but she has encouraged and nurtured him all the way. Claire knows why Mark went away but she has kept secrets for so long they have now become part of her and she doesn’t know how to let them out.
Her husband Mark left when Ethan was 4 months old. We’re not sure why until later in the book when the whole story is recounted. Ethan misses having a dad – he writes Father’s Day cards but has no address to send them to. Until one day, he finds a letter sent by Mark to Claire and Pandora’s box is opened.
This is such a beautiful story that will tug at your heartstrings. At first I couldn’t understand why Claire would keep so much hidden from Ethan but its only when you know the full story that you understand. As a result of trauma suffered as a baby, Ethan has brain damage but not the conventional damage that we might think of. It is believed that his brain has re-wired itself – unlike most people he sees light and sound waves. It is only as Ethan gets older that the true extent of this damage is realised and it would seem that Ethan is a very special child indeed.
There is an awful lot of science in this book – and I must admit that a lot of the technical narrative I didn’t understand but it’s written from the view of a 12 year old and so doesn’t feel like a science text book. It didn’t really matter that I didn’t understand it, but the important thing was that Ethan did. When he finally does find a friend – someone who gets him – I was so happy for him.
There is a sadness to the story but there are also uplifting and humorous moments and the author does a really good job of keeping the balance. It’s a story of love between a parent and child and coming to terms with consequences of actions. The characters are so well defined – flaws and all and nobody is perfect; perhaps like me, you will even feel frustrated with them at times but the characters are what makes this book such a joy to read.
Relativity is the author’s debut novel and the beautiful writing drew me in from the beginning. It really is an emotional and thought provoking read and one which I am so glad didn’t pass me by.
July 27, 2015
There is just so much BRILLIANT Australian fiction out there at the moment. It’s blowing my mind. Relativity is right up there with the best.
It certainly has the pull-quotes to suggest this book is a winner. From Graeme Simison and Christos Tsiolkas, to Alice Pung and Emily Maguire, Antonia Hayes gets high praise from her peers. I also happen to agree with every single one of them.
The writing is very readable, and the plot is clever and original without being too unrecognisable. That’s a difficult balance to achieve! I fell so in love with little Ethan and his beautiful worldview. And although I’ve never been a parent myself, I empathised with Claire and the long-lost Mark. This is a very warm, tender book that doesn’t stray into bad domestic fiction or dodgy coming-of-age tropes. Five stars!
Read more on my blog: Middle Chapter
It certainly has the pull-quotes to suggest this book is a winner. From Graeme Simison and Christos Tsiolkas, to Alice Pung and Emily Maguire, Antonia Hayes gets high praise from her peers. I also happen to agree with every single one of them.
The writing is very readable, and the plot is clever and original without being too unrecognisable. That’s a difficult balance to achieve! I fell so in love with little Ethan and his beautiful worldview. And although I’ve never been a parent myself, I empathised with Claire and the long-lost Mark. This is a very warm, tender book that doesn’t stray into bad domestic fiction or dodgy coming-of-age tropes. Five stars!
Read more on my blog: Middle Chapter
February 6, 2017
Twelve year-old Ethan lives with his single mum Claire, in Sydney, Australia. He doesn’t know much about his father, except that his mum won’t talk about him.
Ethan is different than the other children, but he doesn’t understand why, until a stressful situation causes him to have a seizure. Whilst at the hospital the doctors seem to know him, and talk about him receiving a brain injury when he was a baby. Now it’s time for Claire to reveal the secret she has been holding back from her son, about his father, and the events that happened many years ago, when he was just a few months old.
Ethan believes that his brain injury is the reason that he’s not only exceptionally clever when it comes to physics, but the reason he can see physics too. But believing in his abilities may just nearly cause him serious injury.
Sometimes a book comes along that hits you straight in the heart and grabs your full attention. You make sure that you read every single word so that you don’t miss a second of it. Relativity, for me, was one of those books.
It holds your attention from the first page and sucks you into the three dimensional lives of Ethan, Claire and Mark (his father). The characters have all been so cleverly created, and are utterly convincing. They have that believability factor to them, making you want to get to know and understand them better.
The plot of the book is about an exceptionally serious issue, Shaken Baby Syndrome, yet it has been written with such delicacy, that you never feel overwhelmed by the core subject.
There are so many scenes that catch your breath. The inner turmoil that Claire has towards her ex-husband, and how she hates him, but loves him at the same time is intriguing. You would expect someone who has gone through what she has, to have just pure hatred towards her ex. Perhaps time really is a healer!
The story will teach you valuable lessons about life, love, and how we can’t change the past. Instead, we must learn to move on from it, and make the best out of the situation as we can.
The book does have a lot of information, some of it very technical, relating to physics. I’ll openly admit that when I was at school, I hated physics! I was that girl, sat at the back of the classroom, facing the wrong way, not paying a blind-bit of notice, so some of the information throughout was a bit like wading through thick mud for me.
Luckily, I have a husband who is quite the expert when it comes to physics, so he got to show off his knowledge to me, more than once. I had him explaining how white holes work (I’d heard of black holes), or what was meant by quantum mechanics. Oh and I had certainly never heard of Schrödinger’s cat, until now. I think I learnt more about physics via this book, than I did in all the years I spent learning it at school!
Relativity, is a powerful, engaging read. It is thought-provoking and utterly impressive. Debut novels don’t get much better than this one!
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Ethan is different than the other children, but he doesn’t understand why, until a stressful situation causes him to have a seizure. Whilst at the hospital the doctors seem to know him, and talk about him receiving a brain injury when he was a baby. Now it’s time for Claire to reveal the secret she has been holding back from her son, about his father, and the events that happened many years ago, when he was just a few months old.
Ethan believes that his brain injury is the reason that he’s not only exceptionally clever when it comes to physics, but the reason he can see physics too. But believing in his abilities may just nearly cause him serious injury.
Sometimes a book comes along that hits you straight in the heart and grabs your full attention. You make sure that you read every single word so that you don’t miss a second of it. Relativity, for me, was one of those books.
It holds your attention from the first page and sucks you into the three dimensional lives of Ethan, Claire and Mark (his father). The characters have all been so cleverly created, and are utterly convincing. They have that believability factor to them, making you want to get to know and understand them better.
The plot of the book is about an exceptionally serious issue, Shaken Baby Syndrome, yet it has been written with such delicacy, that you never feel overwhelmed by the core subject.
There are so many scenes that catch your breath. The inner turmoil that Claire has towards her ex-husband, and how she hates him, but loves him at the same time is intriguing. You would expect someone who has gone through what she has, to have just pure hatred towards her ex. Perhaps time really is a healer!
The story will teach you valuable lessons about life, love, and how we can’t change the past. Instead, we must learn to move on from it, and make the best out of the situation as we can.
The book does have a lot of information, some of it very technical, relating to physics. I’ll openly admit that when I was at school, I hated physics! I was that girl, sat at the back of the classroom, facing the wrong way, not paying a blind-bit of notice, so some of the information throughout was a bit like wading through thick mud for me.
Luckily, I have a husband who is quite the expert when it comes to physics, so he got to show off his knowledge to me, more than once. I had him explaining how white holes work (I’d heard of black holes), or what was meant by quantum mechanics. Oh and I had certainly never heard of Schrödinger’s cat, until now. I think I learnt more about physics via this book, than I did in all the years I spent learning it at school!
Relativity, is a powerful, engaging read. It is thought-provoking and utterly impressive. Debut novels don’t get much better than this one!
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
May 3, 2016
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Relativity is a gem! Ethan is an amazing tween, smart, open-minded and extremely attaching. His story is complicated, and filled with equal measures of heartache and hope.
I didn't really know what to expect when I started Relativity, such a strong, heart-wrenching story was not it, though. That's what I got - Ethan was such a great main character to follow. He's young, but very wise, and so smart! Some of the things he talked about went way over my head, but I still never felt stupid. Since he was a baby, Ethan has lived with his mom, Claire, and they have done really well for themselves. Even with Ethan's problems - which in many ways won't really be problems once he becomes an adult - Ethan and Claire managed to have a great relationship, and Ethan did really well in school. In the back of his mind, however, Ethan has been wondering who his father is, and why he isn't a part of their lives.
As the story unfolds, Relativity shows the many layers of the characters, and also how there is always more than one side to each story. I was also struck by how a good person can definitely do a very bad thing, and thus not only have their own life completely changed, but the lives of those around them as well. There is also a very strong sense of all actions having some kind of consequence - and sometimes, those consequences are very hard to live with.
The characters really drove the story in Relativity, Claire, Mark and Ethan all have their specific personalities, and their voice was very different. I loved that they each had chapters where their perspective was shared, because it gave a lot of insight into how they dealt with life in general, and their problems in particular. The storyline itself felt very realistic to me, and there are some truly heart-breaking moments - for all three of the characters, but in different places and for various reasons.
The writing is really good, and I enjoyed the science parts - even the ones that were a bit difficult for me to grasp - and especially the conversations between Ethan and Mark, or between Ethan and Allison when he tried to explain wormholes to her with his perfect science-speak. The whole story unfolds in third person past tense, and the narrator is omniscient, even as each of the three main characters have their own chapters. Relativity captivated my mind and my heart from start to finish, and the road was beautiful, even with the difficult turns it sometimes took.
"Mum, do you think they ever miss me?" "Who?" "The other eggs. My brothers and sisters inside your ovaries. So far, I'm the only one who's successfully made it out." "Oh," she said. "Well the other eggs would all be your sisters. Only men have the Y chromosome that makes baby boys. At the moment, all the eggs are girls."
She loved her son in unexpected ways, with the same sort of visceral obsession that one might have for the idiosyncrasies of a lover. Claire loved his physicality - the way Ethan laughed so hard he farted, how he picked at the dry scabs on his knees, the weight of his musty head resting on her shoulder as they sat together on buses or trains. She enjoyed that silent intimacy most of all.
Time had stopped. It was an ordinary pocket watch: pale gold with a white face, a halo of black roman numerals around its edge. But the enamel of the dial had browned, the golden casing was coated in orange rust. Gears and shifts had frozen; there was no tick to follow the tock. No hand heaving forward, shaving another second off the future. Ethan pushed his nose against the glass. Time had stopped at seventeen minutes past eight.
Relativity is a gem! Ethan is an amazing tween, smart, open-minded and extremely attaching. His story is complicated, and filled with equal measures of heartache and hope.
I didn't really know what to expect when I started Relativity, such a strong, heart-wrenching story was not it, though. That's what I got - Ethan was such a great main character to follow. He's young, but very wise, and so smart! Some of the things he talked about went way over my head, but I still never felt stupid. Since he was a baby, Ethan has lived with his mom, Claire, and they have done really well for themselves. Even with Ethan's problems - which in many ways won't really be problems once he becomes an adult - Ethan and Claire managed to have a great relationship, and Ethan did really well in school. In the back of his mind, however, Ethan has been wondering who his father is, and why he isn't a part of their lives.
As the story unfolds, Relativity shows the many layers of the characters, and also how there is always more than one side to each story. I was also struck by how a good person can definitely do a very bad thing, and thus not only have their own life completely changed, but the lives of those around them as well. There is also a very strong sense of all actions having some kind of consequence - and sometimes, those consequences are very hard to live with.
The characters really drove the story in Relativity, Claire, Mark and Ethan all have their specific personalities, and their voice was very different. I loved that they each had chapters where their perspective was shared, because it gave a lot of insight into how they dealt with life in general, and their problems in particular. The storyline itself felt very realistic to me, and there are some truly heart-breaking moments - for all three of the characters, but in different places and for various reasons.
The writing is really good, and I enjoyed the science parts - even the ones that were a bit difficult for me to grasp - and especially the conversations between Ethan and Mark, or between Ethan and Allison when he tried to explain wormholes to her with his perfect science-speak. The whole story unfolds in third person past tense, and the narrator is omniscient, even as each of the three main characters have their own chapters. Relativity captivated my mind and my heart from start to finish, and the road was beautiful, even with the difficult turns it sometimes took.
"Mum, do you think they ever miss me?" "Who?" "The other eggs. My brothers and sisters inside your ovaries. So far, I'm the only one who's successfully made it out." "Oh," she said. "Well the other eggs would all be your sisters. Only men have the Y chromosome that makes baby boys. At the moment, all the eggs are girls."
She loved her son in unexpected ways, with the same sort of visceral obsession that one might have for the idiosyncrasies of a lover. Claire loved his physicality - the way Ethan laughed so hard he farted, how he picked at the dry scabs on his knees, the weight of his musty head resting on her shoulder as they sat together on buses or trains. She enjoyed that silent intimacy most of all.
Time had stopped. It was an ordinary pocket watch: pale gold with a white face, a halo of black roman numerals around its edge. But the enamel of the dial had browned, the golden casing was coated in orange rust. Gears and shifts had frozen; there was no tick to follow the tock. No hand heaving forward, shaving another second off the future. Ethan pushed his nose against the glass. Time had stopped at seventeen minutes past eight.
July 26, 2022
This is a beautifully crafted story with a heartbreaking topic at its center. It is tough to describe, but everything about it held me captive. The reading experience was moving and sparked a personal introspection about my role as a mother and what I would do in Claire's shoes. In the book's early stages, I was angry at her character for cutting Mark so wholly out of their lives. Yet, the way things unfold and as the whole truth is painfully revealed, every character's purpose, heartbreak and hope are tangible. Antonia Hayes is a very talented and intelligent author, and I would love to read more of her work.
April 10, 2016
2-stars according to Goodreads is "it was ok," and that basically sums up this book for me. There was nothing about it I hated; though, the scientific metaphors at times were a bit too much. Other than that, the story is engaging, not totally predictable, and heartfelt. It was a bit sappy, but that can totally be to some people's taste. I was interested enough to keep reading, so that says something. But in the end, I don't think this will be one that I rave about or that sticks with me for too long. If you're super into science and you don't see that represented enough in fiction, then hopefully you'll enjoy this one a bit more than I did. I'd probably bump it up to 2.5 stars because I am pretty much 50/50 on it.
January 16, 2017
4.5 stars.
Twelve-year-old Ethan lives with his mother, Claire, and has never met his father. An unusually gifted child, he has no idea of the circumstances surrounding his fathers absence. When he discovers a letter from his father to Claire, it leads to a fascination and journey to discover just why his father left and how he can reunite the family. Using his unique scientific logic, Ethan believes he can re-visit the past and change the futures outcome. But the past is suddenly a scary place to visit and leaves many questions unanswered. Can he trust his father or did he really do what they say he did?
Claire is a woman trying to keep her son safe. Safe from bullies, safe from the harsh realities of traditional expectations and safe from the truth of his near-death experience as an infant. She gave her life as a ballerina to raise her child and each day is filled with protecting him and keep sane herself. When Mark lands back in their lives, she needs to examine her limited memories of the most horrific days of her life; a night of shock, fear and a nightmare dash to the hospital. What really happened that day? Would Mark really have hurt his own son, like they said he did? Has she ever really believed what the jury found him guilty of? What is the truth?
Antonia Hayes has written a story which will touch the hearts, souls and emotions of its readers. The divided family is riddled with uncertainty, lack of trust and fear of addressing the past. Ethan is a delightfully different child. His love of physics is introduced from the very start of the book and shows he is way beyond any other child of his age. He is socially awkward and has few friends. School is basically wasted on a child like Ethan. The love that Claire feels for Ethan is easy to feel and the author drip feeds information about the past, leading to the fateful day that saw the family divide. Beautifully descriptive and an emotional journey, this is a strong debut that deserves attention. Don't be put off by the first few pages, which are loaded with Ethan's attempts to understand the relativity between time and space. He is really just trying to find his own relativity to the world we live in. You will struggle to forget Ethan. Sharp, astute and emotional, this is a highly recommend read.
Twelve-year-old Ethan lives with his mother, Claire, and has never met his father. An unusually gifted child, he has no idea of the circumstances surrounding his fathers absence. When he discovers a letter from his father to Claire, it leads to a fascination and journey to discover just why his father left and how he can reunite the family. Using his unique scientific logic, Ethan believes he can re-visit the past and change the futures outcome. But the past is suddenly a scary place to visit and leaves many questions unanswered. Can he trust his father or did he really do what they say he did?
Claire is a woman trying to keep her son safe. Safe from bullies, safe from the harsh realities of traditional expectations and safe from the truth of his near-death experience as an infant. She gave her life as a ballerina to raise her child and each day is filled with protecting him and keep sane herself. When Mark lands back in their lives, she needs to examine her limited memories of the most horrific days of her life; a night of shock, fear and a nightmare dash to the hospital. What really happened that day? Would Mark really have hurt his own son, like they said he did? Has she ever really believed what the jury found him guilty of? What is the truth?
Antonia Hayes has written a story which will touch the hearts, souls and emotions of its readers. The divided family is riddled with uncertainty, lack of trust and fear of addressing the past. Ethan is a delightfully different child. His love of physics is introduced from the very start of the book and shows he is way beyond any other child of his age. He is socially awkward and has few friends. School is basically wasted on a child like Ethan. The love that Claire feels for Ethan is easy to feel and the author drip feeds information about the past, leading to the fateful day that saw the family divide. Beautifully descriptive and an emotional journey, this is a strong debut that deserves attention. Don't be put off by the first few pages, which are loaded with Ethan's attempts to understand the relativity between time and space. He is really just trying to find his own relativity to the world we live in. You will struggle to forget Ethan. Sharp, astute and emotional, this is a highly recommend read.
June 15, 2016
I plunged into this book without reading the premise and I was pretty impressed with it. Within the first twenty pages, I fell in love with Ethan's narrative voice. Such a clever and smart boy. The character development nonetheless to say was amazing. Seeing things through his eyes is such a fresh view of the world !! By the end of the book, I didn't lose the interest. In fact, the author succeeds in building the gripping plot by adding witty replies and new concepts in perspective.
Full review : https://bookidote.wordpress.com/2016/...
Trang- Book Blogger and Book reviewer
http://bookidote.wordpress.com
June 7, 2017
I just loved Ethan. What a gorgeous child. At first I had empathy for the parents but as the story progressed, I changed my mind. The physics was enlightening but by the end of the story, it seemed a little overused which was a shame as there were some absolute pearls in there. I also question whether the relationship between Mark and Clare would actually have ended the way it did, given the confession - quite honestly, I wouldn't have given him an inch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2017
Oh, how many feels! Quirky, heartfelt and so completely engaging, relativity is more than just a story about a single mother and her 12 year old son. Once I started reading this book, I found it seriously difficult to stop. While the subject matter was difficult, , Hayes added so many different layers to the story and characters that made it impossible for me not to care for each and every one of them. It felt as if I was in their story, reliving the past events and trying to figure out how to move on.
Something happened in the past that tore Ethan’s parents, Claire and Mark, apart when Ethan was only 4 months old. Mark is gone. Claire never talks to Ethan about his father. Every action has a reaction so it is natural that Claire has turned into a overly protective mother, that Ethan has a lot of questions he never seems to get answers for and that Mark is dealing with the consequences of those few seconds of his actions that can never be undone.
The book starts off by introducing the reader to Ethan’s brightness right away. Quite honestly, this young character won my heart from sentence one. His curiosity and vast bank of knowledge around physics and astronomy makes for interesting dialogue with his mother, and there’s so much wisdom to take away from this book. So, to address the scientific elephant in the room. The elephant is cute. Do not be afraid of it. I very nearly failed science classes in school every year and yet, in this book everything is easy to follow.
Page after page, paragraph after paragraph new revelations and a new set of events are introduced which beef up this story into dimensions that covers everything from family dynamics, friendship, bullying and secrets that every parent carries with them. Life with all that it is, is delivered by Hayes in a manner that appears effortless and truly, the writing in this book, with or without its scientific references, was simply a joy to read.
What also makes this book so impactful is that ever character comes with their own set of flaws. relativity does not have heroes and villains, even though surely the reason Mark has been gone would classify him as the villain in the story, but no one in this story is perfect. It’s a story about small and big mistakes, about the willingness to forgive, about moving on. The mistakes and feelings of guilt Claire and Ethan are carrying with them are palpable throughout the story and while Ethan will always live with what happened to him, I found the conclusion of the book delivered to the best outcome. It was realistic and hopeful.
A book of beautiful and tragic moments full of exploration, miracles and relativity. I highly recommend you check out.
Something happened in the past that tore Ethan’s parents, Claire and Mark, apart when Ethan was only 4 months old. Mark is gone. Claire never talks to Ethan about his father. Every action has a reaction so it is natural that Claire has turned into a overly protective mother, that Ethan has a lot of questions he never seems to get answers for and that Mark is dealing with the consequences of those few seconds of his actions that can never be undone.
The book starts off by introducing the reader to Ethan’s brightness right away. Quite honestly, this young character won my heart from sentence one. His curiosity and vast bank of knowledge around physics and astronomy makes for interesting dialogue with his mother, and there’s so much wisdom to take away from this book. So, to address the scientific elephant in the room. The elephant is cute. Do not be afraid of it. I very nearly failed science classes in school every year and yet, in this book everything is easy to follow.
Page after page, paragraph after paragraph new revelations and a new set of events are introduced which beef up this story into dimensions that covers everything from family dynamics, friendship, bullying and secrets that every parent carries with them. Life with all that it is, is delivered by Hayes in a manner that appears effortless and truly, the writing in this book, with or without its scientific references, was simply a joy to read.
What also makes this book so impactful is that ever character comes with their own set of flaws. relativity does not have heroes and villains, even though surely the reason Mark has been gone would classify him as the villain in the story, but no one in this story is perfect. It’s a story about small and big mistakes, about the willingness to forgive, about moving on. The mistakes and feelings of guilt Claire and Ethan are carrying with them are palpable throughout the story and while Ethan will always live with what happened to him, I found the conclusion of the book delivered to the best outcome. It was realistic and hopeful.
A book of beautiful and tragic moments full of exploration, miracles and relativity. I highly recommend you check out.
February 2, 2017
This book is breathtakingly brilliant, a beautiful read, a difficult subject, an incredible little (well not so little he's 12) boy and the story of how his father came back in to his life.
Ethan is not a normal boy, he is obsessed with science and rightly so, he is brilliant with an incredible understanding of physics, astronomy and this of course earns him a place on the school bullies list but he has a happy home with his mum Claire.
A single mum since her husband went away when Ethan was 4 months old, she has put her ambitions as a ballerina on hold to make sure her son has the best life possible, to keep him happy, healthy and kept oblivious to the reasons why she and Mark her ex-husband and Ethan's father are no longer together.
But an illness in Mark's family brings him back in contact with Claire, this brings up feelings good and bad and leads to Ethan discovering why his Dad left.
Told in flashbacks and from the POV's of Claire, Ethan and Mark, this truly has a wealth of emotions bursting from the pages. As it is revealed to us bit by bit where Mark has been and how he got there, the characters go through emotional upheaval and it is apparent that Mark and Claire have already gone through a lot of the years and old wounds are being opened.
I devoured this is one afternoon, as I read it I felt I didn't know how it was going to end, some books keep you guessing, others lay it out for you, this didn't. I'm glad it didn't.
Ethan has to be the standout character in the story, older than his 12 years, he shows maturity yet when he meets Alison she helps him become a kid again, the pair become fast friends. He deals with everything that comes at him brilliantly, I couldn't have.
A brilliant emotion crushing read that will have you in tears several times over.
Thanks to Corsair for sending me a copy in advance in exchange for an honest review.
Ethan is not a normal boy, he is obsessed with science and rightly so, he is brilliant with an incredible understanding of physics, astronomy and this of course earns him a place on the school bullies list but he has a happy home with his mum Claire.
A single mum since her husband went away when Ethan was 4 months old, she has put her ambitions as a ballerina on hold to make sure her son has the best life possible, to keep him happy, healthy and kept oblivious to the reasons why she and Mark her ex-husband and Ethan's father are no longer together.
But an illness in Mark's family brings him back in contact with Claire, this brings up feelings good and bad and leads to Ethan discovering why his Dad left.
Told in flashbacks and from the POV's of Claire, Ethan and Mark, this truly has a wealth of emotions bursting from the pages. As it is revealed to us bit by bit where Mark has been and how he got there, the characters go through emotional upheaval and it is apparent that Mark and Claire have already gone through a lot of the years and old wounds are being opened.
I devoured this is one afternoon, as I read it I felt I didn't know how it was going to end, some books keep you guessing, others lay it out for you, this didn't. I'm glad it didn't.
Ethan has to be the standout character in the story, older than his 12 years, he shows maturity yet when he meets Alison she helps him become a kid again, the pair become fast friends. He deals with everything that comes at him brilliantly, I couldn't have.
A brilliant emotion crushing read that will have you in tears several times over.
Thanks to Corsair for sending me a copy in advance in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2015
Amazing. Maybe because I am a science nerd, but I loved the language and the way the author used the forces of physics to explore our emotional forces. I even cried when I read the story of what happened to Ethan. So unimaginably awful. This book touched me more than any I have read in years.
July 27, 2018
This book was incredible from start to finish - heart breaking yet uplifting at the same time. Beautifully written and a story that's going to stay with me for a long time.
April 6, 2016
Every now and again a book comes along that takes me totally by surprise; Relativity is one of those books. The pure beauty and assurance of Antonia Hayes' writing feels like a smack in the face, it really is hauntingly, bewilderingly clever.
The first chapter, entitled 'Motion' is just ten sentences long, yet those opening words are gripping and vivid and set the scene for the excellent story that follows.
Twelve-year-old Ethan lives with his mother Claire in a Sydney suburb. Ethan doesn't know anything about his father, he doesn't know his name, or that he spent time in jail after he was convicted of harming four-month-old Ethan by shaking him violently and causing damage to his brain. Ethan and Claire live quietly together, Claire gave up her dreams of becoming a ballerina and Ethan loves physics and astronomy. The other kids at school think he is a freak, and even his best friend Will seems to hate him now.
Ethan is different, he can see sound waves and light, he can see time moving, he just doesn't realise that most people don't see things in the way that he does.
One explosive day, things come to a head. Ethan wants to know about his father, and the discovery of a letter causes an accident, and this is when the adults around him realise .... realise that he is more special that they realised.
Relativity is narrated in three separate voices. Ethan, his mother Claire, and his father Mark. Antonia Hayes shows incredible talent, empathy and understanding of each one of these characters with her ability to create three independent, yet intricately linked characters who the reader can relate to, and love. It is extraordinary that she has been able to portray Mark, the guy who damaged his tiny son, as a caring, intelligent and truly warm person. Mark could so easily have been portrayed as a monster, yet this author has concentrated on the whole being, and whilst what he has done is not excused, it is explained.
Ethan's love of physics and all things science play a huge part of this story, and I was expecting to be a little 'blinded by science', but no, Antonia Hayes makes even the most difficult formula and theory very simple to understand, by using the voice and reasoning of a twelve-year-old boy.
Relativity really is a magical book. I was transfixed by it, pulled in immediately and held in its thrall until the final page. The complexity of the emotion is beautifully done, but light enough that the heartbreak doesn't become consuming.
This is story of family relationships, with guilt, blame and redemption the central theme. Relativity is intelligent, charming and really quite marvellous. I am so impressed by Relativity and can't wait to see what Antonia Hayes writes next.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
The first chapter, entitled 'Motion' is just ten sentences long, yet those opening words are gripping and vivid and set the scene for the excellent story that follows.
Twelve-year-old Ethan lives with his mother Claire in a Sydney suburb. Ethan doesn't know anything about his father, he doesn't know his name, or that he spent time in jail after he was convicted of harming four-month-old Ethan by shaking him violently and causing damage to his brain. Ethan and Claire live quietly together, Claire gave up her dreams of becoming a ballerina and Ethan loves physics and astronomy. The other kids at school think he is a freak, and even his best friend Will seems to hate him now.
Ethan is different, he can see sound waves and light, he can see time moving, he just doesn't realise that most people don't see things in the way that he does.
One explosive day, things come to a head. Ethan wants to know about his father, and the discovery of a letter causes an accident, and this is when the adults around him realise .... realise that he is more special that they realised.
Relativity is narrated in three separate voices. Ethan, his mother Claire, and his father Mark. Antonia Hayes shows incredible talent, empathy and understanding of each one of these characters with her ability to create three independent, yet intricately linked characters who the reader can relate to, and love. It is extraordinary that she has been able to portray Mark, the guy who damaged his tiny son, as a caring, intelligent and truly warm person. Mark could so easily have been portrayed as a monster, yet this author has concentrated on the whole being, and whilst what he has done is not excused, it is explained.
Ethan's love of physics and all things science play a huge part of this story, and I was expecting to be a little 'blinded by science', but no, Antonia Hayes makes even the most difficult formula and theory very simple to understand, by using the voice and reasoning of a twelve-year-old boy.
Relativity really is a magical book. I was transfixed by it, pulled in immediately and held in its thrall until the final page. The complexity of the emotion is beautifully done, but light enough that the heartbreak doesn't become consuming.
This is story of family relationships, with guilt, blame and redemption the central theme. Relativity is intelligent, charming and really quite marvellous. I am so impressed by Relativity and can't wait to see what Antonia Hayes writes next.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
January 17, 2017
If you only buy one book this year then make it this one. It’s only January but this beautiful and intelligently written book has already reserved itself a place in my heart and in my top books of the year so far. It is stunning but what makes it even more incredible is that this breathtaking book is a debut novel!
If I could advise anything else then it would be not to read too many reviews of Relativity! Yes I know I should be supporting other reviewers but I went into this book pretty much blind and was glad afterwards that I had. The less you know the bigger the reaction you will have to Ethan. This young boy is such a wonderful character creation and I fell in love with him from the moment I met him. His relationship with his mother Claire has a touching honesty about it which seems a strange thing to say when you realise the secrets she has been keeping from her son once Mark comes back into their lives.
A very emotional and distressing subject is well handled by the author who has well researched her subject matter with an obvious deep concern. The scientific thread running through the narrative was perfectly placed as a parallel to Ethans condition as it became part of who he was. I found it fascinating and a much needed aside to the very emotional plot details that emerged throughout. Ethan and Claires story moved me to tears many times and I sobbed throughout the last few pages. This is truly a very special book and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
If I could advise anything else then it would be not to read too many reviews of Relativity! Yes I know I should be supporting other reviewers but I went into this book pretty much blind and was glad afterwards that I had. The less you know the bigger the reaction you will have to Ethan. This young boy is such a wonderful character creation and I fell in love with him from the moment I met him. His relationship with his mother Claire has a touching honesty about it which seems a strange thing to say when you realise the secrets she has been keeping from her son once Mark comes back into their lives.
A very emotional and distressing subject is well handled by the author who has well researched her subject matter with an obvious deep concern. The scientific thread running through the narrative was perfectly placed as a parallel to Ethans condition as it became part of who he was. I found it fascinating and a much needed aside to the very emotional plot details that emerged throughout. Ethan and Claires story moved me to tears many times and I sobbed throughout the last few pages. This is truly a very special book and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
December 28, 2015
3.5 stars, almost 4 stars. The premise of this story was excellent. For me, the science part was very readable and interesting. This author will be a great new Australian author. For this, her first novel, I just felt it needed a little more pizzazz. I felt the parents were too self absorbed. The brain damaged child was an inspiration and very well characterized. I felt the child was a victim in more ways than one.
The only other negative was, although it is described by some as a page turner, I found the 2nd half of the story dragged. It could have been a little more concise but I think I understand the author's thinking in prolonging it. I think perhaps she wanted to express the human pain and the complication of the relationship the parents were experiencing.
I did enjoy the novel very much and, yes, I do recommend it. I will be interested to see how this author progresses.
The only other negative was, although it is described by some as a page turner, I found the 2nd half of the story dragged. It could have been a little more concise but I think I understand the author's thinking in prolonging it. I think perhaps she wanted to express the human pain and the complication of the relationship the parents were experiencing.
I did enjoy the novel very much and, yes, I do recommend it. I will be interested to see how this author progresses.
October 29, 2015
A quick read story of a family torn apart by Shaken Baby Syndrome. There is a great deal of science in this book...physics, human brain functioning and a bit of astronomy. The story highlights how a single action can determine the fate of our future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2018
Relativity is one of those books that makes a humble reviewer like myself realise their inadequacy in the best way possible because quite frankly – it feels futile to even try to verbalise just how wonderful this book is but let’s try!
Relativity tells the story of a little boy named Ethan. Obsessed with physics and astronomy, Ethan sees the world differently to the rest of us. The hidden wonders and beauties of time and space that are invisible to the naked eye of us mere mortals, Ethan is accosted by a cacophony of sound waves and rainbow of colours that makes the universe what it is. Despite this being considered an incredible gift, its origins have a darker beginning. Claire has spent her life protecting Ethan from the truth of what happened to him as a baby. When life events transpire, bringing Ethan’s father Mark back into their lives, Claire can no longer shield Ethan from his past.
Relativity is a story about the depths of love and the ties of family that bind us more tightly than we ever thought possible. Told in a remarkably tender yet matter of fact way, Hayes explores some of the darkest thoughts and actions a human being and more stunningly important, a parent can have and commit. The struggles, the preventable heartbreak, the cataclysmic consequences, are all explored here with unflinching realness and affecting story-telling.
Hayes characterisation is brilliant with each of the main players fully realised and capable of capturing your attention and stealing your heart. The story flows beautifully, intermingling human frailty with the immense power of the universe around us. Unputdownable – Relativity is an accomplished debut that will touch your very soul. Clever, raw, shocking at times and poignant – Relativity is one not to miss.
Relativity tells the story of a little boy named Ethan. Obsessed with physics and astronomy, Ethan sees the world differently to the rest of us. The hidden wonders and beauties of time and space that are invisible to the naked eye of us mere mortals, Ethan is accosted by a cacophony of sound waves and rainbow of colours that makes the universe what it is. Despite this being considered an incredible gift, its origins have a darker beginning. Claire has spent her life protecting Ethan from the truth of what happened to him as a baby. When life events transpire, bringing Ethan’s father Mark back into their lives, Claire can no longer shield Ethan from his past.
Relativity is a story about the depths of love and the ties of family that bind us more tightly than we ever thought possible. Told in a remarkably tender yet matter of fact way, Hayes explores some of the darkest thoughts and actions a human being and more stunningly important, a parent can have and commit. The struggles, the preventable heartbreak, the cataclysmic consequences, are all explored here with unflinching realness and affecting story-telling.
Hayes characterisation is brilliant with each of the main players fully realised and capable of capturing your attention and stealing your heart. The story flows beautifully, intermingling human frailty with the immense power of the universe around us. Unputdownable – Relativity is an accomplished debut that will touch your very soul. Clever, raw, shocking at times and poignant – Relativity is one not to miss.
February 10, 2020
3,5 ⭐️
June 24, 2018
Beautifully written, clever and sensitive, and amazingly impressive for a debut novel.
February 7, 2017
Somewhere between a 3 and a 4. It was really slow but carried a lot of weight.
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I don't really know what I expected of this book. I thought it would just be about weird family relationships but it wasn't. This book is about child abuse, denial, disability and forgiveness. There were little twists that I really didn't expect and this was a book I probably wouldn't have read were it not for this tour but I'm glad I did.
I liked reading from the perspective of Ethan the most, he had such a wonderful insight to life. He thought so much about physics and more often than not it didn't make much sense to me, but that's the beauty of it, you can see how smart he really is. As Ethan apparently suffered from shaken baby syndrome I think he's considered to be disabled as he has brain scarring, but I'm not in a position to decide whether that is the case. It was refreshing to read from his perspective as he was so smart but so naive.
Continue my review here: https://kirstyreadsblog.wordpress.com...
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I don't really know what I expected of this book. I thought it would just be about weird family relationships but it wasn't. This book is about child abuse, denial, disability and forgiveness. There were little twists that I really didn't expect and this was a book I probably wouldn't have read were it not for this tour but I'm glad I did.
I liked reading from the perspective of Ethan the most, he had such a wonderful insight to life. He thought so much about physics and more often than not it didn't make much sense to me, but that's the beauty of it, you can see how smart he really is. As Ethan apparently suffered from shaken baby syndrome I think he's considered to be disabled as he has brain scarring, but I'm not in a position to decide whether that is the case. It was refreshing to read from his perspective as he was so smart but so naive.
Continue my review here: https://kirstyreadsblog.wordpress.com...
February 7, 2017
This book starts with a heart-stopping opening of four-month old Ethan having stopped breathing this is a book that really defies pigeon-holing as a distinct type of book. There is the discovery ten years later of what happened on that day, but there is also a lot about physics, a boy living with a brain injury and the relationship between a mother and her son to name but a few of the topics covered in this immensely readable novel.
Twelve year old Ethan lives in Australia with his mother Claire and he can ‘see’ physics. He is the nerdy child in the class, his friends now scoring any gift that is academic and is finding it hard to find his place in the world. He is also a boy who knows practically nothing about his father, least of all the fact that Mark was convicted of harming him as a baby.
Antonia Hayes walks an incredibly delicate line when reaching back into the past to discover what happened to Ethan one day when he was in the care of his father and she does so without resorting to clichés which in turn makes this a book that has all the shades between black and white. For that alone she deserves the plaudits that she has received across the world for Relativity. Into that mix she uses a lot of physics metaphors to explain both physics and life. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what worm-holes (except for those made by worms) are though because the explanations never get so complex that this relatively simple soul could follow the theory.
At its heart though, once the physics and the searching for the truth are taken out of the equation, this is a story about relationships of which we are treated to many. There is the most important one to Ethan, that between him and his mother. The woman who has protected and cared for him for his whole life, and so once the revelation comes that she hasn’t been honest with him, he has to renegotiate his view. When admitted to hospital Ethan strikes up a relationship with a girl who suffers with severe epilepsy and discovers true friendship, not like that he shared with his boyhood friend Will but one where the two don’t have to share each other’s interests but can use them to discover truths in their own lives. There is also the relationship that Ethan wants with his father, and all the difficulties that brings with it especially as Mark himself has a fractured relationship with his dying father and his brother.
Ethan’s narrative was believable given his gift for physics and although I guess his age was chosen to make some of the decisions he made and the lack of supervision realistic, he did come across at times as someone younger, except of course when discussing his phenomenal knowledge of theoretical physics!
Relativity is a touching story which thankfully falls well-short of every becoming mawkish thanks in part to the physics which, while at times lends a whimsical feel, actually keeps the book taut in its execution by removing the need for endless navel-gazing. I really do prefer books to allow the actions and dialogue do the talking, thereby allowing the reader to reach their own conclusions and this is one such book.
Twelve year old Ethan lives in Australia with his mother Claire and he can ‘see’ physics. He is the nerdy child in the class, his friends now scoring any gift that is academic and is finding it hard to find his place in the world. He is also a boy who knows practically nothing about his father, least of all the fact that Mark was convicted of harming him as a baby.
Antonia Hayes walks an incredibly delicate line when reaching back into the past to discover what happened to Ethan one day when he was in the care of his father and she does so without resorting to clichés which in turn makes this a book that has all the shades between black and white. For that alone she deserves the plaudits that she has received across the world for Relativity. Into that mix she uses a lot of physics metaphors to explain both physics and life. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what worm-holes (except for those made by worms) are though because the explanations never get so complex that this relatively simple soul could follow the theory.
At its heart though, once the physics and the searching for the truth are taken out of the equation, this is a story about relationships of which we are treated to many. There is the most important one to Ethan, that between him and his mother. The woman who has protected and cared for him for his whole life, and so once the revelation comes that she hasn’t been honest with him, he has to renegotiate his view. When admitted to hospital Ethan strikes up a relationship with a girl who suffers with severe epilepsy and discovers true friendship, not like that he shared with his boyhood friend Will but one where the two don’t have to share each other’s interests but can use them to discover truths in their own lives. There is also the relationship that Ethan wants with his father, and all the difficulties that brings with it especially as Mark himself has a fractured relationship with his dying father and his brother.
Ethan’s narrative was believable given his gift for physics and although I guess his age was chosen to make some of the decisions he made and the lack of supervision realistic, he did come across at times as someone younger, except of course when discussing his phenomenal knowledge of theoretical physics!
Relativity is a touching story which thankfully falls well-short of every becoming mawkish thanks in part to the physics which, while at times lends a whimsical feel, actually keeps the book taut in its execution by removing the need for endless navel-gazing. I really do prefer books to allow the actions and dialogue do the talking, thereby allowing the reader to reach their own conclusions and this is one such book.
April 25, 2016
This book is not for me.
If you are into science, like super duper into science, this book might be for you.
There is more science in this book than there is in The Martian. 90% of the lines in this book are metaphors between science and life, science and relationships, science and good grief anything you can possibly imagine. I might have to go read some trashy romance novel just to wipe all the science talk out of my brain.
I don't think it's a bad book. I think the author is obviously very smart and can write very well, although maybe she's not practiced in writing novels, in writing dialogue... or maybe it's just that all the science talk was too much for just me. Also... coincidences. Ethan just happens to ask questions about his missing father on the very day that his father arrives in town and knocks on the door. Really??
Half this story is a YA novel. Young genius Ethan and his super smart brain and quest to know his father, and his friendship with Allison. The other half is sort of a romance, the story of Ethan's parents. YA, Romance and Science: Three subjects not high on my list of favorite book subjects.
Throughout the book something kept feeling off, that's why I say perhaps the author isn't quite up to par with her storytelling abilities. The dialogue never felt real or natural, but then most people don't quote science textbooks throughout regular conversation. The coincidences bothered me. And finally, Ethan building a time machine bothered the heck out of me.
Here is this genius boy, obviously very very intelligent. Let's say I believe that out of nowhere he's built what he hopes is a time machine, even though we don't hear how he built it, or where he got the materials, or exactly what it looks like. Let's say I buy all that or just let it slide. I absolutely do NOT buy that this genius boy figured that if quarks need to enter the time machine first, that putting through his pet rabbit named Quark would do the job. And there's some sort of blanket on top to represent "the fabric of time"... HUH? This sounds like something a normal 12 year old boy might come up with, not the genius boy that Ethan supposedly is. That wasn't the only odd thing that happened, but it was a big one for me.
I'm not saying the science metaphors are not amazing, they are. It was just too much for me. I had to scan through much of the book because all the paragraphs of science talk could easily be summed up in one sentence. But I'm very aware that readers who love science may fall in love with this book.
For half this book I was ready to give it two stars. The second half really picked up and I was finally interested in the story. But the science talk never let up, and overall there was just nothing here for me that I really enjoyed. I give it three stars but recognize that the book might be quite loved by others.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you are into science, like super duper into science, this book might be for you.
There is more science in this book than there is in The Martian. 90% of the lines in this book are metaphors between science and life, science and relationships, science and good grief anything you can possibly imagine. I might have to go read some trashy romance novel just to wipe all the science talk out of my brain.
I don't think it's a bad book. I think the author is obviously very smart and can write very well, although maybe she's not practiced in writing novels, in writing dialogue... or maybe it's just that all the science talk was too much for just me. Also... coincidences. Ethan just happens to ask questions about his missing father on the very day that his father arrives in town and knocks on the door. Really??
Half this story is a YA novel. Young genius Ethan and his super smart brain and quest to know his father, and his friendship with Allison. The other half is sort of a romance, the story of Ethan's parents. YA, Romance and Science: Three subjects not high on my list of favorite book subjects.
Throughout the book something kept feeling off, that's why I say perhaps the author isn't quite up to par with her storytelling abilities. The dialogue never felt real or natural, but then most people don't quote science textbooks throughout regular conversation. The coincidences bothered me. And finally, Ethan building a time machine bothered the heck out of me.
Here is this genius boy, obviously very very intelligent. Let's say I believe that out of nowhere he's built what he hopes is a time machine, even though we don't hear how he built it, or where he got the materials, or exactly what it looks like. Let's say I buy all that or just let it slide. I absolutely do NOT buy that this genius boy figured that if quarks need to enter the time machine first, that putting through his pet rabbit named Quark would do the job. And there's some sort of blanket on top to represent "the fabric of time"... HUH? This sounds like something a normal 12 year old boy might come up with, not the genius boy that Ethan supposedly is. That wasn't the only odd thing that happened, but it was a big one for me.
I'm not saying the science metaphors are not amazing, they are. It was just too much for me. I had to scan through much of the book because all the paragraphs of science talk could easily be summed up in one sentence. But I'm very aware that readers who love science may fall in love with this book.
For half this book I was ready to give it two stars. The second half really picked up and I was finally interested in the story. But the science talk never let up, and overall there was just nothing here for me that I really enjoyed. I give it three stars but recognize that the book might be quite loved by others.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2016
Splitting the Nuclear Family
To my amazement, I read 360 pages in 24 hours. The cover warned that it would be a difficult book to put down, and it was true; I kept wanting to get back to it whenever I had to stop. I read fast at first because it was so inviting; Antonia Hayes is a lucid writer, she makes me feel at home in the Sydney setting, and her use of shortish sections gives the story a lively forward lope. I was drawn in because the people felt warm and true: a loving single mother and her twelve-year-old son Ethan, so brimming over with scientific information that I wondered if he might even be autistic. I kept reading with curiosity because Hayes constructs her novel like a mystery; Ethan's father is no longer in the picture, and eventually we find out why.
I have no intention of saying more, because Hayes is brilliant at parceling out information. I would say, though, that when you think you know the story, she will turn it all around, and then turn it round again. So I raced ahead to find out, reading in joy, surprise, or very occasional disbelief. Towards the end, I was trying to turn the pages quickly because the true story of what happened is so painful. Hayes could indeed write a powerful mystery, yet she does not make the mistake of wrapping up her novel too neatly; her ending is not about pulling rabbits from a hat (though a rabbit does figure in it), but coming down to a place of rightness where life can go on.
Then there is the science. The chapters have titles like Motion, Time, Space, and Entropy, all the way to a very beautiful riff on Gravity at the end. Ethan, who is demonstrably a genius and possibly more, is obsessed with physics and astronomy; his heroes are Einstein and Stephen Hawking. He may even have extraordinary powers of perception. Hayes handles our gradual immersion in Ethan's world very well, science working often as a metaphor, but backed up by other sciences such as cognitive psychology and neurology. I do have to say, though, that there were a few moments that required some indulgence, such as a sequence in which Ethan tries to build a time machine, a kind of sci-fi pseudoscience that a boy of his intelligence would surely have seen through immediately. But their shared interest in science makes for a particularly touching bond between Ethan and his father, who does indeed re-enter the picture. And the time-machine experiment, however implausible, catapults us into a painful but real climax in which all three characters face up to the past in order to return to a healthier present.
[I gave this an enthusiastic 5 stars when I first posted this review on Amazon. But the details have since faded, so I need to label it as an enthralling experience whose effects may not last.]
To my amazement, I read 360 pages in 24 hours. The cover warned that it would be a difficult book to put down, and it was true; I kept wanting to get back to it whenever I had to stop. I read fast at first because it was so inviting; Antonia Hayes is a lucid writer, she makes me feel at home in the Sydney setting, and her use of shortish sections gives the story a lively forward lope. I was drawn in because the people felt warm and true: a loving single mother and her twelve-year-old son Ethan, so brimming over with scientific information that I wondered if he might even be autistic. I kept reading with curiosity because Hayes constructs her novel like a mystery; Ethan's father is no longer in the picture, and eventually we find out why.
I have no intention of saying more, because Hayes is brilliant at parceling out information. I would say, though, that when you think you know the story, she will turn it all around, and then turn it round again. So I raced ahead to find out, reading in joy, surprise, or very occasional disbelief. Towards the end, I was trying to turn the pages quickly because the true story of what happened is so painful. Hayes could indeed write a powerful mystery, yet she does not make the mistake of wrapping up her novel too neatly; her ending is not about pulling rabbits from a hat (though a rabbit does figure in it), but coming down to a place of rightness where life can go on.
Then there is the science. The chapters have titles like Motion, Time, Space, and Entropy, all the way to a very beautiful riff on Gravity at the end. Ethan, who is demonstrably a genius and possibly more, is obsessed with physics and astronomy; his heroes are Einstein and Stephen Hawking. He may even have extraordinary powers of perception. Hayes handles our gradual immersion in Ethan's world very well, science working often as a metaphor, but backed up by other sciences such as cognitive psychology and neurology. I do have to say, though, that there were a few moments that required some indulgence, such as a sequence in which Ethan tries to build a time machine, a kind of sci-fi pseudoscience that a boy of his intelligence would surely have seen through immediately. But their shared interest in science makes for a particularly touching bond between Ethan and his father, who does indeed re-enter the picture. And the time-machine experiment, however implausible, catapults us into a painful but real climax in which all three characters face up to the past in order to return to a healthier present.
[I gave this an enthusiastic 5 stars when I first posted this review on Amazon. But the details have since faded, so I need to label it as an enthralling experience whose effects may not last.]
April 7, 2016
Relativity was a book I wasn't 100% sure was my cup of tea, but I was more than willing to give it a read because the publicist for the book was so insistent that it was such a good read. But, I was nervous to get started. I needn't have been, mind because Relativity was an awesome read. It was so nuanced, so beautiful, so evocative, and as I always say with books about geniuses, especially genius kids, Ethan reminded me of a certain Sheldon Cooper, and I have The Big Bang Theory to thank for my knowledge of physics, and this book made way more sense since I do watch The Big Bang Theory.
Relativity is very much a novel about family, and what Claire does for Ethan is extraordinary, and more women should get credit for raising a kid by themselves, whether it's someone special like Ethan or just a regular kid. Even more so with what happened to Ethan as a baby, because it's unforgivable - isn't it? How can you forgive something like that, get past it, let that person back in to your life? I was genuinely shocked by what happened. I was very curious to know why Ethan's father Mark wasn't around, what would happen when he returned, and the book didn't disappoint. There's no silly dramas, either, which was an absolute bonus.
There's honestly not a lot I can say about the book. It was really, really good, but I just don't have a lot to say, review-wise. It's one of those understated stories that you enjoy for the pure pleasure of reading. I lost myself in the world of Claire, Ethan and Mark, because it's such a captivating story, the kind that usually leads to reading group questions in the back. Antonia Hayes is an extraordinary writer, and this is an extraordinary book, I really, really loved it.
Relativity is very much a novel about family, and what Claire does for Ethan is extraordinary, and more women should get credit for raising a kid by themselves, whether it's someone special like Ethan or just a regular kid. Even more so with what happened to Ethan as a baby, because it's unforgivable - isn't it? How can you forgive something like that, get past it, let that person back in to your life? I was genuinely shocked by what happened. I was very curious to know why Ethan's father Mark wasn't around, what would happen when he returned, and the book didn't disappoint. There's no silly dramas, either, which was an absolute bonus.
There's honestly not a lot I can say about the book. It was really, really good, but I just don't have a lot to say, review-wise. It's one of those understated stories that you enjoy for the pure pleasure of reading. I lost myself in the world of Claire, Ethan and Mark, because it's such a captivating story, the kind that usually leads to reading group questions in the back. Antonia Hayes is an extraordinary writer, and this is an extraordinary book, I really, really loved it.
February 7, 2017
The Blurb :
Ethan is an exceptionally gifted young boy, obsessed with physics and astronomy.
His single mother Claire is fiercely protective of her brilliant, vulnerable son. But she can't shield him forever from learning the truth about what happened to him when he was a baby; why Mark had to leave them all those years ago.
Now age twelve, Ethan is increasingly curious about his past, especially his father's absence in his life. When he intercepts a letter to Claire from Mark, he opens a lifetime of feelings that, like gravity, will pull the three together again.
My Thoughts :
I wasnt quiet sure what to expect from this book, and if I wasnt on the book tour I dont think id of read it. It is very different from anything I have read before and I am glad that I pixked it up and gave it a go. Im not really into Astronomy or Physics but the subject fitted into so well with the storyline and I felt at times I was learning things myself. This is a very interesting and emotional story and tells us how life can change in a second and that it can have consequences. I especially loved Ethan, he is a very gifted bright 12 year old who sees the world in beautiful colours and shapes. Ethan has seen many changes in his life as he has been growing up, and as Ethan learns about his past, where his estranged dad Mark has been and what really happened to him as a baby, he wants answers and believes everyone deserves a second chance. I really liked Ethan's friendship with Alison, who he met in hospital, it was such a lovely part of the story.
This has been told beautifully aswell as covering the subject of SBS (shaken baby syndrome) sensitivity. Antonia Hayes, has put a lot of effect and research into this book and this reflects totally in her finished work.
Ethan is an exceptionally gifted young boy, obsessed with physics and astronomy.
His single mother Claire is fiercely protective of her brilliant, vulnerable son. But she can't shield him forever from learning the truth about what happened to him when he was a baby; why Mark had to leave them all those years ago.
Now age twelve, Ethan is increasingly curious about his past, especially his father's absence in his life. When he intercepts a letter to Claire from Mark, he opens a lifetime of feelings that, like gravity, will pull the three together again.
My Thoughts :
I wasnt quiet sure what to expect from this book, and if I wasnt on the book tour I dont think id of read it. It is very different from anything I have read before and I am glad that I pixked it up and gave it a go. Im not really into Astronomy or Physics but the subject fitted into so well with the storyline and I felt at times I was learning things myself. This is a very interesting and emotional story and tells us how life can change in a second and that it can have consequences. I especially loved Ethan, he is a very gifted bright 12 year old who sees the world in beautiful colours and shapes. Ethan has seen many changes in his life as he has been growing up, and as Ethan learns about his past, where his estranged dad Mark has been and what really happened to him as a baby, he wants answers and believes everyone deserves a second chance. I really liked Ethan's friendship with Alison, who he met in hospital, it was such a lovely part of the story.
This has been told beautifully aswell as covering the subject of SBS (shaken baby syndrome) sensitivity. Antonia Hayes, has put a lot of effect and research into this book and this reflects totally in her finished work.
September 18, 2015
It's been a long time since I've read an Australian novel with such big themes and ambitious imagery, a gripping plot and imaginative storyline, authentic feeling characters, and that's exquisitely written sentence by sentence as well. Would rate it 6 if I could. Relativity is an emotionally powerful novel, that deceptively feels like an easy read. But it's not some trashy page turner at all, the whole story feels very carefully constructed and structured, with momentum building as the story reaches its climax. This isn't just for the beach, there are layers and layers of complex ideas in here. And the writing just sings, it's beautiful in its crisp simplicity and there is a jewel on each page. Every word feels carefully chosen and has weight. The story is also full of clever physics references, some of which feel obtuse (eg in the chapter "Inertia" there are statues, the rabbit is named Quark!). While I understand why some reviewers say that there's too much physics, or that the science metaphors get old, they seem to be more part of Ethan and Mark's characters point of views rather than inserted into the story for the sake of it. It's how those two characters frame the world, and that framing is original and astute. I'm a high school teacher and would love to set this as a text for my students, Relativity has all the motifs, themes, images and topical discussion points as any Australian classic.
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