The Theory of Everything

by Lisa Grunwald

Alexander Simon, a young scientist who is about to publish a unified theory of physics, finds his way of life shaken when his mother reappears after many years' absence and draws him into her world of palm readers and alchemists

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Lisa Grunwald is the author of the novels The Evolution of Annabel Craig, Time After Time, The Irresistible Henry House, Whatever Makes You Happy, New Year's Eve, The Theory of Everything, and Summer. Along with her husband, former Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen J. Adler, she edited the bestselling anthologies The Marriage Book, Women's Letters and Letters of the Century. Grunwald is an occasional essayist and runs a side hustle on Etsy called ProcrastinationArts, where she sells other things she makes with pencils and paper. She lives in New York City.
Photo courtesy of author website.

Reviews

[Flo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from my daughter because it isn't available as as eBook and the minute I told her I wanted to read it, she bought it and mailed it to me. She is the only person aside from my husband who understands my love of books and reading.
Grunwald has done a lot of research into the physics of the quantum and into alchemy. She tells the story of Alexander who was taken at age 8 to see an Angel and has since dreamed about her. His mother then leaves him at age 8 never to to return. He is brought up by his father whom he adores. He grows up to be a physicist and has proven The Theory of Everything. He has to write his article and give a lecture then hears that his mother wants to see him. What he learns when he meets her causes him to turn to the study of alchemy and that's when the story becomes very odd but I think this book is beautifully written especially as told from the point of view of Alexander. Anyone who loves science will enjoy this book.

[Eric Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really wonderful book following your instincts and beleiving in your gift of intelligence.

[John Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Einstein never did determine his hoped-for theory of everything, a theoretical model for explaining all physical phenomena in the universe. As a young child, especially, after his mother abandoned his father and him, the novel's protagonist, Alexander Simon, has been fascinated with numbers and later as a young physicist, determining the theory of everything. It was, as if, Alexander was trying to establish order from chaos. When he finally determines it, rather than basking in his fame and glory, he becomes despondent. Although passionate with his live-in girlfriend, Linda, she resents that he is unable to be intimate with her. When his mother re-emerges in his life, Alexander turns to the metaphysical, e.g., palmistry and horoscopes, to determine the meaning of life.

I picked up this book on a recommendation, after reading and enjoying Time After Time, which was published almost thirty years later. I enjoyed the later book much better for its unique story. The protagonist in the current book reminds me of the Carly Simon lesser-known songs, "Floundering." The characters were well developed; however, I found myself caring little for many of them.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lovvved this book. Had no idea how intense it was going to be when I checked it out, but it had me rapt. About one man coming to terms with life's impermanence, and not just being okay with it, but finding joy in it. It's a really beautiful book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

read twice

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wry, magically uplifting novel about the nature of love and the world. Only connect ...

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Do not read this book. It melts your brain, like eating cotton candy while watching Oprah reruns.

[Ploni Almoni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is it fair to rate a book after abandoning it so soon? Maybe it got better, in which case I apologize.

[Lee Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book twice. Very interesting.

I know a bit about the goal of Einstein and others to find a theory that explains "everything." By this we usually mean what is/are the "fundamental" "force(s)" that lie "at the heart" of the universe.

My excessive use of double quotes above is driven by the nature of words themselves. What are the definitions of the words I've quoted? There is mystery in all of them.

The main character in this 1991 book is Alexander Simon. He is a physicist and has spent his life trying to come up with such a theory. He lives with his girlfriend Linda and their relationship is strained.

The book starts with the story of Alexander and his mother Alice. He is eight years old. They are watching a stationmaster who is waving a lantern to warn an oncoming train of a washed out bridge. The stationmaster is run over and killed and the train falls into the river below. This experience haunts him in dreams throughout his life.

Alice leaves Alexander early on. She is off to places unknown and is a student of astrology. He hides behind his equations and finally comes up with a theory that will rock the world. All things "live" in just two dimensions (not three, not four, not ten) and are "strings." They measure 10^-23 mm across. He is working for a guy named Biner who is constantly pushing him to publish.

We learn about several early scientists whose breakthroughs occurred early in their lives, like his. We also learn what happened after their discoveries were revealed. Newton went on to study alchemy and the pyramids. Boltzmann blew his brains out. (I did not know either of these facts.)

Alexander is close to his dad, Sam. They play chess. Drink Scotch. Talk about Alice. They correspond frequently.

Alexander befriends a woman named Cleo. She is a palm reader. He ends up moving out of his place and lives with her. Linda and he become estranged. Cleo tells him that she and his mother are in constant contact with each other. He misses his mother terribly and thinks Cleo will eventually bring Alice back to him. They have sex. She is very seductive. She's a 22 and so is he. Look it up. Numerology. (I've actually met a guy years ago who truly believed this stuff.)

Cleo sends him off to live with a guy named Harold in New Jersey. He's into creating his "Prime Matter" and will teach Alexander how to create his. This involves digging up dirt, plants, flowers, collecting dew etc. etc. Mixing the ingredients.

Creating "charts" (based on your time and place of birth and where the planets were then) is something that Harold and he do.

In other words, Alex is transported into a world completely foreign to what he is used to, considered bunk by most people. However, much of the literature he is told to read and the quotes we are shown from it (there is a sizable bibliography at the back of the book) is thought-provoking. What is "real" science and what is "junk" science becomes less clear.

Spoiler: It takes a long time but finally Alexander leaves Harold (whom we learn is needy himself) and finds himself being touched by Linda.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, I don't even know how to describe this book. It was weird, but compelling. It was well-written, but about strange topics. I am not interested in either string theory nor alchemy, but the plot somehow kept me engaged. If I could give it 2 1/2 stars I would because I imagine I will keep thinking about it for a while. Give it a try.

[Cristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Theory of Everything both started and ended slowly. The middle hundred pages or so were interesting but I almost didn't stick with it long enough to get that far. Overall I would not recommend it.