Universe of Two

by Stephen P. Kiernan

From the critically acclaimed author of The Baker’s Secret and The Curiosity comes a novel of conscience, love, and redemption—a fascinating fictionalized account of the life of Charlie Fisk, a gifted mathematician who was drafted into Manhattan Project and ordered against his morals to build the detonator for the atomic bomb. With his musician wife, he spends his postwar life seeking redemption—and they find it together.

Graduating from Harvard at the height of World War II, brilliant mathematician Charlie Fish is assigned to the Manhattan Project. Working with some of the age’s greatest scientific minds, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Leo Szilard, Charlie is assigned the task of designing and building the detonator of the atomic bomb.

As he performs that work Charlie suffers a crisis of conscience, which his wife, Brenda—unaware of the true nature of Charlie’s top-secret task—mistakes as self-doubt. She urges him to set aside his qualms and continue. Once the bombs strike Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the feelings of culpability devastate him and Brenda.

At the war’s end, Charlie receives a scholarship to pursue a PhD in physics at Stanford—an opportunity he and Brenda hope will allow them a fresh start. But the past proves inescapable. All any of his new colleagues can talk about is the bomb, and what greater atomic weapons might be on the horizon. Haunted by guilt, Charlie and Brenda leave Stanford and decide to dedicate the rest of their lives to making amends for the evil he helped to birth into the world.

Based on the life of the actual mathematician Charles B. Fisk, Universe of Two combines riveting historical drama with a poignant love story. Stephen Kiernan has conjured a remarkable account of two people struggling to heal their consciences and find peace in a world forever changed.

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

448 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2020

About the author

Stephen P. Kiernan's latest novel is THE GLASS CHATEAU, out June 20 and available for pre-order now.

Stephen's most recent book is UNIVERSE OF TWO, a love story set in 1944, amid the development of the atomic bomb. Charlie is a young math whiz drafted into the Manhattan Project, where his duty tests his morals. His sweetheart Brenda, prohibited for security reasons from knowing what he's doing, sees these ethical hesitations as weakness, and urges him to be a soldier, be a man. After the war, Charlie feels culpable for thousands of deaths, while Brenda feels guilty for making him contradict his conscience. Together they spend the rest of their lives seeking redemption -- and they find it.

Stephen also wrote THE BAKER'S SECRET, the story of D-Day from the French perspective: what it was like to live in occupied Normandy with no rights, little food and less hope, until one day hundreds of thousands of soldiers and sailors arrive to fight for liberation.

He's author of THE HUMMINGBIRD, about a hospice nurse whose husband has returned from his 3rd deployment in Iraq with PTSD, and she is determined to help him heal. It is a story about loyalty, patience, and fierce love.

Stephen's first novel was THE CURIOSITY, a scientific thriller and a love story across two centuries. The book came out in numerous foreign editions, and it is currently in development as a television series.

Stephen worked for decades as a journalist, winning over 40 awards. His first book, LAST RIGHTS, was a nonfiction expose of the overly aggressive medical treatment most people receive in the last chapter of their lives, with many suggestions for ways of providing more humane care. His second non-fiction book, the Silver Nautilus Award-winning AUTHENTIC PATRIOTISM, describes the potential for national renewal through nonpartisan civic engagement and volunteerism.

A graduate of Middlebury College, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Iowa's Writers Workshop, he lives in Vermont.

Reviews

[Maziyar Yf · Rating 3 out of 5]

دنیای دو نفر ، کتابی ایست از استیون پی کیرنن ، نویسنده آمریکایی . او برای نوشتن این کتاب از زندگی چارلز برانتون فیسک یکی از دانشجویان هاروارد که بعدها به پروژه منهتن پیوست و در لس آلاموس نیومکزیکو ، مشغول به کار شد الهام گرفته . بنابراین داستان او را باید ترکیبی از تخیل و واقعیت دانست ، گرچه سهم تخیل در آن بیشتر است .
از پروژه منهتن چه می دانیم ؟
پروژه منهتن نام پروژه‌ای محرمانه بود که در طول جنگ جهانی دوم با هدف ساخت اولین بمب هسته‌ای توسط ایالات متحده، با همکاری بریتانیا و کانادا، انجام شد. نامه آلبرت اینشتین و لئو زیلارد به فرانکلین روزولت، رئیس‌جمهور وقت آمریکا و نگرانی از این که آلمان نازی ممکن است به دنبال ساخت بمب هسته‌ای باشد منجر به تأسیس کمیته مشورتی اورانیوم و در نهایت، به آغاز رسمی پروژه منهتن شد.
دو بمب اتمی که در جنگ جهانی دوم علیه ژاپن استفاده شدند، محصول پروژه منهتن بودند. بمب لیتل بوی که بر روی شهر هیروشیما و بمب فت من که سه روز پس از انفجار هیروشیما بر روی شهر ناگاساکی انداخته شد. پروژه منهتن نقطه عطفی در تاریخ بشریت بود و عصر هسته‌ای را آغاز کرد. این پروژه نشان داد که انسان قادر به ساخت سلاح‌هایی با قدرت تخریب بی‌سابقه است.
لس‌آلاموس و نقش آن در پروژه منهتن
لس آلاموس ، شهری که بیشتر داستان در آن جا رخ داده شهری در ایالت نیومکزیکو در آمریکا است که در طول جنگ جهانی دوم به دلیل موقعیت استراتژیک و دوری از خطرات جاسوسی ، به عنوان مرکز اصلی پروژه منهتن، برای ساخت نخستین بمب اتمی، انتخاب شد .
لس‌آلاموس قلب تپنده پروژه منهتن بود. در این شهر، دانشمندان برجسته‌ای مانند. رابرت اوپنهایمر، فیزیکدان ، گرد هم آمدند تا نظریه شکافت هسته‌ای را به واقعیت تبدیل کنند. پروژه آنان ، سرانجام به آزمایش ترینیتی، نخستین انفجار آزمایشگاهی یک بمب هسته‌ای در نیومکزیکو منجر شد. آزمایش ترینیتی موفقیتی بزرگ برای پروژه منهتن بود و نشان داد که ساخت بمب اتمی از نظر فنی امکان‌پذیر است. تنها سه هفته پس از آزمایش ترینیتی ، اولین بمب اتمی بر فراز هیروشیما منفجر شد .

پیامدهای اخلاقی بمباران اتمی
ویرانی و رنج به جا مانده از بمباران اتمی، تا به امروز زخم عمیقی بر پیکر انسانیت برجای گذاشته و اخلاقیات این تصمیم هولناک، همچنان موضوع بحث و جدل مورخین، فیلسوفان و سیاستمداران باقی مانده است.
در حالی که برخی معتقدند که این اقدام به نجات جان انسان‌ها و پایان جنگ کمک کرد، عده‌ای دیگر آن را غیرانسانی و غیرقابل توجیه می‌دانند.
استیون پی کیرنن کوشیده ، چگونگی ساخت بمب اتمی و تلاش افراد در گیر این پروژه برای قانع کردن وجدان خود را در قالب داستانی نسبتا عشقی و کمتر اخلاقی شرح دهد .
گرچه دنیای دو نفر شامل گفتگوهای روزمره و گاه بی‌ارزش است، اما می‌توان با دقت در این گفتگوها، رگه‌هایی از روحیه و طرز فکر مردم آمریکا در دوران جنگ جهانی دوم را یافت. برای نمونه ، زنان داستان به طرز رقت بار قدیمی فکر می کنند . فکر آنان بیشتر بر توجه همسر یا دوست مذکر یا مرد خود به بدن و اندام آنان متمرکز است و غالبا به موضوع دیگری فکر نمی کنند . این زنان که امروزه شاید آنان را بتوان طبقه محافظه کار سفید دانست ، به گونه ای سنتی از همسر خود ( بیشتر از واژه مرد به جای همسر استفاده می کنند ) دفاع کرده و او را تشویق به انجام وظیفه و نه اندیشیدن در جنبه های اخلاقی می کنند
اگر داستان عاشقی و زنان آزار دهنده کتاب را نادیده بگیریم ، دنیای دو نفر سوالات مهمی راجع به اخلاق در پروژه‌های سری مطرح می‌کند. در این پروژه‌ها، به‌منظور حفظ امنیت ملی، هدف پروژه از افراد زیادی پنهان می‌ماند و ممکن است هزاران نفر بدون اطلاع از عواقب، در آن مشارکت داشته باشند. این امر سوالات اخلاقی متعددی را به وجود می‌آورد:
آیا اخلاقی است که افراد را بدون اطلاع از عواقب و بدون فرصت انتخاب، درگیر پروژه‌ای کرد که ممکن است منجر به قتل و عام شود؟
چه میزان مسوولیتی متوجه افرادی است که نقش کوچکی در پروژه دارند، اما این نقش برای انجام پروژه حیاتی است؟
اگر فردی نسبت به هدف پروژه مشکوک شود، اما به کار خود ادامه دهد، چه میزان مسوولیتی در قبال عواقب آن دارد؟
نقش افرادی که از پروژه دفاع می‌کنند، مانند روزنامه‌نگاران و یا کسانی که هزینه آن را مستقیم و یا مالیات دهندگانی که به طور غیر مستقیم در هزینه ها نقش دارند چیست؟ آیا می توان آنان را مقصر و گناهکار دانست ؟
اگر کشتن انسان عملی غیر اخلاقی باشد که هست ، گناه و تقصیر فردی که اسلحه یا بمب می سازد و یا سوخت لازم برای هواپیما بمب افکن تهیه می کند چیست ؟
شوربختانه کتاب کی یرنن سطحی تر از آن است که بتوان پاسخی برای پرسش های فوق در آن یافت . شاید هم هدف نویسنده تنها مطرح کردن پرسش هایی در باب مسئولیت اخلاقی و نه پاسخ دادن به آنها بوده . اما به نظر می‌رسد نویسنده قصد داشته خواننده را به تأمل در موضوعات اخلاقی و عواقب انتخاب‌ها وادار کند.
در پایان دنیای دو نفر را باید کتابی با موضوعی بسیار جالب دانست . گرچه پرسشهای مهم در سایه مسائل سطحی و ساده قرار گرفته اند .

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve wanted to read a book by Stephen P. Kiernan for years, and in fact, I’ve bought his other books due to the great reviews. I’m happy to say Universe of Two lived up to my expectations, and I’m even more excited about the other books.

What shines here most is the writing. In the 1940s, Charlie meets Brenda when he shops in her mother’s music store. Brenda is not interested in him, until he keeps coming to visit her.

Charlie, a brilliant mathematician, is working on the Manhattan Project, which is a secret even to him. Eventually, Charlie is sent to Los Alamos in New Mexico, and Brenda joins him. Charlie is working for the government; unbeknownst to him, his work is on the first atomic bomb.

Charlie comes to realize what it is he’s working on, and he desperately wants to quit. When the bombs are detonated in Japan, he and Brenda are devastated.

The government pays for Charlie to get a doctorate, but everyone in the program is excited about atomic energy, and Charlie is having none fo it. He drops out and searches for something else to do to leave a positive mark on the world.

Universe of Two is a stunningly told story of guilt and redemption. I loved these two complex main characters, and I found their story compelling and thought-provoking. Loosely based on the life of Charlie Fisk, the entire story felt authentic and resonant. Highly recommended for historical fiction fans. This is a good one.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[DeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 guilty conscience stars

It is fitting that I finished this book on August 6, 2020 – 75th anniversary of the atomic bomb dropping on Hiroshima. This historical fiction book is based on Charles Fisk, a mathematician who played a strategic role in creating the detonators for the atomic bombs.

This was a fascinating dive into history and the Manhattan Project. I didn’t realize that for many of the people involved the exact nature of what they were doing remained a mystery. The work they did was in isolation and it was by design that the bigger nature of the project wasn’t widely known. In the book, the character is named Charlie Fish, and the author includes many familiar names Enrico Fermi and Robert Oppenheimer, just to name a few. There are plenty of other people involved that history has mostly forgotten.

The book also features the character Brenda as Charlie’s love interest. She meets Charlie in Chicago at her family’s organ store and eventually follows him to New Mexico.

One thing I found interesting to think about is how the people involved in this project viewed their role. In the book, Charlie is wracked with guilt about the part he played. He dwelled much more on the Japanese people killed and found it harder to focus on the number of lives it saved and bringing about the end of the war. Once the war was over, Charlie was recruited to a PhD program at Stanford, but efforts there were mostly focused on continuing to build future weapons of war.

Charlie eventually left science to focus on his real love – organs. He built a highly successful organ company. I found it interesting that if you look up Charles B. Fisk, he comes up first as an organ builder and it’s more of a footnote that he was involved in the Manhattan Project. I enjoyed this one and it was good to learn more about this important time in our history. This was my second book by this author, I also liked "The Baker's Secret."

Thank you to NetGalley, Stephen Kiernan, and Harper Collins/William Morrow for a copy of this one to read.

[Kate Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 / 5.0 stars

Universe of Two was an exquisitely rendered fictional account of the life of Charles B. Fisk (a man whom I met shortly after graduating from college). Charlie Fish, (the fictional name used in the story) had been tapped for the Manhattan Project shortly after graduating from Harvard with a degree in mathematics. Soon he was coerced into creating the detonator for the atomic bomb, the time during which he developed a crisis of conscience (as did many scientists on the project). The story is one of guilt, struggle, redemption and love.

This is the second book of Stephen P. Kiernan's which I have read and loved; the first being The Baker's Secret. His extensive research into the life of Charles Fisk, the Manhattan Project, the science supporting that project, music repertoire, the mechanics of musical sound and organ construction had to have been Herculean. His ability to deftly craft a believable story, incorporating enough of the science to fill one's imagination of what Los Alamos was like without overwhelming them with the details, evidences his mastery of communication. His ability to draw the reader's empathy to the story's characters is no less of a gift.

Having become acquainted with the real Charles Fisk, I was drawn to this book like a moth to a flame. I had not known until now, his involvement with the Manhattan Project. I knew him in his laters years, as a leader in the resurgence of sacred organ building based on historical instruments. He was a giant among his peers and a master of his craft. (I was part of a team which hired his firm to build an organ for All Saints Ashmont in Dorchester, Massachusetts - Opus 103.)

Charles B. Fisk was a complex, brilliant and sensitive soul. This story beautifully expresses these qualities of this great man.

I am grateful to Harper Collins Publishers for having provided a free advance reader's edition of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

[Stacey B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this ARC in a GR Giveaway. My thanks to GR, the publisher and the author, Stephen P. Kiernan, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this treasure of a book. All opinions are my own.

As I said previously, WOW! This one will stay with me for quite some time. I won't give too much away, but I found it quite fitting, and just a bit eerie, that I finished reading this book on 8/6, the anniversary (8/6/45) that the American bomber, the Enola Gay, dropped a 5-ton bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan.

The book neither begins nor ends with the bombing or the Manhattan Project. Rather, the book starts with what will become a beautiful love story (but not a sappy one) that interweaves so, so well with the story of the building of the atomic bomb at Los Alamos.

I loved reading this. The book is loosely based on the real life of Charlie Fish, who was involved in the Manhattan Project. The book's character, Charlie, and later on his wife, Brenda, had no clue what part he comes to play in WWII as he was 'only a mathematician.' If this confuses you, read the book!

The book was extensively and accurately researched. It was intelligently- and well-written. The characters so well described and defined, I felt like I knew and could picture each and every one.

The intertwining of a love story with a war story took nothing away from each. It all felt so real that now I miss Charlie and everyone and want to read more.

This was my first book by Stephen Kiernan, but it most certainly will not be my last. Very highly recommended!

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Manhattan Project was a massive undertaking that produced the world's first nuclear weapons. The atomic bombings in Japan is what led to the end of World War Two. This historical fiction novel follows a man working on the project and the moral dilemma he faced knowing the success of the project would also come at a terrible cost. It's a fascinating read and the author also wove a love story into the plot which was interesting as well. While this book might not fit the strictest definition of historical fiction as it's more loosely based on a person and certain creative liberties have been taken, it comes across as realistic which counts for a whole lot in this genre.

The publisher gives more specifics in the synopsis but it makes for a much better read if you don't know many details ahead of time. Basically Charlie Fish is a mathematician and is assigned various tasks to complete. He doesn't know the purpose of solving countless equations all day long other than it's for the war effort. He meets a woman named Brenda who works at her family's music shop and makes attempts to see her during his limited free time. The more he works, the more questions he has and the answers aren't particularly forthcoming on this top-secret project.

I highly recommend Universe of Two as a book club selection because it's such a complex part of US history but yet has been glossed over in my opinion. The nuclear bomb was not created by just a handful of scientists. Thousands of people worked on the project but the vast majority didn't even know the full extent of their work until after the bombs were dropped. The strength of this novel is the characters processing everything in their heads. Out of the three historical fiction books I have read about the Manhattan Project, this one does the best job of exploring the aftermath and the conflicted feelings.

Put this book on your tbr list if you have an interest in World War 2 historical fiction.

Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Stephen Kiernan's books so I knew I was going to enjoy Universe of Two before I turned the first page. What I didn't realize was how deeply the book would affect me and that I'd still be thinking about it a week after I finished it. This is a beautifully written book about love and guilt and redemption.

The year is 1943 and Charlie meets Brenda when he comes into the music store that her mother owns and she works at. At first, she didn't think much of him. She was more interested in all of the soldiers on leave who wanted to dance and pay attention to her. Charlie wasn't very impressive when he first asked Brenda to play a song for him on the organ but as he kept coming in to the store, she found herself looking forward to his visits. Charlie was a Harvard graduate, a brilliant mathematician and was working for the government on the Manhattan Project. He had no idea exactly what he was working on and only knew his small part of the entire project with the rest being kept in secret. When he is sent to Los Alamos, he and Brenda plan to write to each other but that was a poor substitute for being together so she joins him in New Mexico. Charlie knew that he was working on a project for the government but had no idea that they were creating the first atomic bomb. He only knew that he was creating a detonator. Once he realized what the project was all about, he wanted to quit when he understood the possible devastation of this bomb. Once the bombs strike Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the feelings of culpability devastate him and Brenda. When the war is over, the government agrees to pay for him to go to Stanford to get his doctorate but he finds everyone excited about the possibilities of atomic energy and realizes that he doesn't want to be part of it. He quit school and he and Brenda look for a career that will bring joy into the world and help to ease the guilt they feel over his part in building the atomic bomb.

The writing in this book is exquisite and the characters are multi-dimensional - the reader sees the good and the bad in the two main characters. My prediction is that this will be a very popular spring 2020 novel. I already know that it will be in my top 10 books for the year.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much in this gem, history, romance, philosophy, music, music, music. The music almost seemed a character. Not always an easy book to read.
There had to be an unbelievable amount of research to get this book to publication (again, the history, bomb building, the music).
As a former church organist, I understood the organ sections, especially the Bach Tocata and Fugue and playing "sick" instrument.
I kept waiting for the "other shoe to drop" since the story is told partially through the voice and experiences of the women who lived the story, but we quickly understand she is telling it from a much more modern (1986) date.
If you haven't read Stephen Kiernan yet, this is a good place to start.

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this as a goodreads giveaway. Thank you William Morrow.

This is a book that made me cry.

Possible spoilers…….

One of the main characters was dealing with the reality of the whole situation and his conscious kept asking him if he wanted to continue. That is a question we must be constantly asking ourselves.

The story is left with an open ended question. Did the character ever find redemption?

If this story brings up questions in your life, don’t ignore them.

[Janssen]

I liked this one - a slower pace but well done!

[Stephanie Anze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Fish is a mathematician working in the University of Chicago when he gets recruited to work on a secret military project in New Mexico. Leaving behind Brenda, the girl he loves, he sets out to his new post, knowing only his destination but not much else. When assigned work, he is only given limited information about the whole project and is enouraged to "stick to his knitting". He does so but when he learns that the work he is doing clashes with his conscience, he turns to Brenda for advice. Without knowing the true nature of his job, Brenda encourages him to go ahead. When Japan gets bombed with nuclear bombs manufactured in New Mexico, both feel a great strain on their conscience.

I have to start by saying that I approached this book with some trepidation. Having read The Baker's Secret some time back and not having exactly liked it, I genuinely did not know what to expect from this book. I can now say that this book fared much better with me. Charlie Fish is a bright young mathematician, a Harvard graduate that works in the University of Chicago. He suddenly gets a promotion and is sent to Los Alamos, New Mexico to work in a secret military project. Charlie only knows what work he has in front of him, that of soldering metals and making electrical circuits, but does not know what the project is about. When he becomes aware, he has a crisis of conscience. As Brenda is the person dearest to him, he asks her for advice. Brenda mistakes his hesitation for doubt in himself and encourages him to move forward. Charlie does but is only met with regret and doubt when he completes the work. What Brenda does not know is that his project is making the atomic bomb.

This is a love story, a cautionary tale and story of regret & redemption all rolled into one. Narrated by Brenda and Charlie in alternating chapters, we become privy to their budding romance and to Charlie's work and how it impacts them. Though the background is the Manhattan Project and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there are no technical details in this book. Rather the focus is the conscience aspect, the moralilty of it all. This, I have to say, was very well executed. Kiernan successfully conveys a tense environment of a battle of the conscience versus obligation and the implications and subsequent consequences. Overall, I found this book thougtful. The slower pace complimented the solenm tone of the book. I do not typically choose romance but this was a well executed aspect in this book. I definitely did appreacite this book . Charlie Fish is based on the real life mathematician Charles B. Fisk that actually worked on the Manhattan Project. Though its worth saying that after he worked on the project, he dedicated himself to making organs and following his love of music for "spiritual" reasons. His company, C. B. Fisk still continues to build organs to this day.

[Jo Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Maybe 5. I loved this historical fiction book about Charlie Fish, the mathematician who worked on the detonator of the atomic bomb in Los Alamos. Unaware of what he's actually working on with the arcs, etc., until close to the assembly of the bomb, Charlie pursues his assignment with diligence, while he also pursues a girl from Chicago, Brenda, who will become his wife. This is both a lovely love story, and a tale of guilt and redemption, on both Charlie and Brenda's parts.The actual person, Charlie Fisk, founded the Fisk organ company, and I would love to see and hear one of his organs...next time I'm in St. Paul, I will do so!

[Karen M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parts of this book made me sad and parts were just plain wonderful. I really enjoyed reading this book.

This, I think, may be the first time I’ve read a book where one POV, Brenda, is written in the first person and the other POV, Charlie, is written in the third person. That change between first and third person worked very well in this story because Brenda is telling us about the past and Charlie is her past.

The author did such an incredible job in defining these two characters that I almost felt as those I understood them and their thinking and reacting to what was happening around and to them. Brenda is living in a whirl of young soldiers about to go to war and she does her part by dancing with them, going to the movies and occasionally allowing a quick kiss goodbye. Charlie is a mathematician and, because of his uncle, is swept up into a government project that will eventually end in a crisis of conscience for him. Somehow, these two find each other and slowly are drawn together against the background of WWII.

The author has obviously done a lot of research which is evident throughout the book. This story takes place during WWII but it is very different then most WWII stories that I have read. It takes place in the USA at a time that the US was fighting on two fronts, one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. It is about the incredible amount of work and effort that went into the development of what some hoped would put an end to all wars. Sadly, as we now know, there is no such thing ,and the development of the research at Los Alamos was just the beginning of a new and now somewhat frightening era in the world.

Thank you to The Book Club Girls, Harper Collins Publishers Inc., Net Galley and the author Stephen P. Kiernan.

[Alison Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway and I really enjoyed reading it. The chapters alternate between the two protagonists’ perspective; Brenda is written in first person and Charlie in third person. I wondered about the reason for the change until the end of the book, when we realize that the entire story is Brenda’s to tell.

The heart of the narrative revolves around their budding romance as Charlie questions the moral and ethical repercussions of the atomic bomb. Charlie feels personally responsible for his role in creating the destruction that takes so many Japanese lives at the end of WW2, which can't help but affect his relationship with Brenda. Brenda is a self-absorbed twit for a lot of the book, although she s-l-o-w-l-y becomes a kinder, gentler person as Charlie wrestles with his conscious.

My biggest complaint is that, in the back-cover summary of the novel, Brenda is described as Charlie’s wife. She is not his wife until the last quarter of the book, which somewhat ruins some of the story line earlier on. There’s a “which man will she choose” moment that is less riveting because of the description on the back cover. And there are only 30 pages in the book by the time the Japanese surrender; half of the book summary is “at the war’s end.” I wish the description was summarizing the first 300+ pages of the book instead of the last quarter of it.

Overall, this is a great story, built loosely on the life of real-life mathematician Charles Fisk. The combination of romance and ethical struggles during the war kept my attention and wrapped me up with intrigue. Just don’t read the story summary before you begin the book…. 😊

[Erika Robuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating from start to finish, UNIVERSE OF TWO is perfect blend of music, science, history, and humanity. Kiernan meticulously crafts a novel of breathtaking intensity at both the global and the intimate level. UNIVERSE OF TWO is a true illustration that while all might be fair in love and in war, it's what happens in the aftermath where one finds redemption. Highly recommended.

[Will G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't give out a ton of 5 star ratings but I believe this book earned one. This is a historical novel but based on the life of a real man. It's also a love story but much more than that as it chronicles' the story of the Manhattan Project through the eyes of one man and his contribution to it. Chapters are alternated between the couple, him working on the most dangerous weapon ever made (and unable to talk with anyone about it including her) and his love interest, well intentioned but unaware of his participation. Very well written, well paced and high stakes, I highly recommend this story.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quite interesting novel very loosely based on the life of Charles Fisk, who worked on the design of the detonator for the atomic bomb in the 1940’s. I’m not usually fond of historical novels that include more fiction than fact but I did enjoy this one. There’s also the love story between Charles and Brenda, which I wasn’t that fond of. What I found most fascinating about this book was when it focused on Charles’ dawning realization of just what he was working on and what implications it could have on this world.

Recommended.

[Diane Yannick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though there was too much detail about soldering and the intricacies of the organ, I’m giving this novel 4 stars for its many redeeming qualities. Loosely based on a real character, I found Charlie to be an interesting young man. His somewhat tentative romance with Brenda was everything he’d dreamed about. (Her romantic dalliance was not believable.)

He showed more grit once he joined the service and had to learn totally new skills. Once he was transferred to Los Alamos, he became an expert in detonation. Gradually he realized that he was working on an atomic bomb. It was this internal, ethical conflict that made this book special for me. I never pictured one man playing such a big role in the creation of this bomb. His torment, although not shared by many, was described in all its horror.

Organ stores and organ playing linked many events and allowed the reader to get out of the desert. I enjoyed reading this book but I’m not suggesting that it is expertly crafted. However, it gave me a new viewpoint to consider.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story! When a fictional book is based on a real person it's sometimes hard for me to focus because I keep wondering how much of it is real and what was made up by the author. That wasn't the case for me with Universe of Two, because it's so sweet and romantic that it really sucks you in. You wouldn't expect a story about Project Y to work well as a love story but I thought it was wonderful. Do yourself a favor and listen to the music mentioned in this book as you read. All of the songs are easily found on YouTube, played on an organ, and you will get the full effect of how meaningful the music is and how well it fits the story. I promise if you read this book you will fall in love with Charlie Fish and gain a new respect for the real-life versions of these characters and what they experienced.

[Michelle]

I honestly have no idea why I can’t get into this book.
I hate to stop a book before I finish it.
There’s not a thing wrong with this book.
I’m just over halfway through and I can’t get into it.
I think it’s the talk of Charlie’s job that doesn’t work for me.
I can tell everyone else who read this book loves it, but I’m around 200 pages in and I can’t stick with it.
I especially hate to do that with an early release. I always appreciate getting to read a book early and I don’t want an early review to reflect negatively.
Books are always personal preference and this book and I don’t fit together.
I was set an early copy of this book from The Book Club Girl and received it through NetGalley.
Thanks!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Kieran does it again by inviting us into history through characters we may have heard of but now see them in a whole different way. Revolving around the Manhattan Project we are in Chicago surrounded by young men who are working on the mathematics which will change our world forever.
From Chicago to New Mexico we feel Charlie Fish's need to complete his job to the best of his ability and the guilt that follows. This is also a love story. Brenda and Charlie meet and she encourages him to continue his work when he has immense doubts about what he is helping to create. She is also there when his conscience eats at him when he sees the result of his work. Beautiful characterization of the scientists that changed the world.

[Penny (Literary Hoarders) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is another where I say, Oh my heart! I smiled so much, this was such a wonderful love story - Brenda's style of telling the reader her love story with Charlie in retrospect was so incredibly heart-tugging great. There is also a deeper story inside too because of Charlie's involvement with the Manhattan Project and the consequences of war.

It was absolutely wonderful and I felt that way from the very first page.

I've been reading some fantastic books this summer with yet another 5-star one here. This also marks the end of my #20BooksofSummer. What an excellent book to end this challenge on!

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can´t figure out how everyone is loving this book so much. For me it was slow, kind of tedious at times and just ok at best.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

During WWII, Harvard graduate and mathematician Charlie Fish is tasked with creating the detonator for the atomic bomb, but once he realizes the true purpose of his invention, he's overcome with guilt. Will his sweetheart Brenda help him or hurt him during these trying times?

"We are all building the Gadget. And we will all be guilty of the crimes it commits."

I was so engrossed by this real and raw account of young love and didn't want to put it down. I'm not sure how the male author so accurately nailed Brenda's thoughts as a young woman, but wow, I was blown away. Additionally, I was utterly fascinated by the Manhattan Project and the top secret creation of the nuclear bomb. Math and science nerds will love the detailed accounts of the bomb's construction, while romance lovers will love the burgeoning relationship between Charlie and Brenda. Mostly, this story is about following your dreams wherever they may lead.

"It's like we're on an island... a universe of two."

Location: Chicago, IL and Santa Fe and Los Alamos, NM

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Patrick Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is loosely based on one of the men who helped develop the triggering mechanism for the first atomic bomb. Charlie Fish, a mathematician, is recruited to work on a secret project in 1943. However, it is not his math skills but his recently acquired soldering skills that land him in Los Alomos at the nerve center of the development of the atomic bomb. He is tasked to develop a triggering mechanism that can create many simultaneous explosions. At first Charlie is in the dark about what his work is for but gradually comes to the realization what his project is for and the damage it will inflict.

At the same time this is also a love story of the romance between Charlie and his would be girl friend Brenda. Here the book in alternating chapters follows Brenda's thoughts and telling the story of the world Charlie finds himself immersed in. The making of the atomic bomb and Charlie and Brenda's relationship creates an interesting dichotomy. As the effort to split the atom progresses, so do the efforts of the couple to knit a life together despite the instability of their lives.

The book explores the moral issues of the use of the atomic bomb as well as the effect on the people who created the bombs that killed so many people. Can one build a life, a universe of two as it were, with a conscience that bears guilt about such carnage? Can one atone for such an action; can one restore enough sacredness into a life that participated in such profanity?

The book works on all levels. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. It touched on many issues without being heavy handed and the ending, which had a basis in reality, was enjoyable. Another excellent story from the author. Five stars.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up after the latest Booktopia weekend in Vermont as Stephen P Kiernan has a new book coming out and I had never read this one. Charlie Fish is in Chicago doing math for the Army, figuring out arcs and solving all kinds of complex problems. But not fast enough. It is the winter of 1943-44 and he meets Brenda, working in her father's instrument shop while he is away in the Army. Their friendship turns into romance while Charlie goes from math to welding, connecting switches. He is transferred to Los Alamos in New Mexico, having no idea what is actually being developed there. This is a beautifully written novel, with themes of youth and innocence. Watching the characters trying to determine what the right thing is and wrestling with their consciences pushed this novel to 4 stars for me.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot about the Manhattan Project, which I enjoyed. Learned more than I cared to about the intricacies of soldering electrical components for testing detonations. Would have liked to learn more about Fish/Fisk's life after working at Los Alamos. The synopsis mentions the prolonged mental anguish he experiences due to his complicity in the deaths of so many Japanese but only about 10% of the book covers this stage of his life. The other 90% covers the time he worked for the government on this top secret project, which he didn't know the exact details of.

Loved the relationship between him and his girlfriend-to-become-wife -the way one's strengths make up for the other's shortcomings - and the way their trust and love develops.

[Rajiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

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This is one of the best books I read this year!

Where do I even begin? Do I talk about the beautiful love story between Brenda and Charlie? Or the nuances of guilt Charlie faces when he realizes the consequences of his work? How about the various physics references that indulged my geeky side? There are so many reasons why I loved this book in so many levels.

I love this author and HAVE to read his previous books. The way he details the story-line makes you feel like you are right next to the characters. Moreover, I loved how he beautifully switches the tone between the two perspectives. Brenda is sassy and fun, and her story-line feels like you are reading a beautiful romance novel. Whereas, Charlie is an introverted genius, and if you read only his story-line, it would sound just like a war thriller. I just loved the contrast between the two, and how they blended beautifully towards the end. Moreover, the author also connects the character events to the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in a gripping manner.

I will not talk about Brenda and Charlie because it is obvious that I love them both. From their romantic first date at the movies, to the way they get married, watching these two was just mesmerizing. However, I have to mention my love for Lizzie and Brenda’s mother. These two appear at times in the story, but they just light up the pages. Lizzie is hilarious and made me laugh out loud with her push-ups. Similarly, I hated Mather and Beasley with a passion. I can go on, but I will stop now.

Overall, this book is the epitome of a historical romance. I loved this story, and awaiting the movie adaptation once it comes out.

[Riley Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/5⭐️ I genuinely don’t understand how someone can rate this book lower than five stars. The writing was clear and concise. The characters had so much depth and development. The story never lulled. He wrote so many phenomenal one line quotes, and some of the funniest dialogue/character thoughts I’ve ever read. The emotions of the characters in the book translated so hardcore, it’s the first book to make me cry in a long time. I’m not a stickler on the historical accuracy, so that might be an issue for some. Again, the character development is this book is what moved me the most. I loved Brenda and hated her mom. Then I hated Brenda and loved her mom. Then I loved both of them, and loved Charlie the whole time. This is at the top of my recommendations to people currently, a must read.