Shirley Streshinsky

I really enjoyed this one and it was a very quick read. The text was clear, moved fast, and kept up the feeling of suspense all the way through. When she was hiking down the mountain the novel reminded me of the adventure-in-nature type books I like to read now and then. Then her hallucinations, from shock and lack of sleep, reminded me heavily of a spiritual journey through the rigors of nature, another book type I like to read on occasion. I would recommend this. It is a compelling tale of show more survival which also captures the tragedy of her two co-fliers who didn't survive as well. show less

An Atomic Love Story is a story about three women that each was destined to meet a young J. Robert Oppenheimer, the enigmatic physicist who would be called the father of the atomic bomb. The first woman was Jean Tatlock, Oppenheimer's first real love, the second women were Kitty Harrison who he married and the third women was the brilliant Ruth Sherman-Tolman, who was married to a fellow physicist, even though there is no proof that they had a love affair, but they were very close friends show more for sure.

This book was not that easy to read, I had a bit of problem getting into it, especially since I had some trouble in the beginning separating the women stories from each other because the book shifted its focus from them all the time, instead of reading about one woman throughout her upbringing we got some info about her, jump to next, and so one and if you don’t have much knowledge about them before you read this book as I didn’t, then it can feel a bit too much info, too many new people all the time. This brings me to problem number 2, all the people! Relatives, friends, and scientists (and, of course, scientist friends) show up through the book and I felt it was a nightmare keeping track on everyone.

But I still found the book interesting, a bit heavy to read sometimes, but Robert Oppenheimer was such an interesting person to read about and it was a great approach this book to read about three women who all had an impact on his life. I especially found Jean Tatlock fascinating and it was devastating to read about her death.

I recommend this book for people that would like to know more about Robert Oppenheimer!

Thank you Turner Publishing Company and Edelweiss for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! show less

Back in the day, was this not a best-seller?  I remember having no interest then, but I also remember the cover oh-so-clearly.  Well, I finally decided to read it.  It was indeed very interesting.  Dramatic, sure, but also interesting was Lauren's state of mind, and the stories of those friends and family back home.  I only wish we had more of an epilogue about Jean, and Carla, etc.

I love a good family saga and this is probably the best I have ever read. This has such a depth of character and events the author must be recounting a real family.