Having seen the film Oppenheimer, it was good to see this from the point of view of those who worked at Los Alamos, especially the women. Unbelievable how little they did to protect themselves, even after two deaths. The whole thing is terribly sad but who knows what might have happened without this awful experiment.

The novel tales the story of Alice is super bright physicist who gets a job working with Oppenheimer in the desert working on the top-secret Atom Bomb .There it’s been a lot of interest recently about Oppenheimer after the film of the same name and I was intrigued to read some more about people working under him and what their life was like. I’ve no doubt that people will reach for this book because of its subject matter
As a woman Alice is immediately to disadvantage as the male workers assume that she’s a secretary or Cleaner to add to this she has to cope with the casual and over arching anti-Jewish sentiment at the time.
Found this novel gives a really authentic feeling view of what life must’ve been like working under these pressured conditions in the desert.
The setting of the research facility in the middle of the desert adds, extra geographic detail to the novel
I recommend this novel if you like a historical base story feels very real fully developed three-dimensional characters. Comparison with lessons Platt in chemistry by Bonny Gamu has to be expected as both are writing at a similar time about women in the male dominated scientific workplace.

The author has a clear easily read writing style. The novel was an easy enjoyable read.
I particularly enjoyed the name of the novel the sound of 1000 stars a witch refers to the noise of the bomb exploding and also the fact that of course stars make nice sound as there’s no sound heard in space

There are some Similarities in this book to lessons in chemistry Bonny Gammus with a woman in a man’s scientific world if you liked that book you should enjoy this

I read an electronic copy of the novel on NetGalley UK book was published in the UK 8th of October 2024 by Hodder and Stoughton
This will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com. It will also appear on Amazon UK.

A graphic description of what went into the invention of the nuclear bomb in parallel with its devastating outcome on a victim. A love story is used to lighten the delivery of the facts.

I haven’t seen the Oppenheimer film but having read this book I think I’d like to know more about this subject. Told from the perspective of the scientists working on the bomb and backwards from the perspective of a Hiroshima victim. It’s part love story, part science. Beautifully written, sensitively handled and highly recommended.

When I started reading this novel I wondered if I was going to need a degree in physics, as there is a great deal of scientific reference. To fully appreciate this novel I did google Los Alamos to get a better understanding of the background and history of the experimental aspects of the atomic bomb in New Mexico.

Rich intelligent Jewish scientist Alice, meets poor Jewish US Army soldier, Caleb; both seconded to the top-secret experiments, that even those who worked on the experiments were never told their purpose. The story features top nuclear physicists, Robert Oppenheimer and his protégés in the development of the bomb.

The story read backwards of the effects of the Hiroshima bomb on a young Japanese couple, Shinju and Haruki, is distressing as too are the pain, suffering and ultimate death of those exposed to the radiation.

A brilliant historical novel based closely on fact, deeply researched and written empathetically bringing to life the horrors of the atomic bomb. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Alice Katz, a young Jewish physicist, defies her family's expectations by leaving behind the comfort of her well-to-do life to join a secret government project in the desert. Set in 1944 at Los Alamos, Alice works under the famed Dr. Oppenheimer, alongside other brilliant minds who have quietly abandoned their university positions. Among them is Caleb Blum, a poor Orthodox Jew assigned to the explosives division.

While none of the scientists fully understand the magnitude of their work, they know one thing: they must beat the Nazis in developing an unspeakable weapon. As tensions rise in the race to build the atomic bomb, Alice and Caleb, despite their many differences, are drawn together in a poignant, unexpected romance.

This book skillfully intertwines the scientific race to build the atomic bomb with a deeply moving love story, capturing the emotional complexity of the era. The author’s meticulous research and the inclusion of historical notes provide rich context, especially through the lens of the Hiroshima survivor’s resilience. The novel’s balance of science, history, and human connection makes for a compelling and unforgettable read. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction that lingers long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

Whenever I read books about world war 2 be it non fiction or fiction I am always astounded by the stories, by what happened in that time and just how did fellow humans get through it. Anyone living or working in that time are little heroes. And those who suffered particularly at that time are warriors and I'm in awe of the bravery of those targeted and or suffered at that time.
You could tell this story had heart. Her characters were written beautifully. Finding out what personal note this books did indeed have to the author, I soon understood all the more the background of why this was written so well and it gave an extra punch to certain parts of the story.
A brilliant historical fiction.
The stories of that time should never stop being told
They are both horrifying and majestic.