A review by heidirgorecki
Universe of Two: A Novel by Stephen P. Kiernan

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Such an interesting character perspective on a “minor” player in the Manhattan project and the moral implications and difficulties the men and women involved in it had to struggle with. 

With movies like Oppenheimer recently and other books that focus on the subject, I’ve often gone back and forth considering the right and wrong of it and it’s just such a hard concept - the horrific and long lasting destruction and loss of life, vs the brutality of a continued war of the bombs hadn’t dropped. Totally insane and awful. And I’m so thankful we’ve never had to face it again. 

I loved Charlie as a character, and I loved Brenda’s mom. I think I want to BE Brenda’s mom. Brenda on the other hand…. She started out ok, making mistakes but thought provoking ones a lot of us do. But the latter like 60% of the book she was so self centered to the point of cruel, it was frustrating. 

Overall well written and enjoyed the story.