Review of Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

[Neha Panikar]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise" by John K Danenbarger.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise by John K. Danenbarger is a story spanning between 1984 and 2044, with Beth and her family members as central characters. The other characters, very much pivotal, are those they meet by co-incidence or plan, and their lives intersect (and entangle) in the most serendipitous ways.

The story begins with Geena receiving news from Joe Tink that her father is dead. Geena is the daughter of Beth, who was a drug addict and a prostitute, found by Joe in the most pathetic state on the streets. Joe brings her home and rehabilitates her for entirely selfless reasons. Circumstances have Beth move on and meet several people along the way, losing touch with Joe. She has some near-miss life-altering events before meeting Kevin, later her husband, who also has a dark past of his own with some very troubling secrets. In parallel, we have Ellen, who meets Professor Martin Case (quantum physicist) by co-incidence. They both work on several scientific theories together and also end up being confidants to some extent. Martin is in a romantic relationship with Joe. How do these stories at seemingly extreme ends intertwine? In what circumstances do Beth and Kevin see Joe again? Do they get to return the favour for giving Beth a new life? What does Ellen have in common with the other characters? Pick up this book to find out.

The book is divided into 5 main sections and each covers a decade or two in them. Every section has several chapters, each being a narrative from a character's perspective. What I loved most about this book is the intricate weaving of the characters and their pasts, and the unique situations in which their paths cross each other. The author has done an impeccable job of tying the minute details of their pasts, which helped the reader understand and empathize with the character's motivations, even though they may not be relatable all the time. There was not a moment of drag and I couldn't put the book down until I had finished a chapter. The narrative is well-paced and so intricately tied that I had to pay close attention, lest I miss out on something.
My favourite was Beth's character; her personal story is inspiring. Despite a terrible start to her adult life, she fights all odds, gets an education and trains to be a paramedic. I liked her triumph to change her life into a positive one, relying on her instinct and choosing healthy relationships and friends.

The one thing I was confused about was the conversation between Joe and Martin (in Part 2—Chapter 7: "That Friday")—it was difficult to keep track of who was saying what, and there was little to indicate or later be sure of, despite repeated reading. I also thought a few minor characters had some loose ends—like Karl, the Swiss guy who is involved in some criminal activities, meets Beth later covertly, but the story reveals none of his motives and how they conclude in the end. Also, Beth's colleague, Frank Stern, who Kevin seems to recognize from his past, but there are no leads or mentions about it later. Finally, there were some cryptic drawings/figurines at the end of each section. I was keen to understand their meaning and significance, but they were never explained.
However, these felt minor to me, considering the larger scheme of the plot. I must applaud the author's ability to complete the story arcs of the important characters, inter-relate them and bring them to a justifiable conclusion. This is not easy when there are multiple characters involved.

I didn't find any grammatical errors, so the book was professionally edited. The book has some descriptions of sex and murders, so it would be recommended for adults only.
For these reasons, I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

It is a well-crafted story exposing the desires, motivations and underlying human traits of sincere love, friendship, loyalty, revenge, deceit, and some gray areas that could be considered deviant. But these are the traits that make this book an extremely satisfying literary crime fiction novel.
Reading this book was a thoroughly fulfilling endeavour for me.

******
Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Priya Murugesan]

Well-written review! Thinking of reading this book. I have thought of picking this many times but haven't done it yet. Based on your review, I believe I will enjoy it!

[Neha Panikar]

Thanks Priya!! I think you will! Let me know what you thought once you do!

[Priya Murugesan]

Thanks Priya!! I think you will! Let me know what you thought once you do!

Sure, Neha!

[Stephen Christopher 1]

From the title I always thought this was a book about quantum physics or some boring old science theories lol. Now that I know the story, I'm excited to read it. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[Sarah Zain]

The book is interesting. The entangled relationships through the story are well-written. I read a few pages a while ago and it was really good. Your review is cohesive and presents the book pros and cons well. Great review

[Mona Alves]

Very detailed and great review! This book has a bit too many characters and plots for my personal liking, not for me, but it's impressive how the author seems to do a good job tackling all of that.

[Neha Panikar]

From the title I always thought this was a book about quantum physics or some boring old science theories lol. Now that I know the story, I'm excited to read it. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Hi Stephen, there's not a lot of focus on it, neither is it the centre plot of the story.. But it does have some contributions that do make the story interesting. I'd love to know what you think.. Let me know. Thanks!!

[Neha Panikar]

The book is interesting. The entangled relationships through the story are well-written. I read a few pages a while ago and it was really good. Your review is cohesive and presents the book pros and cons well. Great review

Thanks Sarah! Curious to know, what made you give it up? And, do you plan to pick it up again?

[Neha Panikar]

Very detailed and great review! This book has a bit too many characters and plots for my personal liking, not for me, but it's impressive how the author seems to do a good job tackling all of that.

I agree, Mona! The number of characters did overwhelm me, and taking some notes helped this problem. But, unlike other stories which fail to tie it all up, this one didn't disappoint! I was happy how it all made sense in the end!

[Gerry Steen]

Regarding quantum entanglement, people and their mental processes are like photons and electrons of atomic matter. Every thought or action influences another thought or action that may be near or very far away. Scientists are studying this phenomenon. This book will be a fascinating read for me.

[Sarah Zain]

The book is interesting. The entangled relationships through the story are well-written. I read a few pages a while ago and it was really good. Your review is cohesive and presents the book pros and cons well. Great review

Thanks Sarah! Curious to know, what made you give it up? And, do you plan to pick it up again?

Hi Neha. I wished to finish reading it, but my ebook copy was incomplete and therefore I was unable to finish reading. Maybe the opportunity will come later and I will definitely want to pick it up. Thank you for asking.

[Neha Panikar]

Regarding quantum entanglement, people and their mental processes are like photons and electrons of atomic matter. Every thought or action influences another thought or action that may be near or very far away. Scientists are studying this phenomenon. This book will be a fascinating read for me.

Hi Gerry, what you say is an interesting perspective! I hadn't known that about quantum entanglement. There sure seems to be a connection that way. But I'm not sure, if you'll also find it satisfying. I'd be keen to know your views. Do let me know once you read it. Thanks!

[Anu Anand]

I’ve read this book and agree with your review. The many characters confused me at times, but I liked how their lives were connected. The story was interesting and kept me reading. Even though it was a bit complex, I enjoyed it a lot. Great review!

[Neha Panikar]

I’ve read this book and agree with your review. The many characters confused me at times, but I liked how their lives were connected. The story was interesting and kept me reading. Even though it was a bit complex, I enjoyed it a lot. Great review!

Thankyou Anu! Glad you agree and liked the review! Have a nice day!