Review by Ruth Fuller -- Timewise by Robert Leet
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Review by Ruth Fuller -- Timewise by Robert Leet
[Following is a volunteer review of "Timewise" by Robert Leet.]
This is a review of Timewise by Robert Leet. The book opens with the main character Ron, recounting his background growing up in various foster homes in New England while also detailing his discovery of, and love for the game of chess. At 14 years old he meets a beautiful physics professor named Regina who was volunteering at his middle school. She explains that she teaches physics because she likes to figure out how things work and that specifically, she studies time. Her sincere questions to him encouraged Ron to study harder which led him to excel in math. Her questions always contained a lesson in them which Ron learned from once his mind processed them. When he came of age, he began to work construction while mastering the game of poker. He later met Cheryl who taught him to view the earth in ways he never had before. Regina showed up in his life again at the time that he began having financial problems. She offered to pay Ron's way through a good college of his choice. Eventually he went back to studying mathematics for its precision, logic and eternal qualities. He also took physics so that he would have something to talk about with Regina. She gave him mock homework assignments based on gravity in an attempt to expand his thinking away from the accepted norm as she emphasized how the words that we use have a direct effect on our ideas and thoughts. She brought up the idea of quantum physics and its difference to regular physics. Using the "two slit" experiment, she pointed out that quantum physics describes a seemingly nondeterministic reality. She further explained how this led "to her more complete understanding of time." Expanding on her concept, she explained that she believes her view "explains more phenomena more simply." Her main statement/ hypothesis is an intriguing one which I have not heard before, but I will leave that discovery for those who choose to read the book to discover on their own.
I did enjoy reading about various concepts of physics and its relation to math as well as to human thought patterns and the inner workings of the brain. I find these fascinating and intriguing subjects. I also enjoyed the way the characters were described and I felt like I could picture each of them and what they were about. A comical paragraph in the book partially sums up what the story itself is all about and also made me laugh aloud. In essence it reads, "... Jacobs recommended a landscape architect,...trying to fit what he told me was possible with what Regina wanted...seemed more difficult than creating a comprehensive theory of the universe." There were a couple of interesting and unexpected twists at the end of the book.
I disliked the concept that terrestrial and celestial bodies were able to command and obey one another at will because this takes the power away from their creator thus rendering him useless or even non-existent. The main problem for me is that I felt that the book contained too much "tell" and not enough "show" to keep it interesting for my personal taste in reading. It read to me more like a lecture than a story. This made it difficult for the book to catch and keep my attention.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed the characters and story and I was intrigued by physics terms I had not heard before. The book seemed professionally edited with only minor typos. I had hoped to experience an adventure through my reading, and what I felt I got was more like someone recounting the facts of one instead. The bulk of the story was a series of discussions among the main character and a few other characters on potential possibilities in physics. Halfway into the story I kept hoping something interesting and intriguing would happen shortly. It did pick up in the story line as I was hoping it would just over half way into it. Even with that said, I could still picture the characters and events and feel a lot of what they were feeling. I am interested to read more from this author if he has any further books in the future.
A person with even a casual interest in quantum physics, conscious awareness, string theory, and the brain, will likely enjoy this book and possibly be reminded of things they once heard or were taught before. They may also be introduced to new concepts of which they may not have thought of before including waves and particles both appearing separate as well as together.
******
Timewise
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
This is a review of Timewise by Robert Leet. The book opens with the main character Ron, recounting his background growing up in various foster homes in New England while also detailing his discovery of, and love for the game of chess. At 14 years old he meets a beautiful physics professor named Regina who was volunteering at his middle school. She explains that she teaches physics because she likes to figure out how things work and that specifically, she studies time. Her sincere questions to him encouraged Ron to study harder which led him to excel in math. Her questions always contained a lesson in them which Ron learned from once his mind processed them. When he came of age, he began to work construction while mastering the game of poker. He later met Cheryl who taught him to view the earth in ways he never had before. Regina showed up in his life again at the time that he began having financial problems. She offered to pay Ron's way through a good college of his choice. Eventually he went back to studying mathematics for its precision, logic and eternal qualities. He also took physics so that he would have something to talk about with Regina. She gave him mock homework assignments based on gravity in an attempt to expand his thinking away from the accepted norm as she emphasized how the words that we use have a direct effect on our ideas and thoughts. She brought up the idea of quantum physics and its difference to regular physics. Using the "two slit" experiment, she pointed out that quantum physics describes a seemingly nondeterministic reality. She further explained how this led "to her more complete understanding of time." Expanding on her concept, she explained that she believes her view "explains more phenomena more simply." Her main statement/ hypothesis is an intriguing one which I have not heard before, but I will leave that discovery for those who choose to read the book to discover on their own.
I did enjoy reading about various concepts of physics and its relation to math as well as to human thought patterns and the inner workings of the brain. I find these fascinating and intriguing subjects. I also enjoyed the way the characters were described and I felt like I could picture each of them and what they were about. A comical paragraph in the book partially sums up what the story itself is all about and also made me laugh aloud. In essence it reads, "... Jacobs recommended a landscape architect,...trying to fit what he told me was possible with what Regina wanted...seemed more difficult than creating a comprehensive theory of the universe." There were a couple of interesting and unexpected twists at the end of the book.
I disliked the concept that terrestrial and celestial bodies were able to command and obey one another at will because this takes the power away from their creator thus rendering him useless or even non-existent. The main problem for me is that I felt that the book contained too much "tell" and not enough "show" to keep it interesting for my personal taste in reading. It read to me more like a lecture than a story. This made it difficult for the book to catch and keep my attention.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed the characters and story and I was intrigued by physics terms I had not heard before. The book seemed professionally edited with only minor typos. I had hoped to experience an adventure through my reading, and what I felt I got was more like someone recounting the facts of one instead. The bulk of the story was a series of discussions among the main character and a few other characters on potential possibilities in physics. Halfway into the story I kept hoping something interesting and intriguing would happen shortly. It did pick up in the story line as I was hoping it would just over half way into it. Even with that said, I could still picture the characters and events and feel a lot of what they were feeling. I am interested to read more from this author if he has any further books in the future.
A person with even a casual interest in quantum physics, conscious awareness, string theory, and the brain, will likely enjoy this book and possibly be reminded of things they once heard or were taught before. They may also be introduced to new concepts of which they may not have thought of before including waves and particles both appearing separate as well as together.
******
Timewise
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Poems About Things That Mattered Most by Bob Dowell
