4-4.5 stars

This was beautifully written novel, portraying the struggles that a young family goes through for love, science, and survival.

Miri Abramov (a surgeon) and her brother Vanya (a physicist) are struggling with the impending war looming over them in 1914 Russia. Both of their parents drowned fleeing to America, and their grandmother has raised them ever since, but now they are faced with making a difficult decision. Flee to America as their parents had once attempted to, or stay and fight. The timing couldn’t be worse, as Vanya is racing against Einstein to prove the theory of relativity, and in order to do so, he must be present during the solar eclipse to capture a photo.

Before they can be forced to fight for their country, Vanya and Miri’s fiancé volunteer so they can choose where they will be stationed. Vanya uses this as an opportunity to be front and center for the eclipse, but the journey there is not without obstacles. When Miri hears of their disappearance, she goes in search of them along with a man she selflessly saves and soon develops feelings for. But is it worth risking all of their lives?

This truly was a whirlwind historical fiction, and I was immediately swept up in the drama of it all. I really appreciated all of the research that went into this novel, and the author did an amazing job of immersing the reader into the landscape and time period of pre-WWI Russia. The characters were especially intriguing and quite brilliant, so much so that it made my little science-geek heart skip a beat. The story also evoked a lot of emotions that I knew to expect, but nevertheless had me in tears (both happy and sad).

I’ll admit, there were times were I thought the story dragged on a bit, but regardless, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4690137204

I tried, but couldn't make it through this one. I was put off by the suggestion of a rival to Einstein. I might have accepted the story line if there was some indication that there might have been a note about such a person, but there was not.

I have not read many books based on WWI-era Russia. The characters are well developed and you will learn much about this period in time. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this one was a good book to add to my list of completed books.

The science aspect of the story should have been a little difficult for me. However, the author does a great job of make very difficult concepts understandable. And the fact that this kept me interested is a major accomplishment. I’m not a huge romance fan and could have done without some of that aspect of the story. However, this was an interesting read that improved my knowledge of this time in history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

An incredible book that had a little bit of everything - history, science and romance! I couldn't put it down and found the science aspect incredibly interesting. Extremely well written and engaging - I definitely recommend!

In Russia, the cusp of World War I and many people are feeling the effects of a war on the brink of exploding. Miri Ambramov was just beginning her career as a surgeon when her mega smart brother is about to make headway on Einstein's theory of relativity. She and her fiance, drop everything to help Vanya get to the eclipse where he can possibly make a discovery and change the world.

Most of this book was a chase or road trip book with two sets moving trying to outrun and outmaneuver the bad guys while at the same time hunting for something. Although at times, I wasn't completely loving the story, the pacing throughout was fantastic. The author was able to keep the story moving and keep me reading until the end.

I also enjoyed this book because the time and place felt unique. I don't read a lot of books that are set in Russia and during World War I. World War II ends up being the more typical time that I read about, so I enjoyed the fact that this was different from my typical time and place.

I found out after reading that this was a debut novel and it made me more impressed by the book. I would look more closely at her next book and possibly dive in.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Bend in the Stars is a historical fiction novel set in WWI-era Russia. Miri is a young Jewish doctor, and her brother Vanya is a physics professor. He is racing to witness a solar eclipse and prove Einstein’s theory before being a Jew in Russia becomes too dangerous. This determined sister and brother are each fighting their own battles against time and capture. Can they solve the physics problem and escape Russia to safety before it’s too late?

I found this to be a long and complex novel, with the plot dragging much of the time. There is actually quite a bit of action around evading capture and the race against time. But I think amount of detail in the plot became difficult to keep track of and bogged me down a bit. I wanted more from the scientific side of the story, but it was understandably hijacked by the arrival of the war in Russia. I did enjoy the setting, as I don’t know much about that time and place in history. While I liked many of the characters, I was not as emotionally invested as I would have liked. I personally just didn't connect with this book, but if you love historical fiction adventures, you might enjoy it.

Great historical fiction will captivate, evoke a sense of the time and make you feel like you were there. A BEND IN THE STARS is great historical fiction for those reasons and so much more. It is truly a book that people need to read and experience for themselves because it is masterful.

A Bend in the Stars was a fresh take on the Jews living in Russia as WW1 threatened their very existence. Barenbaum puts you in place and time as a family tries to escape Russia as the Czar’s army is killing Jews.

The most endearing grandmother and matchmaker raises her grandchildren Miri and Vanya. Both brilliant, Miri is a surgeon and her brother Vanya is a mathematician working on relativity. The three of them plan their escape. No book would be complete without a myriad of complications during that escape and this one is no different. Separation, trusting the wrong people, injury, poor communication, a budding romance, and Vanya’s relentless quest to see an eclipse are just some of their roadblocks.

This author can tell a story and keep you invested the entire time. I loved learning about the eclipse and its importance in understanding relativity. I had no idea how the term and concept came to be and this book gave me a good overview. Time actually could be its own character in the book. The concept that no one is living at the exact same time based on clocks and watches was presented. A few seconds off over time makes a difference in a day, a year and so on. Each section started with the Jewish calendar month and its meaning. I absolutely loved those reflections on time passing.

Additionally, I’ve read many books about women doctors and surgeons in the early 20th century and the toll it put on them to perform with perfection, just because they weren’t men. That aspect of the book was enjoyable and enlightening as we watch Miri grow to understand how her fiancé sees her, as a woman or a surgeon, but not both.

The author did a wonderful job at mixing fact with fiction. It had an unusual premise tucked inside its pages and I’m sorry I didn’t get to it sooner. Fans of historical fiction shouldn’t miss this one.

I was drawn into this book by the gorgeous cover, and I’m so glad I was. Russian history is a bit daunting for me to read about since I am so unfamiliar with it, but I’m glad it did not deter me in this case. This book is a love story, an adventurous scientific race, and a glimpse into the life of Jews in WWI Russia. I enjoyed this one. I liked the sibling element and the stories from each of their viewpoints. I think sibling stories are unrated and undone in literature. The most interesting element of this book for me was the dynamics of all the different character relationships. And the best part of the book was seeing a character be redeemed through his observation of the “goodness” of another.

War, love, and science make this a page turner! The plot moves swiftly against the many Russian landscapes across this vast country--grimy cities, country villages, hospitals, railroad cars. The main characters, who are primarily Jewish, are well developed, each with aspirations, challenges, conflicts, and a few dark secrets. The mood is colored with the approach of WWII, deadly anti-Semiticism, the need to pay "protectors", the Czar's ruthless secret service, and scientific jealousies. Although the August 21, 1914 eclipse and the arguments against Einstein's formula are historical accurate, the characters and their race to photograph the eclipse, and rendezvous to escape Russia before the borders are closed, is fictional. This is a book to be read over and over again.

Russia, in 1914 was heading into the Great War, and Jewish Russian Miri Abramov, who is a doctor, and her brother Vanya, a physicist/university professor, fear for their lives as the Czar’s army is conscripting Jews for the war, regardless of their status. Vanya is on the verge of finding the mathematical equation for the Theory of Relativity, in a race with physicists around the world. As an eclipse approaches, Vanya knows that with the correct equation and photographic proof during the eclipse, he could save his family from the terror in Russia, be able to travel to America and be accepted at Harvard University. Can he do it, before the army finds him?

I was spell-bound by this riveting tale of life in Russia over a hundred years ago. A saga of family, love and perseverance had me turning pages quickly, both not wanting the book to end, and wanting to know the ending! It was very well written and I highly recommend this book

A good historical fiction book, albeit a bit long. I'm always on the lookout for historical novels that don't take place in WWII. A Bend in the Stars fits that bill. Taking place in 1914, we follow Miri as she tries to find her brother and fiance all the while dealing with the start of WWI.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Bend in the Stars. As someone who loves historical fiction, I find myself primarily reading books about WWII in Western Europe - this book was a refreshing change of pace, being set at the start of WWI in Russia. Jewish siblings Vanya and Miri face impossible odds when trying to escape Russia to America, by solving equations about relativity. I am in no way a science person, but I was fascinated by Vanya's race for relativity and the information about Einstein. This book could be gruesome at times, as most dealing with the poor treatment of Jews are. I loved the resilience of the characters and their strength in horrendous situations.

My only complaints:
1. It started a little slow - I think this was important to the build up of the story, but it did make it a little tough to get in to.
2. The ending chapter seemed a little unnecessary. I wanted to know what happened to the characters in the future, but I didn't love how that was handled.

My review was posted to my instagram page: www.instagram.com/readingandsunshine

This book has a really strong premise and dimensional, relatable characters. However, I felt like it was unnecessarily lengthy. I was really engaged in the story, and halfway through it suddenly felt like it really bogged down. I read just over 75% of the book before I finally lost interest and sat it aside. I think they author could have cut it down quite a bit and had a much more impactful novel! Still, if you are interested in this period of history, it was a very unique perspective that I enjoyed reading more about!

A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum is so well research and beautifully written. You are transported back to WWI Russia. The emotional portrayal of the Jewish plight is detailed to break your heart and then give you strength.

I have always been drawn to war-time stories. Why? I do not know, but what I DO know is that Rachel Barenbaum has penned one of the most beautiful novels I have had the pleasure of reading. She crafted this book with such care. Giving an authentic voice to the characters along with such an intelligent plotline. The book made my heart both race and ache. It gave me a fresh view on an era that I didn't know much about. Seeing it through the perspective of the characters was such a riveting reading experience. I am in complete shock that this is Rachel Barenbaum's debut. Her storytelling and world-building is something that even the most seasoned of writers try to achieve. I would not be surprised that we see this sitting along side the literary classics years from now. It has earned it's spot! I highly... HIGHLY recommend you add this book to your library.

When the book description indicates Russia, Jews, and World War I, I'm sold. However, A Bend in the Stars has so much more to the story.

While set in Russia just before and during the early part of World War I and happening to have main characters who are Russian Jews, A Bend in the Stars centers on the eclipse that occurred in Russia on August 21, 1914 and a race to come up with the mathematical equation to prove the Theory of Relativity. This race to be in the right place at the right time and to obtain the photographs thought to be needed to prove the theory is hampered by the obstacles the main characters experience due to their religion and the war. Roadblock after roadblock stands in their way to achieving their goals. In addition to the scientific race, there is also a romance thrown in as well.

A Bend in the Stars is the first novel by Rachel Barenbaum. Barenbaum does an excellent job of vividly portraying the setting and hardships experienced by the characters. The characters, particularly Miri, are well-developed and likeable. There are also numerous twists and turns to keep the reader guessing throughout the book. I look forward to further novels by this author.

While most people are aware of the Holocaust with six million Jews slaughtered by Hitler and his Nazi regime, less is known about the persecution of Russian Jews during WWI. A Bend in the Stars is a heartbreaking, yet stunningly beautiful story about one family's desperate escape from the czar and his killer army. Miri and her brother Vanya are living in Russia with their Baba (grandmother) after the death of their parents, who were traveling to America when their boat sank. Miri is a surgeon-one of the very few females to hold this position- and Vanya is a mathematics professor. Vanya is obsessed with Einstein's Theory of Relativity-specifically a flaw Vanya sees in Einstein's logic. To support his own ideas Vanya has spent countless hours reworking equations, but needs a photo of the eclipse of 1914 to verify his theory. To get this photo Vanya must travel across Russia while dodging the "conscription" (draft) order for Jews. Helping Vanya is Yuri, Miri's fiance, also a surgeon. Miri and Baba plan to meet Vanya and Yuri after the eclipse to make their own trek to America, but the czar's men always seem to be one step ahead. There's duplicity and bribes, terrifying near misses with the army, and brutal weather to contend with on their passage. Along the way Miri meets Sasha and she is drawn to the mysterious stranger immediately, despite her impending nuptials. Here A Bend in the Stars could have become a sappy romance novel, but first time author Rachel Barenbaum strikes the perfect balance between love story and suspense. There's a lot to absorb in the plot-if math was not your best subject now might be a good time for a refresher course-and with places and events that may be unfamiliar to some American readers, following along can be a little intimidating, but don't let that put you off. You'll be rewarded with a riveting story of tremendous bravery by ordinary people faced with extraordinary circumstances, and a tender awakening in Miri that speaks to the unstoppable power of love. A Bend in the Stars is worth every second you spend in its pages-it will tug at your heart and stay there long after you put it down.

Lovely book that celebrates love, family, and the determination and passion to make a difference despite the odds.

Slow to start, but ultimately a compelling and illuminating historical fiction read! A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum has a unique setting, as it’s set during the outbreak of WWI in what was then Russia. The book starts out in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania) and some characters travel to Riga (Latvia), while others travel to the Kiev/Brovary (Ukraine) area.
I found the historical setting to be absolutely fascinating. Our main characters are all Jewish, so there was a focus on the treatment of Jews in this area during this time, and so there were mentions of various pogroms (the babushka was a survivor of one of the Odessa pogroms) and such. Many of these scenes were difficult to read, as reading about so much hatred and what humans are capable of doing to each other is so tough.
The main characters are brother and sister Vanya the physicist and Miri the surgeon, Miri’s fiancé Yuri, another surgeon, and Sasha, a soldier running from something. We also meet Vanya and Miri’s babushka, whom I don’t recall ever actually reading what her name was! Their babushka is the local matchmaker, and she was such a tough, strong character. I really loved her! As I previously mentioned she survived an Odessa pogrom, and teaches her survival skills to her grandchildren. Vanya and Miri were both strong and competent characters. Vanya is trying to beat Einstein to some formulas to prove relativity, and is also trying to meet up with an American photographer to capture photographs of the upcoming eclipse. Miri has just attained surgeon status at the local Jewish hospital, a well-known hospital, and is devoted to her job. Her fiancé, Yuri, is her mentor, and he’s got an interesting backstory as he hails from Zhytomyr (Ukraine), and we discover more about him as the book goes along.
Yuri and Vanya head to Riga to meet up with the American photographer, and Miri encounters Sasha as he’s deserting, and they end up escaping to Kiev. A Bend in the Stars follows both sets of characters, alternating chapters between their stories. I found Miri and Sasha’s plotline much more interesting than Yuri and Vanya’s. Yuri and Vanya’s just had more physics and wandering around that didn’t interest me, and they also meet up with a sea captain named Dima, who, at the beginning, is one of those untrustworthy characters that as a reader we can see right through, but our characters do not. Towards the end, as Yuri, Vanya, and Dima’s plotline got more fast-paced and dramatic, I was glued to the page and concerned for all of their safety!
There is a love triangle here, with Miri and Sasha falling in love while they travel, but Miri is also very much engaged to Yuri, and this was a love triangle that didn’t irritate me. Both men are kind and loving in their own way, and I believed Miri’s indecision and dilemma. Miri and Sasha have undeniable chemistry, while Miri and Yuri have a love of medicine and respect for each other.
While the first half of the book was slow with all the set up, learning about Vanya’s formulas and how the eclipse will help, and meeting all the characters, once the plot got rolling I couldn’t put the book down! The ending was full of drama and love with some disturbingly violent scenes, and I was riveted. While I didn’t understand all the physics of what Vanya was working towards, I still enjoyed this read and recommend it for those who enjoy reading historical fiction!
Bottom Line: Slow to start, but a strong ending!