It starts out well, but instead of creating an interesting story it makes clear to me the absurdity of the story throughout religions that there is a creator who takes an interest in human affairs. Between the vastness of the cosmos and the insignificance of our planet and the human race it seems extremely arrogant to think that everything was created for us. I did not find the plot engaging beyond the first few pages.

The manner that this story was written took me a bit to understand. I have never read a book where the story is based on the viewpoint of a proton. The story was enjoyable to read and it does help

Dawn, or “Dawn: A Proton's Tale of All That Came to Be” to give it the full title, is such an intriguing, quirky concept for a story, telling the history of the universe from the point of creation to the present day, from the point of view of a proton.
As every proton was there from just after the big bang to witness it all, it offers a unique insight into the creation story.
The proton starts as an innocent, naïve “being”, not understanding much of what is happening, but as time passes it develops and matures in wisdom, observing the history of all time. It works well as a way of explaining some complex scientific concepts in unscientific language.
Right from the point of the Big Bang, the balance that exists amongst the enormous forces of nature exposes the guiding hand of a Creator. Initially at the subatomic and atomic level, then planetary, as the guiding hand of creation works over millions of years. Finally, that hand guides biological creation.
It may not sit comfortably with some Christian's views of the creation story, but it does combine the wealth of scientific discoveries with the Biblical creative process, showing a tight continuity between what are sometimes seen as opposing narratives, but can in fact be seen as complementary.
The book includes an overview of the evolutionary process, presenting it as the way that life persists and endures, getting cleverer and increasingly adapted for survival. Again, matching the scientific theories of evolution to the creation narrative, caused by a Creator.
The book includes a challenging account of the Garden of Eden and the fall. It moves away from the Biblical storyline, but takes the essence of the Bible teaching and presents it in a way that could fit with science. It may upset some purists but I feel it is important to read with an open mind and know that this way of presenting it may well help others to glean some answers to the difficult questions that the Bible narrative leaves unanswered. It looks to fill in some of the gaps, with the best of intentions.
I saw it as a creative explanation, that helps to put the pieces of the mystery together. But we also need to always have the humility to admit that we don't have all the answers. We can’t offer a full and precise explanation or all the details. One day, when we are face to face with the Creator, we may get that sort of insight, but whilst we are here, and He has made us curious, then it is right that our minds are applied to the "how" questions... how did He do it.
The proton’s story criss-crosses the Bible story offering interesting insights, as an informed observer. One of them being a shift in the Creator's objectives when dealing with people. With the rest of creation, the strongest and fittest find survival, whereas when people are involved His desire is to support all, especially the weakest, driven by love and compassion for those created in His image.
Ultimately it tells the gospel story, the good news of how Jesus's life and death reconciles us with the Creator.
The book uses uncomplicated language, suitable for all adults but also younger readers too, and it will certainly prompt thought, discussion and debate, whilst helping many to get a clearer comprehension of what can be a difficult subject.

Did not enjoy it, This book is out of my comfort zone to say the least It was just slow... It took me weeks to finish this book

It is not just that science and religion are often pitted against each other as irreconcilable; it's that they are radio transmissions on two completely separate wavelengths. They are songs sung in different keys in different languages tuned to different temperaments. One is a lecture about the universe as a neat and tidy system that must only be analyzed enough to be understood, and the other is a mishmash of literary genres telling the story of a supernatural God creating and sustaining and redeeming a universe compiled by different times and cultures and locations and spoken languages.

How will they ever see eye to eye?

This is not a new question. The finest of theologians and scientists and philosophers have all examined this problem. Some suggest that theology is the queen of the academy and the solution is merely for science to bend the knee. Others suggest the opposite, that theology and religion are outmoded concepts that humanity has grown out of, and that we need only to lay it to rest. Still others suggest that there is some kind of harmony to be found. I have read these books and they are all interesting enough in their propositions, but I do not think I have ever read a book that has sought to get behind all this debate and present them both as pieces of one coherent narrative.

That is exactly what Dawn: A Proton's Tale of All That Came to Be (written by Cees Dekker, Corien Oranje, and Gijsbert van den Brink and translated into English by Harry Cook) does. It is a memoir (of sorts) of a proton created just moments after the Big Bang and all the momentous events it happens to experience through its lifetime across the universe, from the creation of atoms and molecules and light and stars and planets to the birth of humanity and our fall to the life of Jesus to the near future of humanity among the stars.

To describe such a project as "ambitious" hardly does it justice, yet it strikes me as such a good and helpful and even novel contribution to the conversation. I do not mean to belittle or undercut the importance of philosophical inquiry as to the compatibility of science and theology—it has its place—but when I speak to individuals who are struggling personally with the question, there is often simply a disconnect between two ways of telling the story of the world. And telling the story like this provides no room for a disconnect. Again, it's not that you will walk away from this book having every last one of your questions answered, but that you'll have been given a plot line where both science and theology could at least in theory reside together. To all the authors out there, more books like this, please!

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.