My review of: The Movement of Stars

The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill

***Book description as appears on Goodreads***

A love story set in 1845 Nantucket, between a female astronomer and the unusual man who understands her dreams.

It is 1845, and Hannah Gardner Price has lived all twenty-four years of her life according to the principles of the Nantucket Quaker community in which she was raised, where simplicity and restraint are valued above all, and a woman’s path is expected to lead to marriage and motherhood. But up on the rooftop each night, Hannah pursues a very different—and elusive—goal: discovering a comet and thereby winning a gold medal awarded by the King of Denmark, something unheard of for a woman.

And then she meets Isaac Martin, a young, dark-skinned whaler from the Azores who, like herself, has ambitions beyond his expected station in life. Drawn to his intellectual curiosity and honest manner, Hannah agrees to take Isaac on as a student. but when their shared interest in the stars develops into something deeper, Hannah’s standing in the community begins to unravel, challenging her most fundamental beliefs about work and love, and ultimately changing the course of her life forever.

Inspired by the work of Maria Mitchell, the first professional female astronomer in America, The Movement of Stars is a richly drawn portrait of desire and ambition in the face of adversity.

*****

My review

Finished reading on April 11th 2013 and gave it 4 stars.

First off I have to say this isn’t a genre of book I normally read. However when I learned the book was inspired by America’s first female astronomer(Maria Mitchell) I had to read it and am glad I did.

This is a beautifully written novel about the life of a women and the adversity she faces from the men in her life and her religious community. Hannah wanted more for her life than what was laid out for a women in the 1800’s. Hannah is a strong female character who even though she worries how others view her is unwilling to give up her dreams. An astonishing heartfelt debut novel that draws you in and runs you through an emotional obstacle course.