The Atomic Weight of Love in Bound Together

Feb 25, 2016 Diane S ☔ rated it really liked it

4+ This was my favorite fictional read of the month. Meridian is pursuing her dream of becoming an ornithologist, able to attend the University of Chicago by a mother who wants the nest for her daughters. There she meets and eventually marries on of her professors who seems to treasure Meri's mind. Alden is a brilliant scientist himself and will soon become one of the team at Los Alamos, working on a secret project.

Life in the 1940's was narrowly defined for most women. College until marriage an ...more

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Feb 21, 2017 Irene rated it it was ok

A bright college student marries her professor, 20 years her senior. Despite the fact that this is the early 1940s, she silently assumes that marriage will have no impact on her dreams of pursuing graduate work and a career as an ornithologist. Over the ensuing decades she becomes increasingly resentful of and estranged from her husband. There is a scene early in the marriage that reflected my perception of this novel. A dinner party concludes with the women sharing stories and pictures of their ...more

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Jun 13, 2017 Dale Harcombe rated it liked it

Three and a half stars.
I was interested in this story from the start, although the book never quite went in the direction I thought it would. The writing is mostly beautiful. I loved the way each chapter started with some information about birds. I kept reading snippets out to my husband. The first is a parliament of owls. How could I not love that! Others include a tidings of magpies, a party of jays and a murder of crows. Crows feature a lot in this book. Meridian Wallace, the main character h Three and a half stars.
I was interested in this story from the start, although the book never quite went in the direction I thought it would. The writing is mostly beautiful. I loved the way each chapter started with some information about birds. I kept reading snippets out to my husband. The first is a parliament of owls. How could I not love that! Others include a tidings of magpies, a party of jays and a murder of crows. Crows feature a lot in this book. Meridian Wallace, the main character has a passion for all birds but especially crows, In 1941 Meridian has won a place at the University to study ornithology. But then she falls in love with the much older physics professor, Alden Whetstone. His work requires him to work in a mysterious wartime project in New Mexico. Deferring her own dreams, Meridian moves to Los Alamos. But initial plans of the move being a temporary arrangement change as time goes on. And so does their marriage. Attitudes of the times in particular in regards to women and marriage and career come across very strongly and the sense of place is beautifully described.
I did laugh at Meridian’s attitude towards Bob Dylan. Rather echoes my own. I was really enjoying this book until about a half to two thirds the way through, at which point I tossed it aside and wasn’t sure I wanted to finish it. In creating Clay, I felt the author had gone for Alden’s complete antithesis. There is a fair bit of use of the f word, mostly, but no entirely, in connection with Clay. And there were other things about Clay that I disliked. Despite the author’s attempts to portray Clay as a free spirited, sensitive guy, I found him annoying. The affair that ensues with this younger man and Meridian never struck me as credible. Not that I was a fan of Alden either. He was buttoned up, aloof, controlling and even cruel at times. . But he struck me as very real. He was definitely a product of the times.
Despite thinking I wouldn’t read any more at one stage, something called me back although I admit to skimming. Until suddenly the book became more interesting again. For me, there were a couple of tearful bits but perhaps not the incidents some people might think. Mine were to do with White Wing and Jasper. I liked the way the story ended, which didn’t look likely at one stage. It would have been a shame as if I had given up on this book earlier as I would have missed so much. All in all, I found the majority of this book a really interesting and engaging read and am glad I read it.
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Mar 18, 2017 DeAnn rated it really liked it

Meridian is a unique name for a unique character. A fascinating portrait of the demands on women to take care of the men in their lives rather than focus on their own educations, aspirations, and desires. I so rooted for her to take her life in a new direction, but what courage that takes. I learned more about crows in this book and Los Alamos. I'll be waiting for your next book, Elizabeth J. Church. I hope you have another equally fascinating story to tell next. ...more

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Jun 29, 2016 Pat rated it it was amazing

Loved this book about the trials and tribulations of a gifted ornithologist whose husband chooses to take a job at Los Alamos, NM working on The Bomb Project which disallows his wife to complete her PHD as planned. I was drawn into her frustration of the limits imposed on academic women during those years - grrrrr. Well written! Good book and good historical fiction!

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