As summer creeps toward fall, I can’t help but get excited. With apologies to those who mourn the end of swimming weather, I’ve been dying to drag out my comfy sweatshirts and deliciously decadent elastic waistband pants. You know the ones I’m talking about. They’re soft and forgiving and don’t pass judgment on me the way snobby slacks with zippers and buttons do.
Another reason to love fall is I tend to read more because there are so many new releases – all in time for the holiday season. My most recent read is THE OTHER EINSTEIN by Marie Benedict. From Benedict’s well-researched novel, I soon learned Mr. Einstein may have had an amazing intellect, but his treatment of the people closest to him wasn’t exactly stellar.
According to the novel, he minimized the contributions of fiancee and physicist Mileva Maric to his ground-breaking work, basically stringing her along for years before he agreed to marry her. The life between them wasn’t exactly rosy and I couldn’t help but feel bad for Mileva. Did you ever imagine the wild-haired smiling images we’ve seen of Albert Einstein hid a rather self-absorbed womanizer? Guess you’ll have to read the novel to find out all the fascinating details. I know I’ll never look at him the same way again. This, my friends, is one of the many reasons I love historical fiction – learning things that weren’t taught in any of my history classes.
Now on to more important items.
Subscribers, you are fabulous. As a way to express my gratitude, I plan to periodically run some fun contests exclusively for subscribers. Today I’m launching the first one. So…drum roll please…I’m sponsoring the chance for subscribers to win a $25 Amazon e-gift card – a great way to get started with your holiday shopping.
If you aren’t a subscriber yet, no worries. Just sign up on the top right sidebar under “Become a Subscriber” by entering your email address. You’ll receive notification of new blog posts so you won’t miss future giveaways or exclusive news via email – but never more than twice per month.
A winner will be randomly selected from my list of current subscribers in five weeks, on October 25, 2017. Simple! Since the gift card will be delivered via email, all subscribers are eligible, regardless of geographic location. All that’s necessary is a valid email address.
Once again, thanks to my loyal subscribers. Good luck to each one of you!
12 Responses
This book and author are new to me, Pat, so thanks for bringing my attention to them. I’m off to do some Googling now about Ms. Benedict and also about Albert Einstein. I don’t know much about him, but imagine him to be both complicated and fascinating. And, apparently, a bit of a jackass, too!
Lisa, I’d certainly never before heard anything about Einstein’s first wife (or his second wife for that matter). A brilliant man, but as seems to often be the case, also a deeply flawed one.
Pat–
I’ve heard that the limited series–“Genius”–is really good, and quite illuminating.
Yeah, I don’t get it. He was crazy smart, but good-looking?
I don’t think he was. (And I think I’m a subscriber, but perhaps not. You know me and technology… 😉
Sioux, I became so flabbergasted reading about how he treated his wife it certainly knocked my esteem for him down a few pegs.
If you get an email when I put up a new post, you’re a subscriber, but I’ll check my list just to be sure. 😉
Interesting read. Who would have thought he was a womanizer?
I know, Sally. Being a ladies man just doesn’t fit with what I knew about Einstein.
For anyone to be strung along for a long time, they must be either crazy in love…or dumb! Yes, I’m a subscriber.
Sheree, I agree. She could have walked away, but other issues came into play for her. One of which is a child they had out of wedlock and the somewhat limited options a woman of her time had.
It’s hard to imagine him as a womanizer but I guess it’s true. Love is blind.
Donna, I couldn’t imagine it either and went hunting for more information. I found out it’s pretty much true.
Interesting little flawed man. Now I will have to check it out. I heard the same thing about Henry Shaw. Your first paragraph is absolutely wonderful. Yes, I know the pants of which you speak. LOL
Linda, I suppose it’s true you can’t judge a book by the cover. LOL