Page 3 of 4
There are currently 26 member reviews
for An Infinite Love Story
-
Jackie H. (Naples, FL)
An Infinite Love Story
I have read virtually all of Chanel Cleeton's books. This is the first one I've read that didn't focus on Cuban main characters. My first clue was the statistics about the 1998 divorce rate of 2.9 per 1000. She stated that this equated to .0029. It would actually be .29. She compared it to the actual number in the space programs of 20 in 34 marriages. The number is an indicator of the high level of stress on families where one parent is in the program.
From the first chapter, I was into the story. How could it happen? What was to be done? Would everything get solved at the book's end, either successfully or not? Are there real incidences of paranormal activity in situations like these? I liked the characters and kept hoping they would return safely.
Love is such a powerful emotion it can influence our thoughts and dreams. Some of the scenarios stretch the imagination, especially for the timeframe of the novel.
-
Susan R. (Greensboro, NC)
Space Travel
I went into this book expecting not to like it -- something in the blurb just didn't hit me right. I sure am glad that I gave the book a chance because I loved it. It probably helped that Artemis II had just landed and my interest in space travel was as high as it had been during the space race of the 1960s.
This beautiful love story is set in the 1960s when Joe Mitchell's spacecraft loses contact with the earth. He and the other astronauts on board are presumed to be dead. As his wife Vivian waits to find out if they are truly lost in space she spends her time re-living their love story in her mind. She can't accept that their perfect love story may be at an end. After the malfunction is blamed on operator error, Vivian knows that she has to do whatever she can to clear her husband's name. Is this how their love story ends?
The author does an excellent job of telling the story in dual time lines -- one is the story of Joe and Vivian meeting and falling in love and the second is the endless hours after the space craft goes missing. I preferred the earlier time line but both were well done. Also I thought that the first half of the book was much stronger than the ending.
I grew up in the 60s and always paid attention to the space race so this book brought back a lot of memories. Another great book by this author.
-
Mountain lover Colorado
An Infinite Love Story
I must admit that I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought that I would. I was in school when the space race was going on, so I well remember the teacher rolling a TV into the classroom so we could watch a launch or a splashdown. I also remember watching in horror as the Challenger exploded. In contrast to watching the smiling waving astronauts, I have a good friend who is the wife of a now retired astronaut. He has a room filled with medals and memorabilia and she has the memories of worry and raising four children often on her own.
I feel that the author did a great job of comparing and contrasting the thrills and excitement of being an astronaut with the struggles of being the spouse. She also showed well the difficulty for a woman to have a successful career in the 1960s. The loss of the baby added yet another element of stress to a couple already under stress.
My reason for a "4" instead of a "5" is that I did not find the addition of time travel and black holes to be necessary. I think the strength of the book was the characters and their relationships .
-
Kristia L. (Flower Mound, TX)
An Infinite Love Story
I love the time of the story and the character development. I will admit I did not finish the book, but not because it was not good. First, I do not like stories that go between present and past. I can't explain why but I would just prefer that they tell the story from beginning to the end. Second, I figured out pretty quickly that right now was not a good time to read the story because it would be emotional. But, what I did read I would recommend.
-
Rebecca M. (Gulfport, FL)
A Lovely, Love Story
This was a multi layered story from the early 60's to '68 or so.
Vivien is a woman before her time, self assured, career oriented & not looking for love or a commitment. Her friend meets a guy & asks Viv to come along & meet his friend, story takes off from there.
There's some science stuff, but it did not take away from the actual story.
This was a love story, a struggle to be a strong woman in that era & the difficulties in being a wife or girlfriend of an astronaut.
I did enjoy it & I did have a little crush on Jim Mitchell!!
-
Susan P. (Santa Paula, CA)
An otherworldly love story set against the space race
It's the year of space stories, between 'Project Hail Mary', and 'Atmosphere'; and now we have Ms. Cleeton's entre into the genre. Known mainly for her historical fiction novels set in Cuba, this is a new avenue for her.
A love story, that may or may not have some 'otherworldly' aspects to it, it's set in 1968, at the height of the Space Race, when the world is fixated on the Moon and the brave men who reach for it. Joe Mitchell, an ambitious astronaut, is poised for one of his career's most dangerous missions. He and his fellow crew members launch into space amidst great global anticipation, but soon contact is lost. When officials presume the spacecraft destroyed and the crew dead, Vivian, Joe's wife, is left in a world of grief, disbelief, and unanswered questions.
Rather than giving in to despair, Vivian relives the story of their love, from their first meeting to the vibrant life they built together, to make sense of what has happened. As rumors swirl and the investigation unfolds, something else begins to happen: mysterious communications arrive that only Joe could have sent, leading Vivian to wonder if love might truly transcend time and space.
There haven't been many books written about astronauts' wives and the struggles they endure, and by centering the narrative on Vivian's experience, Cleeton gives the emotional stakes real weight, making Joe's possible fate feel profoundly personal rather than abstract.
There's great character development here and you feel for Vivian and what she is going through. Another great addition to the Cleeton library!
-
Diane J. (Grove City, PA)
A Welcome Twist
I've enjoyed escaping to Cuba set in historic timelines and a touch of romance in Chanel Cleeton's earlier books. So, I was intrigued by her newest novel and yet hesitant about the description. A plot that relives the early days of the space race? Science fiction? It was a bit like doing a double-take when bumping into an acquaintance because you don't recognize them at first. Perhaps they've lost weight or have a shocking new hair style?
I'm glad I gave this new look and feel of Cleeton's a try. I was quickly drawn into lives of the characters - their backstories and aspirations. The plot is romantic but not an impractical fairy tale. It is heartbreaking at points and also gives readers pause to consider the important issues of early space travel, such as the enormous safety risks and lack of privacy the astronauts and their families faced.
What I found particularly satisfying was how the characters matured, learning critical life lessons! I felt that one subplot came out of nowhere. Perhaps this speed bump was intended to reinforce that life is not perfect and challenges can be the path to new strengths and perspectives.
I continue to have faith in Chanel Cleeton and will continue to read her backlist as well as future publications. This newest offering would be an excellent selection for book clubs. Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkley Publishing Group for an opportunity to review this Advance Reader Copy.
