The Mathematician's Shiva
by Stuart Rojstaczer (2014)
2022 reads, book 2/20:
I wish Goodreads let you do half stars. I was really interested in the concept of this book going in. The main character, Sasha, is not only dealing with the loss of his mother, but also the fact that she could have solved one of the greatest problems in mathematics (worth one million dollars), but rumor has it she spitefully took the proof to her grave. So, other mathematicians who knew her come to sit Shiva, and try and see if she has the solution anywhere hidden in the house.
However, when actually reading the book, this plot seemed to take a backseat to the more memoir-eqsue style of the main character’s narration, consistently going back and forth between present and past, both in his life and his mother’s. I didn’t really mind this style of writing, but I was just expecting more of a comedy or mystery, so it seemed to drag at points. However, I enjoyed the characters a lot, and their interactions with one another were entertaining. Lastly, the book ended well by satisfyingly tying everything together.