I don’t like novels,
but this.
It
has been a great challenge for me to read this book and eventually make a
review on it. I haven’t read novels, I don’t read novels, I just don’t want to.
Apparently, it became a requirement and more amazingly the first novel I have
finished is not just a mere piece but a mathematical one. I would admit that at
first I was hesitant to read the book since I have no idea if it’s a creative
work or very technical. I even expect this book review to be the worst one I’ll
ever make since I have no idea how to criticize a novel. Well, here’s a try.
Before reading the story, I tried skimming my high school
literature notebooks to refresh myself with the characteristics of a good
novel. I felt a natural drive while reading through the storyline. The twist
was that math was the natural drive. It has given me great amazement how the
authors sewed concepts and theories of mathematics in each chapter of the
novel. They were also successful in making a mathematical novel that can be
understood by those who aren’t really into mathematics and I believe their
primary goals were efficiently achieved.
Generally, the novel was about the mathematical journey
of Ravi Kapoor from his childhood to taking into a mathematical course. There
he learned the interconnections and relationships of mathematics to the
universe. Many obstacles have then bewildered the main character as he went
through answering some questions while applying concepts he had learned in the
university. There were also many twists in the plot, but the ‘love’ part has
not bothered me anyway.
It was
of great surprise that philosophy has again entered into the plot. I didn’t see
it coming since at first, the novel started with a cute kid trying to figure
out how magic in calculators works. It all started when Ravi took a course in
Stanford. However, when he was about to enter college, his mother was a bit
worried due to financial difficulties but good thing Bauji had prepared enough
to finance his education. In the university, he met Peter whom he eventually
became friends with. All the twist started when he got into a class which was
quite interesting. The course was “Thinking about Infinity” under a bright
professor named Dr. Nico Aliprantis. It was also in this class where Ravi met
Claire, which eventually became the love of his life. There, they started to
learn Zeno’s paradox. Also, they discussed various theorems that tackle infinity
just like that of Galileo that “one cannot apply the laws to finite mathematics
to infinite sets.” Also the Cantor’s theory of transfinite cardinals, Euclidian
geometry and many others were also discussed. With immense astonishment, I only
thought that the story was just technical, however, it seemed perfect how the
theorems they learned can be used to study religion and philosophies and other
abstracts that exist.
Ravi has then tried to unravel and investigate the
imprisonment of his grandfather. He had read through the newspaper the issues
of the statement of his grandfather regarding the inexistence of God using his
beliefs and knowledge in mathematical concepts on infinity. Thus, it was
considered blasphemy in his small town where almost all people believed in
Christ. Well, this part grew my eyes bigger. How could a mathematical concept
or statement be used to conclude that a supreme being does not exist? Maybe I
would believe that some scientific or historical basis can do, but why math? I
then remembered the first book we had when philosophy was related with math.
Going outside the realms of the story, it quite bothered me how it was really
unacceptable in those days to speak out what people truly believed in. I
remembered taking a course in “Panitikang Pilipino” that the author should not
directly state the era of the story but rather show some instances. In this
case, one can conclude that it occurred a long time ago. It is somehow
overwhelming to see how the society accepts rational and radical people in
today’s generation. Furthermore, if his grandfather had committed that in the
20th century, then he should not have been arrested for blasphemy.
I felt the technicality of the novel reading through the
personality of Judge Taylor. The “creation axiom” of the judge was indeed
something to be amused on. I would really like to recognize how the authors
perfectly used math to some explanations in faith and rationality of mankind.
As a Christian believer, I stand by my faith that indeed the whole concept of a
supreme being could not be explained by mankind. Then I realized that human
intelligence had really been trying to pursue and generate theorems that can
establish an answer to questions regarding religion and faith.
The novel was indeed ambiguous. It vaguely covered each
part of the story; however, it has distinctly discussed mathematics and
philosophy in a strategic way. The way the authors put in the concepts of
mathematics in the whole story was unbelievable in a mode that an ordinary student
in the university could precisely understand it. Furthermore, I am really not
quite sure about these comments and critiques I have made on the novel since
this was really the first time I have read one. A lot of other novels would be
great to read but this one is unique. It was informative, technical, and
creative. However, I will still not read novels unless it’s a requirement.
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