Wow, so much better than I expected. It was sensitive, powerful, and flowed with an emotional fluency that I haven't come across in quite a while. There were a few moments when my eyes would well up with tears, and it was then I knew the book had me under its spell.I've never read anything by this author before, but I've been on the prowl for romantic stories that focused on the male's point of view. They're hard to find, let me tell you. This book came up around the time I read "The Rosie Project". It has a similar theme, a scientist who tries to apply the scientific method to finding love. Like "Rosie" it becomes clear pretty quickly that science doesn't have all the answers.This book had a lot going for it. First off, there were several passages that waxed scientific or philosophically, but to make a point about how life and love can be unpredictable. When we slow matter down closer and closer to absolute zero, atoms take on a different quality, and we still don't know what mysteries might be revealed at those levels.This book could probably be considered "lad lit" or "dude lit" as opposed to "chick lit", but really, it's a romance novel. But it's by a guy, for guys, and the reason I say that is because it's written from a male perspective. Descriptions of people and objects focused a lot on visuals, because us guys are visual creatures. The emotional descriptions were sometimes confused and muddled, not because the author didn't know how to put words to emotions (quite the opposite) but because us guys, we don't always know how we feel, and even less how others feel about us. As the story unfolds, the reader is taken on a journey through the protagonists emotional landscape, feeling what he feels, seeing what he sees. I really resonated with it.Through much of the story I kept telling myself "This can't end well. I know this is going to have a sad ending." Well you'll have to read it and see how it turns out for yourself! Awesome book, easily 5 stars. I'd recommend this book more for guys wanting to expand their horizons into the romance or "lad lit" genre. I'm not sure how the gals would take it. I don't think it had any misogyny, or that it objectified women, but it had a lot of science and philosophy, and well, boys will be boys! I noticed the only other rating on here (as of this writing) is 2 stars, but it appears to have been written by a female. Who knows? I sure liked it! Loved it in fact. Average rating of 2.5. Everything that happened after the main character "accidentally steps on the toes of a visiting Danish schoolteacher" is an enjoyable read. It explores the twists and turns of a man who had been singly focused on his academic career and who now, after achieving tenure, wants to focus on bringing his personal life up to speed.Unfortunately, everything leading up to that accidental meeting was torture to read. The main character acts completely insane (and not a believable kind of insane), and the conversations the characters have all sound contrived. It's almost as if the first part of the book was added on at the last minute.
What do You think about Love At Absolute Zero (2012)?
Fun idea about finding a wife by the scientific method was ruined by blatant unmarried sex scenes.
—gmonread
I have just won this book from First Reads. I look forward to reading it. Thanks.
—Lateisha
