Rainbow Reading is our weekly series focusing on book reviews with a geeky/sci-fi/fantasty/supernatural flair with LGBTQ characters. Today I review Loving an Absentminded Astrophysicist by T.N. Tarrant.
This book was recommended to me by a friend. I have never read any T.N. Tarrant books, but I’m always up for trying new authors. This is actually two books joined together by a novella in the middle. I did indeed enjoy it.
The book centers on Jareth and Liam. Liam is the astrophysicist in this story, as well as an astrobiologist and a geologist. By any standard, he is a genius. Liam works at the Northwestern Institute for Interstellar Research. He meets Jareth there, who is head of security, during an unfortunate incident involving a co-worker, a set of brass knuckles and a trip to the hospital. Liam is no stranger to the hospital where doctors and nurses know him on sight. Even though this specific incident was not Liam’s fault, it seems Liam is slightly (read this as ginormously) accident prone. Liam lives in his own world, and he has almost no situational awareness. Liam is 23 and has been a full time member of the staff for three years and was a student prior to that.
Jareth goes with Liam to the hospital where he finds out Liam will need to be there at a minimum overnight. Liam’s only concern is Her Royal Highness, Empress the Cat. Liam has a cat sitter for Empress during the day, but doesn’t want to leave her alone at night. Jareth offers to look after Her Royal Highness. Jareth also ends up taking care of Liam after he is in the hospital longer than expected. While Jareth is over, Liam has a flashback. This reveals to us and Jareth the Liam’s horrific parents. Over time, we find out that everyone that showed attention to Liam either wanted to steal his ideas or were jealous of his intelligence and success. This has left Liam extremely reluctant to connect to others as friends much less enter into a relationship.
Jareth slowly convinces Liam to trust him with time and patience. He does this by being there for him at work, and through all the trials and tribulations with his parents. Jareth is able to offer Liam something he has never had – love. The second book is eight years after Liam and Jareth marry. They decide they want to have a child, and decide to try adopting. Obstacle after obstacle is thrown in there path by vengeful people, bigots and one extremely crazy and hateful parent.
These books are high angst. They also have scientific discussions that occur routinely with Liam’s co-workers or just between Jareth and Liam. I know some people found these discussions long and drawn out, but they actually made me look up the information to see how much was accurate. It reminded me why I like reading books by Brian Greene and Neil deGrasse Tyson as well. I really enjoyed these books, and they are in my definite re-read folder on my kindle. I’m now looking for additional books by T.N. Tarrant to absorb.
Have you read this book? If so, please comment below. If there is another book and/or author you would like to suggest for Rainbow Reading, please drop me a line below!
