June Book Review: Atmosphere
An image of Taylor Jenkins Reid
Book written by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Book review by Yvette
“Well, we are the stars", Joan said. "And the stars are us. Every atom in our bodies was once part of the universe. Was once a part of them. To look at the night sky is to look at pars of who you once were, who you may one day be.” Quote by TJR
Book Started: 13 June 25
Book Completed: 20 June 25
Total Pages Read: 337
Total Libby Listening Time: 9 hours and 40 minutes.
Overall Star Rating out of 5 stars: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
Goodreads Book Synopsis:
TJR authors another epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s Space Shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits. Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane. As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changed in an instant. Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling an enthusiastic and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.
My Review:
“Because the world had decided that to be soft was to be weak, even though in Joan’s experience being soft and flexible was always more durable than being hard and brittle. Admitting you were afraid always took more guts than pretending you weren’t. Being willing to make a mistake got you further than never trying. The world had decided that to be fallible was weak. But we are all fallible. The strong ones are the ones who accept it.” Quote by TJR
As a young child, I was always fascinated by Space and NASA. When NASA decided to open its program to minorities, it was a momentous day for me as a Black female. I used to watch the launches at school because they were always such a huge deal and cool to watch. I say all of this because this is why I chose to read this newest book by TJR.
The book begins in the present, with some of our primary and supporting characters on their first space mission. Then the book flashes back to the past. It’s the past flashbacks that allow you to get a better understanding of what is happening in the present. TJR draws you in and twists you all up in knots (in the best way possible). Her writing completely immerses you in the world. You ended up being so invested. Even her supporting characters are given enough teeth to have you in their world as well. TJR writing has you falling in love, and an unexpected twist leaves you heartbroken. I laughed and cried. I am still thinking about this story to the point that I watched the National Geographic documentary on Sally Ride called “Sally.” This book was set during that same time. This book is also a work of historical fiction. The characters are fictional, but the story incorporates historical events. The book focused on females being selected into the NASA astronaut program.
The character of Joan wasn’t the only carefully crafted character. Each character had such detail that their motivations and actions always felt true to who they were. TJR’s character development is also what made the love story so incredible. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say it wrecked me in the best way possible, and I would read a ten-part series just following their most mundane days. Heck, “Daisy Jones and the Six” and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” still live rent-free in my mind. These were the first books I read when I started reading again.
Mainly, this story is about love…forbidden love between Joan and Vanessa. TJR reminds us that the courage it takes to ignore societal pressure is just as brave as literally risking your life to go into space. Especially in a world that forces LGBTQ+ relationships to hide to preserve their careers, and women must prove themselves repeatedly just to get the opportunities men are handed, those still ring true, even 40 years after the book is set. This book goes far beyond the NASA Space program or being an astronaut; I think it served as the perfect backdrop for this story, which mirrored some truths during that time. The way TJR manages to make something as vast as space feel so accessible and even relatable is unbelievable.
Final Thoughts:
“I hope, even more, that Joan Goodwin can convince you to go outside tonight, after the stars have come out, and look up. I hope, with all my heart, Joan can convince you to be open to wonder.” Quote by TJR.
At the end of this story, I felt enlightened, sad, and hopeful. Love is Love. The right LOVE can heal and strengthen. I highly recommend this book; once again, Taylor Jenkins Reid books never disappoint. This book is still sitting with me. This book also includes Joan’s family and the dynamics between Joan and her baby sister, Barbara. At times, you feel as if Joan is the mom and not the older sister. Then there is the relation between Joan and her niece Frances. If you didn't know better, you would assume that Joan is Francis’s mother instead of his Aunt. The way Joan cares for Francis and drops everything for Francis when she is either left or neglected by her mom, Barbara. Brought me to tears their relationship. She accomplished all this while working as an astronaut at NASA. Again, this book left me in my mood, and I’m still there. Again, a MUST read.
