Book Review: Atmosphere
Here’s my review of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you’ve read it too, or if you plan to read it. Then see today’s writing prompt at the bottom of this post.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a book that will have you contemplating the significance of the stars and their arrangement in the night sky, as well as the significance of love in everyday life. Yes, it is primarily a love story, but it is also a story that will have you contemplating how and why we exist, along with your own sense of purpose and spirituality. And it will prompt you to question successful team dynamics, and who is and is not ultimately cut out for some of the toughest missions in life.
Joan is a main character who is easy to relate to and like. She is kind and honest and observant and vulnerable, which is what makes her good at her job and easy to root for over the course of the novel. You’ll root for her as she goes through her astronaut training. You’ll root for her during her space missions. You’ll root for her when she struggles with her family life. You’ll root for her as she becomes the best, most complete version of herself. And you’ll root for her when she falls in love.
I appreciated how TJR made profound topics like our place in the universe and our understanding of God seem easier and pleasant to follow in this book. And I truly appreciated the scenes in the book that illuminated all the wonder one senses and feels when they look up at the night sky. They brought to life the childlike wonder and passion that can propel us all to do important, meaningful, and hard things. They will remind you of the power of curiosity and humility. They will also make you want to go out and look up at the night sky as soon as possible.
The pacing of this novel was also spot-on. The adrenaline-packed scenes are wedged between the romantic scenes and challenging scenes that provide backstory expertly, which is what will keep you turning pages. You’ll want to keep reading to learn about Joan and her endeavors, while you’ll also want to learn what happens to Vanessa during her knuckle-biting scenario in space. And you won’t want to stop reading until you reach the very last page. Seriously, be sure to read this book to its last page…
Overall, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy love stories that make them think and feel at the same time. It would make an excellent book choice for most book clubs.
Here are some notable passages from the book:
“To look up at the nighttime sky is to become a part of a long line of people throughout human history who looked above at the same set of stars. It is to witness time unfolding.” (p.44)
“‘...the night sky is a map, and once you know how to read it, it will always be there. You’ll never be lost.’” (p.90)
“‘And the stars are us. Every atom in our bodies was once out there. Was once a part of them. To look at the night sky is to look at parts of who you once were, who you may one day be.’” (p.90)
“Joan was always moved by the fact that everything— all matter on Earth and beyond, up past the atmosphere, going as far as the edges of the universe, as it expands farther and farther away from us— is made of the same things as the stars and the planets. Remembering that connection brought Joan comfort. It also brought her some sense of responsibility. And what was kinship but that? Comfort and responsibility.” (p.90)
“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.” (p.102)
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Today’s Writing Prompt
Writing Prompt: In Space
Write a scene that takes place in space.
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