Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid
In Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid once again places the reader in a new, and likely unfamiliar, setting. The story follows Joan Goodwin, a female astronaut who joins NASA’s Space Shuttle program in the 1980s.
One of my favourite things about all TJR novels is that they immerse me in worlds I previously knew nothing about. Daisy Jones & the Six did this with music, Carrie Soto is Back with tennis, and now Atmosphere with space. A lot of research must go into bringing the reader so seamlessly into a new universe, but Reid does so with impressive prowess. Though at first, I felt left out by all the technical talk about the physics of space, it wasn’t long before I found myself looking forward to it. And what better testament to Reid’s writing than to say that she managed to keep me engaged even through my least favourite subject - science.
The reason Reid can incorporate such heavy technicality without losing her readers is the impeccable character work that happens alongside it. This is a new universe not just because of the science element to it but also because of the many new people we meet and befriend. Reid introduces us beautifully to a cast of diverse characters, all distinct and relatable in their own way.
Within what feels almost like worldbuilding, Joan Goodwin becomes our grounding force. It’s clever how, for a story dealing so heavily with outer space, the protagonist is so noticeably rooted in real life. Having Joan act as our tether to NASA and its astronauts creates the perfect forward motion throughout the introductory first third of the novel, moving us onto the second third where we focus heavily on Joan’s character development and her blossoming relationship.
In true TJR fashion, it is in the last third of the novel that the stakes become higher than ever. Here the novel becomes a page turner not just because of its plot, which works because all readers are now somehow on the same page about the potential implications of latches on a spacecraft, but also because of the fragility of the relationships between its characters, whom we have all grown to care for so deeply. It is impressive, really, how effortlessly Reid carries us to the same level with her so that she can create active tension out of situations that previously might not have impacted us as much. But by the end of the book, already fluent in the Atmosphere universe, we remain right there with her all the way.
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