Are popular fiction writers still around? Taylor Jenkins Reid?
Consider these profound exchanges between the two main characters in her latest romance, “Atmosphere.” Space Shuttle Program Falling for one another: “I feel like I’ve known you forever and I’m eager to hear what you’ll say next,” “I want to share with you all the wonderful things I’ve ever discovered,” and “I sense I understand myself better because I’ve met you, the first woman I’ve ever known.”
However, there’s a hitch. The characters—Joan and Vanessa—are gay. Hesitant to board the shuttle, they must conceal their affection for one another in public, while the duo encounters regular NASA astronauts during a trial.
If that sounds a bit unclear, it could easily come off as passive. Taylor Jenkins Reid excels at crafting characters that resonate with readers, either comfortably or awkwardly, while also fitting into certain stereotypes.
Joan is accompanied by mission specialist Lydia, who is “remarkably invincible.” She navigates the NASA campus “as if taking a pleasant stroll might jeopardize her time,” mentioning, “There’s Hank, a Top Gun pilot, sporting dark aviators that accentuated his broad shoulders.” Outside the Astronaut Legion, Joan reunites with her sisters, Barbara and Francis.
Some of the book’s most memorable moments consist of contemplations between Joan and Vanessa about the stars, deities, and their mutual passion for space discovery. “For Joan, it became evident that life must have a deeper significance, almost like a wild dream,” Reid expressed.
If there’s one area to point out, it’s the pacing towards the finale, where significant life events seem to follow closely before the climactic sequence unfolds between the astronauts in Mission Control and the STS-LR9.
Beyond that, the narrative structure of the novel doesn’t necessitate extensive detailing. After all, these astronauts are willing to risk everything to join an exclusive human club that defies orbit. But are they prepared to jeopardize genuine love? That’s the elevator pitch, and it’s already attracting the attention of the “Captain Marvel” director, with Leica studio on board, Anna Borden and Ryan Fleck adapting the novel into a film.
___
AP Book Review: https://apnews.com/hub/book-reviews
Source: apnews.com