Challenge Corner discussion

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes an 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 own 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 changes 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 a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.

I am SO looking forward to this - YAY!

Me too, I have two hours left of my current audiobook and (sadly) a three and a half hour drive so I'll be starting it tonight.

Sorry about your drive, Jessica - but good for reading! Sorry I'm a bit all over the place; I did start on Monday but I'm away and not really meant to be online (complicated last minute stuff.)

Up to end of Fall 1980 (it's confusing on Audible) (view spoiler)[ I loved the beginning of this so much, and I LOVED Joan's comment one point about love and relationships, but not getting why people were so excited about them - same sort of excitement as eating a Graham cracker or something? Problem with listening - I can't find the part again! Anyway, I LOVED that, and I love her relationship with her sister <3 Nuanced and painful and loving, and her sister is such a CHILD but she lets her be...

When someone, I think it was Vanessa, said the whole thing about courage being scared to death and doing it anyway, I wanted to groan - it's turned so CHEESY. And now, Vanessa and Joan out looking at stars... it feels like it's just going to turn into a love story. I want more about the women pioneers of the space programme! And maybe we'll get more but I feel like the book is pivoting...

Sorry this is so incoherent - I'm a mess, not gonna lie, and this is all I've managed to 'read' in three days despite not having any responsibilities for the week (health stuff), I just can't read - and it's making everything worse. Sorry, I'm not even sure what I'm saying, it's kind of like going mad, although maybe if I was going mad I wouldn't know I was going mad.

ANYWAY, trying to have this as a tether... (You totally should ignore all of that and I may delete it later) (hide spoiler)]

I'm listening very slowly, but I am enjoying it! To end of July 1981 (view spoiler)[ I think I was frustrated because I liked the idea of Joan not being into sex because she was asexual (always looking for more ace rep), but when I got over myself about that (lol), I really enjoyed seeing Joan's 'awakening' when they went to the strip club! She's so... innocent. Perhaps unrealistically so?

(Also can I take a minute to point out how unfair it is that she's good at EVERYTHING?? Drawing, music, astronomy, being a good sister, a good aunt, a good daughter... is she too perfect? ... no, but it sometimes gets me lol).

I think the non-relationship with Griff is done very realistically as well; his 'wounded pride' gradually becoming less so they can be friends, but something permanently changed at the same time. That felt real. And how he's giving her these not very subtle warnings about being gay, and she just says, "I have no idea what you're talking about." :( I hope they don't get stick from NASA...

It's amazing that a book about GOING INTO SPACE has me into the romance - when I don't usually even like romance lol.

I also find the relationship with her sister realistic - and sad. Barbara leaving Frances (a seven year old!) out on her own?! That is not okay - and it feels like she's proving something to Joan, or testing her, and I just feel so bad for Frances... at least she has Joan. (What mother says, "I gave up my whole life for you"?? Even if she was joking, which she wasn't, not really...)

I'm glad that Joan finally confronted Lydia about the way she responds to the guys joking. Conversation that needed having - and I was proud of Joan for sticking up for herself.

(view spoiler)[

Sorry this is all over the place; finding it hard to know where to stop in the audio, and then forgetting to write anything, so this might be all a bit out of order and incoherent... (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

To end of "There is a sense of agony within mission control..." (tracks are named strangely, huh?) (view spoiler)[ omfg this is so painful, even though I knew it was coming from ages ago - this strange dislocated scene between Joan and Vanessa and knowing the outcome for the others but... there's hope for Vanessa! I don't think this is going to be a complete tragedy... but I'm not sure! Painful, but very well written stuff! (hide spoiler)]

Sorry, I finished this but been a bit all over the place (view spoiler)[ Okay, I LOVED this in the end, and I was tense and upset in all the right place and Reid is such a fantastic author, right?? ALL THE FEELS. About so many things. When I'd given up on it (a) being a science-y book and (b) having ace representation, I was fine lol. Just trying to make it something it wasn't - which I didn't need to. (Although I seriously thought Joan was ace until the strip club scene).

Barbara and her relationship with Frances was just as painful as Vanessa being trapped in orbit with Joan in mission control for me... I was a bit wrong-footed by the sudden turn in the ending (it was a bit too unlikely) but I was happy for them. I hope life can be kind to Vanessa and Joan in the future, and Frances will definitely have a better life now. (They feel like realy people!).

I'm usually more discerning with 5 stars, but this was certainly enjoyable in a complicated way for me lol. (hide spoiler)]
Hope you enjoy this one Jessica, sorry for my garbled thoughts

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "I'm listening very slowly, but I am enjoying it! To end of July 1981 I think I was frustrated because I liked the idea of Joan not being into sex because she was asexual (always looking for more a..."
Okay yes I would have loved if it were ace rep and also agreed how the hell is she so good at everything, I hate that. Give the girl a flaw please lol. (view spoiler)[ I hate Barbara, I think more than I have ever hated a TJR character and that's saying something, I feel so so bad for Frances and I was so happy when Joan finally took her in. (hide spoiler)]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "To end of "There is a sense of agony within mission control..." (tracks are named strangely, huh?) [spoilers removed]"

They are, I listened to it but thankfully have a hardcopy to reference because I was like I have no idea how I am going to do these comments - which is part of why I delayed so long lol.

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Sorry, I finished this but been a bit all over the place Okay, I LOVED this in the end, and I was tense and upset in all the right place and Reid is such a fantastic author, right?? ALL THE FEELS...."
I loved all your thoughts, I'm sorry it took me so long to come back to this. I actually wrote out my thoughts on the end the morning after (of course I stayed too late listening because I had to know lol)
(view spoiler)[ So I finished this last night and oh my god it was so so good. I cried. For a moment there
I really thought she was going to kill her. Normally I have faith but I thought about Evelyn Hugo and I knew I couldn’t count it out. Thank god though because I love Joan and Vanessa and they deserve all the good things. I wish we got to see more of them after but that was a great ending. I want so much more but I can appreciate how well done that was. (hide spoiler)]
Yeah I just really loved this, all the feels.

Overall thoughts
(view spoiler)[Okay other thoughts, a bit sporadically but what can you do lol. I loved her relationship with Frances and also seeing Joan come into her own and finally confronting Barbara, it was brilliant. Similarly, Joan’s sexual awakening was so well and I laughed really hard when Vanessa was like yeah I noticed you were super into the only stripper who looked like me. I want to reread it the format was interesting and very engaging but it made Hank and Griff’s deaths less impactful, I kind of want to reread it knowing all of these characters but also don’t want to break my own heart. I totally agree that the ending was unrealistic but I also don’t care because I was so so happy lol. I just love TJR so much, her stories always have me so invested. I want a bonus epilogue that will never actually come to be so badly. I need to see Joan and Vanessa happy together, but oh well. (hide spoiler)]

Jessica wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "I'm listening very slowly, but I am enjoying it! To end of July 1981 I think I was frustrated because I liked the idea of Joan not being into sex because she was asexual (always..."

YES, Barbara! (view spoiler)[ I really wanted to find her redeemable, but she just wasn't! In the same way that Joan needed a flaw, Barbara needed something going for her (hide spoiler)] And glad you agreed with me about the ace rep - it was so perfect... until it didn't happen lol.

Jessica wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Sorry, I finished this but been a bit all over the place Okay, I LOVED this in the end, and I was tense and upset in all the right place and Reid is such a fantastic author, rig..."

Aw, I'm so glad you enjoyed it (and read it, I wasn't sure if you had or not!); I was looking forward to reading your comments. Must've been helpful to have a physical copy to refer to - the tracks were just terribly named *eyeroll* (view spoiler)[ I cried too. Angry earlier about her not being ace, but then got totally invested in their relationship... I wasn't sure either - I genuinely thought she was going to die. And, like I said, part of me thinks that would have made a better book... but I also wanted to see the rest of their lives together <3 (hide spoiler)]

And to your overall thoughts... (view spoiler)[
(Yes, really hard to organise them for this read!) Agree with everything you said - Joan's sexual awakening, her relationship with Frances... just beautiful.
You're right - listening made Hank and Griff's death have less impact, you hit the nail on the head! (I was wondering why I felt less about them, and you've cracked it).
Yes, a bonus epilogue - yes please! You never know, authors sometimes release little vignettes... we can hope... (hide spoiler)]

Thanks so much for your comments Jessica; I really enjoyed having someone else's thoughts to come back to - and I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I look forward to buddying again with you; we'll have to find something when you have time :) - if you want to, of course.

I'm still sad this is over!

Yes always love buddyign wiht you, you have such great comments. One of these times I will actually update as I read and not come back super late

Jessica wrote: "Yes always love buddyign wiht you, you have such great comments. One of these times I will actually update as I read and not come back super late"

Aw, thank you - that's kind of you to say! I need to check what books you're up for reading; we'll definitely find something.

I saw on your TBR you have - I had it as an ARC but missed the publication date (BAD Ellen!). Do you fancy reading that soon? I definitely need to get it done lol!

Also, further afield, browsing through your 'to-read' books, I also want to read (at some point):


... and probably loads more; I can't look through your whole list! But there are some options for the future - I do love buddying with you, whether we're in time with each other or not lol.

(I know I could put these on the buddy request thread, but I always lose posts there lol)

We actually have one for We Are The Match (that I also forgot about lol) it's here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'd love to read the Godkiller series sometime, maybe August?

Jessica wrote: "We actually have one for We Are The Match (that I also forgot about lol) it's here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'd lov..."

Thanks for We are the Match - I'll get on it lol. I think others are making a thread for the Godkiller series starting NOW, but I'm feeling pressed, so we can revive it in August :)

EDIT: Ignore me, I'm confusing Godkiller with God of the Woods *facepalm*

August would be lovely :)

I’m starting this soon.

Starting this now! I’m super excited.

5% (view spoiler)[ I’m glad we know upfront who dies. (hide spoiler)]

25% (view spoiler)[ Wow. Now it’s just a race to see if they make it back in time. I’ll be honest, it’s been a little slow up to this point. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah the beginning is a bit slow but once it gets going it's so good

Jessica wrote: "Yeah the beginning is a bit slow but once it gets going it's so good"

That's good to know. I was really excited about this one because I watched the Challenger from school and that was a big deal back then. I would have to say it was a memory that marked me for sure but it was exciting they were sending a teacher into space. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. It didn't occur to me as a 10 year old of what the significance of her being a woman would have been to women at that time. I guess I was born in a time when I felt like I could do anything I wanted and being a woman was not a hindrance.

38% It's definitely picking and now I remember why I have loved so many of TJR's books. The writing is so good. Her books are hit or miss for me but I had a good feeling about this one.

Shannon The Co-captain wrote: "38% It's definitely picking and now I remember why I have loved so many of TJR's books. The writing is so good. Her books are hit or miss for me but I had a good feeling about this one."

Glad it's picking up for you - I had some moments where I was just too frustrated for words with this book (I think there are some rants under my spoilers lol), but overall am glad I read it - not necessarily quite the book I wanted, but still enjoyable.

Shannon The Co-captain wrote: "5% [spoilers removed]"

Haha, I love how blunt your comment is here! ROFL.

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "I'm listening very slowly, but I am enjoying it! To end of July 1981.."

I'm listening as well and I HATE when they don't have chapters. So frustrating. I started this and forgot I had book club today so I had to stop and read my book for that. lol

42%

(view spoiler)[ I totally agree about her sister locking Frances outside. I'm a kid of the 80's so I basically raised myself but I was never locked out of the house. Now I'm a helicopter parent to my 14 year old. (hide spoiler)]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Shannon The Co-captain wrote: "5% [spoilers removed]"

Haha, I love how blunt your comment is here! ROFL."

I'm glad you like it ;-D I most definitely do not beat around the bush!

48%

(view spoiler)[ Well shit! I was hoping Griff would make it. He’s a really likable character. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either. It was a chore to get through but that’s been an issue since I’ve been dealing with some issues with my cervical spine that’s causing severe pain in my arm. Nothing can hold my attention for long. So I may have enjoyed a little more if I had read it at a different time. I pushed to finish because it’s due back on Libby.

(view spoiler)[ I did like the suspense at the end. I liked Vanessa and Griff’s characters the most. I did not love Joan and I can’t explain why but that’s probably part of the problem. I was really excited about this book too. But it’s kind of like anticipating eating a cake that looks really good and it’s my favorite kind of cake but then you eat it and it doesn’t taste nowhere near as good as it looks. It’s a little like cardboard with a funky tasting icing. It could have been that my anticipation had my expectations too high. Sometimes that’s the death knell for a book for me. (hide spoiler)]

Shannon The Co-captain wrote: "Finished

I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either. It was a chore to get through but that’s been an issue since I’ve been dealing with some issues with my cervical spine that’s causing severe..."

I'm sorry you've been going through such a rough time - I'm finding it hard to enjoy reading anything much at all as well for illness related issues; I won't say 'I know how you're feeling' because you're an individual, and it's kind of patronising when people say that, but just know that I have some kind of idea what you're talking about. (I really hope that made sense!)

Sorry you didn't love it - great analogy with the cake btw! - but well done for persevering. <3