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Atmosphere
September 2025: Around the World
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Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4 stars
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I think I'll do the same and read this next!
A perfect book for this month’s tag. But a perfect book for any month because it’s so wonderful.!
annapi wrote: "I think I'll do the same and read this next!"Hope you enjoy it, annapi!
Amy wrote: "A perfect book for this month’s tag. But a perfect book for any month because it’s so wonderful.!"It is one of my favorite books of hers. I used to live in Florida where I could see the space shuttle launches when they got above the tree line, and I've read quite a bit about the space program, so that is one reason I think I enjoyed it so much. The CAPCOM conversations were so realistic!
I've been recommended this book by so many people, so it's good to see you enjoyed it too.
I did! Though several friends didn't enjoy it quite as much as I did. I'll be looking forward to what you think whenever you have a chance to read it.
Amy wrote: "A perfect book for this month’s tag. But a perfect book for any month because it’s so wonderful.!"I moved it up my list when I saw you loved it. :-)
In the early 1980s, Joan Goodwin becomes one of the first female astronauts in NASA’s space shuttle program. The storyline follows Joan’s selection, training, and interaction with her fellow candidates at Houston's Johnson Space Center. The story is told in a dual timeline structure, switching between a space crisis in December 1984 and the years leading up to it. It opens with Joan serving as CAPCOM when disaster strikes during mission STS-LR9, threatening the lives of everyone aboard. Joan’s romantic relationship, the first of her life, is a central element, along with her relationship with her niece and sister.
The book combines an interesting historical setting, deep character development, women’s issues, and emotional storytelling. In the dedication, the author mentions working with Paul Dye, NASA's longest-serving flight director, to ensure accuracy. The book explores the technical challenges of space exploration, obstacles faced by women in STEM, relationships in the 1980s, and the pursuit of dreams. My favorite parts of this book are science-based, especially the selection and training of the group of astronauts, their group dynamics, and the expedition in jeopardy. These sections are tense and engrossing. The romantic elements and family drama are more melodramatic than my typical preference, but overall, I found a lot to like here.
PBT Comment: I was unsure whether to place this in the Around the World category, but then I remembered the shuttle mission is literally orbiting the earth!