Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

ATMOSPHERE is the latest novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid (Carrie Soto is Back and Daisy and the Six; Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo). Even though ATMOSPHERE received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal and was a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for June, my book group was more enthusiastic about her earlier works. This latest story is set in the mid-1980’s and looks in detail at the second class of astronauts chosen to fly the space shuttles. I thought it would be much more about NASA, but instead, the story really focuses on the personal relationship between two female astronauts (Joan Goodwin and Vanessa Ford) and how in that era they have to hide who they are in order to keep their jobs. There's an exploration of motherhood, too: both for Joan’s sister (Barbara) involving her daughter, fifth-grader Frances, plus, another female astronaut, Donna, who's a new mother and struggling with discrimination. The plot actually spans several years from their recruitment and training to class members flying in space. The author flashes forward early in the novel so readers are aware of a dangerous accident on one of those missions and alternates time periods until both stories are resolved. The space rescue is moving and well-written; the rest, perhaps paralleling some of Sally Ride’s and her peers’ experiences, less so. Taylor Jenkins Reid does provide a list of suggestions for further reading which includes The Six by Loren Grush.

There was Nothing You Could Do by Steven Hyden

THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD DO by Steven Hyden tells the tale of Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The U.S.A. which was released 40(!) years ago on June 4, 1984. Hyden begins by describing his six-year-old self’s reaction to hearing the album from an “ordinary man [who] seemed to also have extraordinary strength.” An accomplished author and cultural critic, Hyden contends that Springsteen was singing about “a mythical heartland where people can set aside their differences and always have each other's backs. The real, and also imaginary, America.” He says this book is about “why Bruce Springsteen made this album, how it changed the culture, and what it means all these decades later.” The first few chapters look at the musical influences on Springsteen like Presley and Dylan; then, he explores the family dynamics, especially Springsteen’s relationship with his Dad, and his friendship with Vietnam vet Ron Kovic (Born on the Fourth of July). Other sections focus on politics, both in the mid-1980s and later, saying that “Born In The U.S.A. worked because of Bruce Springsteen's ability to appear progressive and conservative at the same time,” an ambiguity that no longer exists. Hyden goes on to critique the Jeep commercial in which Springsteen appeared as well as his production of Renegades with former President Obama, and concert pricing. Clearly a lifelong fan, Hyden traces the arc (highs and lows) of Springsteen's career while lamenting the loss of common ground overall. For interested readers, there are several other books that deal with the stories behind Springsteen’s songs, including the forthcoming Bruce Songs (from Rutgers University Press) and the musician's five hundred plus page life story, titled Born to Run, published in 2016.