If I read nothing more than this opening authors note in the book Atmosphere, it would have been enough. The call to stop and look up, to see the vastness of the universe and our small place in it - really caught me. That the stars in the sky have preceded us and will outlive us gave me insight and context to my existence and connection to everything and everyone.
I am glad to have kept reading this book, and I am grateful for the amazing authors who call us to see the vastness of the universe and the possibility to turn to wonder, each day.
Authors Note from Atmosphere
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
One night, last summer, after my daughter had gotten in bed, I walked outside, looked up at the night sky, and saw Venus in the distance.
It was brighter than any star, hanging low just above the trees. My daughter and I had been trying to spot Venus for a few days now. I knew that I should let her fall asleep, but instead, I snuck up to her room, opened the door, and whispered, “Come outside.” When we got to the backyard, I picked her up. She’s far too big to be held anymore, but she still lets me do it when she’s sleepy. I pointed toward Venus in front of us.
“There it is!” she said. “I see it.” And, for a few moments, I held her in my arms as the two of us stared up at the night sky, filled with awe.
Before writing this novel, I could barely recognize the Big Dipper. But I wanted to make my main character, Joan, a passionate, excitable astronomer. So I downloaded an app, picked up some books, and began studying the stars. What started as my attempt to create an interesting backdrop for a love story became the beginning of me understanding my place in the world.
You see, once you start observing the night sky, you begin to orient yourself in time and space. You learn, for instance, that in the Northern Hemisphere, if you can spot Orion’s belt, it’s winter. You can learn to get a general idea of what time it is by where the constellation Cassiopeia is in relation to the star Polaris. My favorite thing I learned? If you can spot the stars Altair, Deneb, and Vega during the summer, you will see that they form a triangle. And that triangle always points south. If you are ever lost, you can find those three and know which way to go.
Something about that always seems to cure whatever ails me when my daughter and I walk out into the night. I know some of it is simply the joy of spending time with her and perhaps the thrill of new knowledge. But I think it is also the relief I feel that those stars are immovable.
Nothing you or I could do will ever alter them. They are so much bigger than us. And they will not change within our lifetime. We can succeed or fail, get it right or get it wrong, love and lose the ones we love, and still the Summer Triangle will point south. And in that way, I know everything will be some type of okay—as impossible as that can seem sometimes.
I hope, very much, that you enjoy this story. But I hope, even more, that Joan Goodwin can convince you to go outside tonight, after the stars have come out, and look up. I hope, with all my heart, Joan can convince you to be open to wonder.
Authors note in Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Page ix - x
Invitation: “Where do you find wonder?”
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novels Atmosphere, Carrie Soto Is Back, Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones and The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her books have been chosen by Reese’s Book Club, Read with Jenna, GMA Book Club, Indie Next, Best of Amazon, and Book of the Month. Her novel, Daisy Jones and The Six, is now a limited series on Amazon Prime. She lives in Los Angeles.
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May Courageous Citizen
Doris “Granny D” Haddock
“Just as an unbalanced mind can accumulate mental stresses that can grow and take on a life of their own, so little decisions of our modern life can accumulate to the point where our society finds itself bombing other people for their oil, or supporting dictators who torture whole populations—all so that our unbalanced interests might be served.”
“There it is!” she said. “I see it.” And, for a few moments, I held her in my arms as the two of us stared up at the night sky, filled with awe. ~ Taylor Jenkins Reid.
I am inspired to remember to look up, particularly in these chaotic times, and to allow experiences of awe and wonder. Thank you for this thoughtful reflection.
“To turn to wonder”...
night stars, day clouds, life... “okay.”
Awestruck... awe-some/all!