'This Land is Your Land' by Beverly Gage

 This Land is Your Land, Beverly Gage (3.0)

While I found some of the chapters interesting in this recounting of a meandering trip across the US, I had trouble discerning a theme. The chapters felt very random- more like articles in a magazine. I particularly liked her retelling of visiting Los Alamos with a night’s stay in a missile silo. I also enjoyed the Chicago World’s Fair chapter. She does a good job of highlighting the smaller, yet equally important, parks and important historical landmarks. I would have liked more of an obvious theme joining the chapters.

'Atmosphere' by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid (3.5)

Upon completion I gave this book 4 stars. Then as I reflected on it, more of the plot and character behaviors annoyed me. I liked the idea of two of the first women astronauts forging a relationship during their training for space shuttle missions – though the idea of a 30-something not knowing she was attracted to women, even in the 1980’s, seemed odd. She also was way too accommodating of a monster of a sister and absentee parents. The next oddity was that after she accomplished her life-long dream, she quickly dumped it to work in Mission Control. Worked for the plot, but hard to believe. Of course, the ending was the last straw. At that point I understood it would turn out that way, but was oddly disappointed.