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A review by whatsheread
The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer
5.0
THE ATLAS OF US by Kristin Dwyer is one of the best books I've read all year. Ms. Dwyer uses Atlas to showcase the ravages of grief. Atlas's story and her emotions are raw. It is as powerful a story as you can imagine.
With THE ATLAS OF US, Ms. Dwyer is one of less than ten authors who have made me shed tears while reading a novel. I don't cry easily. It takes the perfect combination of excellent writing, well-developed characters, and a plot that hits up against my personal experiences or fears. Ms. Dwyer achieves all of that and more, hence the tears flowing freely down my face at 1 AM.
As Atlas travels down the trail with her fellow lost causes, you experience every one of her emotions, and there are many. Through Atlas, Ms. Dwyer shows there is nothing tidy about grief. Atlas is a mess. She knows it but doesn't know what to do about it. Her emotions are visceral, and watching her fight her feelings while avoiding showing any feelings is painful but necessary. As she starts to heal, mainly thanks to the patience and determination of her new friends, we see her accepting those emotions and, subsequently, opening herself up to others.
At the same time, Atlas mentions several times how she dreads seeing other people's reactions when they learn the news of her loss. This is an equally important message as often what we mean to be a valid message of support and love may not come across as such to the recipient. Often, what we say or how we say it may cause the recipient to construe our messages as pity or, even worse, as relief that we aren't in the same situation. If anything else, it makes you reconsider your words the next time someone you know experiences a loss.
I opened THE ATLAS OF US expecting a sad story. I was not expecting it to sweep me up into the agony of emotions Atlas experiences, and I was not expecting to cry. Finishing THE ATLAS OF US didn't ease the ache in my chest either. Five days later, I remain haunted by Atlas and her emotional catharsis. I cannot recommend THE ATLAS OF US highly enough. If it is powerful enough to make me cry, then I know you are going to love it as well.
With THE ATLAS OF US, Ms. Dwyer is one of less than ten authors who have made me shed tears while reading a novel. I don't cry easily. It takes the perfect combination of excellent writing, well-developed characters, and a plot that hits up against my personal experiences or fears. Ms. Dwyer achieves all of that and more, hence the tears flowing freely down my face at 1 AM.
As Atlas travels down the trail with her fellow lost causes, you experience every one of her emotions, and there are many. Through Atlas, Ms. Dwyer shows there is nothing tidy about grief. Atlas is a mess. She knows it but doesn't know what to do about it. Her emotions are visceral, and watching her fight her feelings while avoiding showing any feelings is painful but necessary. As she starts to heal, mainly thanks to the patience and determination of her new friends, we see her accepting those emotions and, subsequently, opening herself up to others.
At the same time, Atlas mentions several times how she dreads seeing other people's reactions when they learn the news of her loss. This is an equally important message as often what we mean to be a valid message of support and love may not come across as such to the recipient. Often, what we say or how we say it may cause the recipient to construe our messages as pity or, even worse, as relief that we aren't in the same situation. If anything else, it makes you reconsider your words the next time someone you know experiences a loss.
I opened THE ATLAS OF US expecting a sad story. I was not expecting it to sweep me up into the agony of emotions Atlas experiences, and I was not expecting to cry. Finishing THE ATLAS OF US didn't ease the ache in my chest either. Five days later, I remain haunted by Atlas and her emotional catharsis. I cannot recommend THE ATLAS OF US highly enough. If it is powerful enough to make me cry, then I know you are going to love it as well.