The Princess of 72nd Street by Elaine Kraf - Charlotte Atkinson, Film Sub-Editor
Having lurked deep in my TBR pile for far too long, this summer I was finally able to read Elaine Kraf’s much-lauded fourth and final novel, The Princess of 72nd Street. Following New York based artist during her seventh period of psychosis - or “radiance”, as she describes it - Ellen transforms into Princess Esmeralda, the self-designed ruler of West 72nd Street. As she attempts to evade “capture” by authorities, ex-lovers and psychotic therapists, she unfailingly performs her “royal duties” as she glides through her Manhattan kingdom.
Kraf’s genius lies in her dramatic depiction of the inner war between Esmeralda and Ellen; the latter wishes to remain in the radiance of psychosis, obeying any and all whims with little regard for personal safety or responsibility. In contrast to this, Ellen is worn out by her string of abusive and manipulative lovers, while she searches for a stable husband and strives for a simplicity she’s been told she requires in her art. This aggressive personality split is a fascinating commentary on women’s struggles against societal conformity and the search for a fulfilling creative existence, separate from narcissistic male tendencies.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Charlotte Burley-Hnat, Head of Life and Style
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel crash-landed onto our shelves this June, and sales will surely be skyrocketing for one of her greatest reads yet (all puns intended).
I adore Taylor Jenkins Reid’s (TJR’s) novels. She’s absolutely one of my favourite authors; between her illustrative storytelling, her complex characters, and her ability to transport her readers into decades ranging from the 1950s to the 1980s. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of TJR’s Daisy Jones & The Six and its successful Amazon Prime TV adaptation (not to mention the incredibly catchy Aurora, which you can stream on Spotify - because yes, it’s a real album). Well, set in the same universe, and just as brilliant, are TJR’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Carrie Soto is Back, and Malibu Rising. And Atmosphere is an excellent addition to TJR’s impressive catalogue. It may even be her best.
In true TJR fashion, Atmosphere takes place on the hot tarmac of 1980s NASA’s space program, flip-flopping between two timelines. The first is set onboard a spacecraft facing some tumultuous troubles, with the crew made up of characters we come to understand, love, and root for. The second follows the protagonist Joan’s journey training for this mission. While adventure and excitement are abundant, at its heart, Atmosphere is a love story of both family and queer romance. At several points, particularly the climactic ending, I found myself in tears by the hotel pool, hiding behind a pair of sunglasses at TJR’s incredible style of writing. The complexity that is God, sexuality, existence, and love is communicated beautifully throughout this novel. You’ll find yourself in love with Joan’s love for space, even if you’ve never found yourself all that interested in astronomy.
A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami - Imogen Hayes, Arts Sub-Editor
Titling a book A Wild Sheep Chase at first glance gives a misconception of what might be inside - a book about a sheep chase was not appealing. The blurb talks of a train to nowhere, meeting ordinary and extraordinary people with a girl whose ears make her attractive to a room of men. But, ignoring the title and the blurb, Haruki Murakami makes the everyday internal battle the narrative voices relatable to the reader.
The suspension of disbelief in this book - choosing to accept the fantastical realism and take it for what it is - makes the book even more frustrating but equally enjoyable to read. At first, not everything in this book adds up, but Murakami has a clever way of surprising you. I am currently reading the second book, Dance Dance Dance, although you don’t need to read both or in this order to understand either individually. I would recommend reading TWSP first, as it has references that you might want to connect.
MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios by Dave Gonzalez, Joanna Robinson, and Gavin Edwards - Alex Paine, Film Sub-Editor
In a break from fiction, over the summer I’ve been catching up on a book I’ve wanted to check out for a while - MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of Marvel Studios from the inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe up to 2023. For those of us who’ve grown up with Marvel it’s a really engaging read that examines the challenges faced by key figures, such as Kevin Feige, in shaping one of the biggest media franchises of all time. You’ll come away with a whole new perspective on the MCU, and a profound hatred for Ike Perlmutter.