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The Atmospherians
A novel about two best friends—a disgraced influencer and a struggling actor—who form The Atmosphere, a cult designed to reform problematic men.
Sasha Marcus was once the epitome of contemporary success: an internet sensation, social media darling, and a creator of a high profile wellness brand for women. But a confrontation with an abusive troll has taken a horrifying turn, and now she’s at rock bottom: canceled and doxxed online, fired from her waitress job and fortressed in her apartment while men’s rights protestors rage outside. All that once glittered now condemns.
Sasha confides in her oldest childhood friend, Dyson—a failed actor with a history of body issues—who hatches a plan for Sasha to restore her reputation by becoming the face of his new business venture, The Atmosphere: a rehabilitation community for men. Based in an abandoned summer camp and billed as a workshop for job training, it is actually a rigorous program designed to rid men of their toxic masculinity and heal them physically, emotionally, and socially. Sasha has little choice but to accept. But what horrors await her as the resident female leader of a crew of washed up, desperate men? And what exactly does Dyson want?
Sasha Marcus was once the epitome of contemporary success: an internet sensation, social media darling, and a creator of a high profile wellness brand for women. But a confrontation with an abusive troll has taken a horrifying turn, and now she’s at rock bottom: canceled and doxxed online, fired from her waitress job and fortressed in her apartment while men’s rights protestors rage outside. All that once glittered now condemns.
Sasha confides in her oldest childhood friend, Dyson—a failed actor with a history of body issues—who hatches a plan for Sasha to restore her reputation by becoming the face of his new business venture, The Atmosphere: a rehabilitation community for men. Based in an abandoned summer camp and billed as a workshop for job training, it is actually a rigorous program designed to rid men of their toxic masculinity and heal them physically, emotionally, and socially. Sasha has little choice but to accept. But what horrors await her as the resident female leader of a crew of washed up, desperate men? And what exactly does Dyson want?
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2021
178 people are currently reading
14917 people want to read
About the author
Isle McElroy
8 books213 followersIsle McElroy is a non-binary writer based in Brooklyn. Their debut novel, The Atmospherians, was published by Atria and was named a NY Times Editors' Choice. Their second novel, People Collide, is forthcoming from HarperVia. Other writing appears in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, The Cut, Vulture, GQ, Vogue, The Atlantic, Tin House, and elsewhere.
Isle was named one of The Strand's 30 Writers to Watch. They have received fellowships from The Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, The Tin House Summer Workshop, The Sewanee Writers Conference, The Inprint Foundation, The Elizabeth George Foundation, and The National Parks Service.
Isle was named one of The Strand's 30 Writers to Watch. They have received fellowships from The Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, The Tin House Summer Workshop, The Sewanee Writers Conference, The Inprint Foundation, The Elizabeth George Foundation, and The National Parks Service.
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May 13, 2021
The Atmospherians by Alex McElroy is a 2021 Atria Books publication.
Okay- well, that was different- in a good way!
Satire is hard to balance, but if it is done right, I love it! This book hits an uncomfortable mark as it examines influencers, toxic masculinity, and body image, and perhaps the role we play in it.
Sasha is a successful influencer, until an unforeseen tragedy sends her popularity plummeting, turning her into a pariah in an instant. At the height of her anxiety, her old friend, Dyson, approaches her with a opportunity. He wants Sasha to be the face of his planned cult, which will be disguised as a workshop for men hoping to cure themselves of their toxic masculinity. They will name the cult ‘The Atmosphere’ and the members will be called ‘The Atmopsherians. ‘
Desperate to escape the frightening reality of her life, Sasha agrees to join Dyson at an abandoned summer camp where they will invite a specific number of men, from a curated list of candidates, to join them. Upon arrival, these men will dedicate their lives to cleansing themselves of their ingrained traits of toxic masculinity.
As the cult grows more bizarre, as the only woman at the camp, Sasha walks a fine line, especially since she only agreed to this madness out of pure desperation.
Sometimes a point is best made through satire. Preparing oneself for anything satirical, means accepting that you are being made fun of, in a sarcastic, occasionally caustic manner. This novel is a parody, with laugh out loud funny moments, but the truth is, it wouldn’t be funny, if there wasn’t some truth in it.
Satire can also be rather dark, and this novel has some gruesome moments- so be warned. Mostly, though, the book definitely hits on the pulse, and components of our current culture and society, and does so with searing and occasional graphic stabs at some very serious topics.
One must look at the whole picture, to understand what’s being said here. It’s not just a localized bashing, it’s open season on all of society.
Typically, the word ‘cult’ in a book synopsis will draw me in like a moth to a flame. But, in this situation, the cult, an ingenious move on the author’s part, is one of the most screwball cults ever, making the setup seem more like a means to an end- but it’s the perfect environment to examine all the issues at play and a perfect opportunity to ponder the ways in which we might contribute to them.
For me, though, I thought the most important theme was how our society is addicted to self- performance, always ‘on’ … being followed, observed, and recorded, by an enormous audience on social media platforms and YouTube, with people overrating their own importance, while overlooking troublesome issues, such as the impact or consequences of their ‘influence’- and to what end?
To feed an illusion, an unrealistic, ego driven image, all for the sake of ‘likes’, followers, subscribers, and the headiness of power, through ‘influence’- and how this continual spectacle has affected all those who dwell in this ‘atmosphere’, including the casual observer.
From the outside looking in, it seems dangerous, not only to one’s physical and mental health, but for our society, overall. Here we see a couple deprived of their ‘fix’, desperate to keep in contact with that adulation, and then finding other ways to satiate their dependence on power and ‘performance'.
This is a strange little book, I must say, but I got a kick out it, dark though it was at times. It was hilarious, clever, and serious, very well- written, and smart. You may recognize yourself in this book, but, even if you are like me, and don’t follow all that wellness and influencing stuff, you’ll recognize the characters for who and what they represent. The message is there for you to decipher, either on the surface or on a deeper level.
Maybe someday, we’ll all get lucky, and someone will intentionally topple the whole house cards, even if it is only to escape their own self- made trap. Maybe then, people will awaken, as if from a long sleep, and return to building real relationships again- one's based on morals, merit and principle, instead of popularity, influence, or performance.
Overall, I liked this book- it’s funny, sure- but remember- satire often exposes the underbelly in such a way to avoid strident offense. One has to be able to read between the lines of the exaggerated scenarios to see the way it exposes some unflattering, but important insights and promotes independent thought.
4 stars
Okay- well, that was different- in a good way!
Satire is hard to balance, but if it is done right, I love it! This book hits an uncomfortable mark as it examines influencers, toxic masculinity, and body image, and perhaps the role we play in it.
Sasha is a successful influencer, until an unforeseen tragedy sends her popularity plummeting, turning her into a pariah in an instant. At the height of her anxiety, her old friend, Dyson, approaches her with a opportunity. He wants Sasha to be the face of his planned cult, which will be disguised as a workshop for men hoping to cure themselves of their toxic masculinity. They will name the cult ‘The Atmosphere’ and the members will be called ‘The Atmopsherians. ‘
Desperate to escape the frightening reality of her life, Sasha agrees to join Dyson at an abandoned summer camp where they will invite a specific number of men, from a curated list of candidates, to join them. Upon arrival, these men will dedicate their lives to cleansing themselves of their ingrained traits of toxic masculinity.
As the cult grows more bizarre, as the only woman at the camp, Sasha walks a fine line, especially since she only agreed to this madness out of pure desperation.
Sometimes a point is best made through satire. Preparing oneself for anything satirical, means accepting that you are being made fun of, in a sarcastic, occasionally caustic manner. This novel is a parody, with laugh out loud funny moments, but the truth is, it wouldn’t be funny, if there wasn’t some truth in it.
Satire can also be rather dark, and this novel has some gruesome moments- so be warned. Mostly, though, the book definitely hits on the pulse, and components of our current culture and society, and does so with searing and occasional graphic stabs at some very serious topics.
One must look at the whole picture, to understand what’s being said here. It’s not just a localized bashing, it’s open season on all of society.
Typically, the word ‘cult’ in a book synopsis will draw me in like a moth to a flame. But, in this situation, the cult, an ingenious move on the author’s part, is one of the most screwball cults ever, making the setup seem more like a means to an end- but it’s the perfect environment to examine all the issues at play and a perfect opportunity to ponder the ways in which we might contribute to them.
For me, though, I thought the most important theme was how our society is addicted to self- performance, always ‘on’ … being followed, observed, and recorded, by an enormous audience on social media platforms and YouTube, with people overrating their own importance, while overlooking troublesome issues, such as the impact or consequences of their ‘influence’- and to what end?
To feed an illusion, an unrealistic, ego driven image, all for the sake of ‘likes’, followers, subscribers, and the headiness of power, through ‘influence’- and how this continual spectacle has affected all those who dwell in this ‘atmosphere’, including the casual observer.
From the outside looking in, it seems dangerous, not only to one’s physical and mental health, but for our society, overall. Here we see a couple deprived of their ‘fix’, desperate to keep in contact with that adulation, and then finding other ways to satiate their dependence on power and ‘performance'.
This is a strange little book, I must say, but I got a kick out it, dark though it was at times. It was hilarious, clever, and serious, very well- written, and smart. You may recognize yourself in this book, but, even if you are like me, and don’t follow all that wellness and influencing stuff, you’ll recognize the characters for who and what they represent. The message is there for you to decipher, either on the surface or on a deeper level.
Maybe someday, we’ll all get lucky, and someone will intentionally topple the whole house cards, even if it is only to escape their own self- made trap. Maybe then, people will awaken, as if from a long sleep, and return to building real relationships again- one's based on morals, merit and principle, instead of popularity, influence, or performance.
Overall, I liked this book- it’s funny, sure- but remember- satire often exposes the underbelly in such a way to avoid strident offense. One has to be able to read between the lines of the exaggerated scenarios to see the way it exposes some unflattering, but important insights and promotes independent thought.
4 stars
May 9, 2021
I enjoy satire, when it's done right, so this book was great for me.
It's bizarre, funny, and relevant.
𝘋𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘯 - 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘴-𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 '𝘩𝘢𝘴' 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 '𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯' - 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢 - 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 '𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥' - 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴.
𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘋𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘍𝘈𝘔𝘖𝘜𝘚 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦.
THE ATMOSPHERIANS is a strange journey that explores some serious issues but is also good for a laugh.
thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
Due for release May 18th.
It's bizarre, funny, and relevant.
𝘋𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘯 - 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘴-𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 '𝘩𝘢𝘴' 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 '𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯' - 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢 - 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 '𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥' - 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴.
𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘋𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘍𝘈𝘔𝘖𝘜𝘚 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦.
THE ATMOSPHERIANS is a strange journey that explores some serious issues but is also good for a laugh.
thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
Due for release May 18th.
January 12, 2021
“‘So you’re abandoning me? Tossing me overboard to the sharks?” I made grotesque sucking and biting sounds. “Do you hear that? That’s the sound of the sharks eating me whole.’”
Sasha Marcus is mortified with everything going on in her life. Just recently a social media star who ran a wellness brand for women, everything fell down when she responded to one troll...with devastating consequences. Now, most of the world hates her, there are people camped outside of her apartment shouting death threats, and she is fired from her waitressing job.
She has been abandoned...
...Until her best friend, Dyson, comes to her with a brilliant idea. They are going to start a cult. The name of the cult is The Atmosphere, and it will consist of rehabbing white men with toxic masculinity. The men are called The Atmospherians.
Unfortunately, Sasha and Dyson don’t have any experience as cult leaders, and there are many unfortunate incidents that take place.
One thing is clear to Sasha: “I didn’t become a cult leader to be kind.” She did it out of desperation after hitting rock bottom.
I’m the kind of person who hears the word cult, and almost always says, “Nope. Not interested.” However, this one sounded different...and it was. This book is satirical and smartly absurd, and I had a great deal of fun reading it. Sasha and her thoughts made me chuckle on more than one occasion. The novel is layered with serious commentary on eating disorders, mob mentality, and toxic behavior.
Unfortunately, the books feels a bit less satirical around the 85% mark. The tone is a different, and much less compelling to me as someone who is not a fan of cult stories.
All in all, it’s an impressive debut by Alex McElroy that kept me hooked and entertained for the majority of it.
3.5 stars
TW: Semi-graphic commentary on eating disorders, and brief animal cruelty (Thankfully, it’s not graphic or elongated).
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for sending a widget in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published: 5/18/2021.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Sasha Marcus is mortified with everything going on in her life. Just recently a social media star who ran a wellness brand for women, everything fell down when she responded to one troll...with devastating consequences. Now, most of the world hates her, there are people camped outside of her apartment shouting death threats, and she is fired from her waitressing job.
She has been abandoned...
...Until her best friend, Dyson, comes to her with a brilliant idea. They are going to start a cult. The name of the cult is The Atmosphere, and it will consist of rehabbing white men with toxic masculinity. The men are called The Atmospherians.
Unfortunately, Sasha and Dyson don’t have any experience as cult leaders, and there are many unfortunate incidents that take place.
One thing is clear to Sasha: “I didn’t become a cult leader to be kind.” She did it out of desperation after hitting rock bottom.
I’m the kind of person who hears the word cult, and almost always says, “Nope. Not interested.” However, this one sounded different...and it was. This book is satirical and smartly absurd, and I had a great deal of fun reading it. Sasha and her thoughts made me chuckle on more than one occasion. The novel is layered with serious commentary on eating disorders, mob mentality, and toxic behavior.
Unfortunately, the books feels a bit less satirical around the 85% mark. The tone is a different, and much less compelling to me as someone who is not a fan of cult stories.
All in all, it’s an impressive debut by Alex McElroy that kept me hooked and entertained for the majority of it.
3.5 stars
TW: Semi-graphic commentary on eating disorders, and brief animal cruelty (Thankfully, it’s not graphic or elongated).
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for sending a widget in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published: 5/18/2021.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
June 4, 2021
I know the author
May 5, 2021
The Atmospherians by Alex McElroy manages to be both completely serious and completely funny at the same time, the same sentence. What a delight to read. It’s very good at threading a path between the serious and the satirical and the narrative voice rollicks forward. It’s perfect that Mat Johnson has blurbed this novel—like his work it’s in that rare category of satire that uplifts the reader instead of leaving her drowning in a pool of nihilistic cynical despair. Lovely.
September 14, 2021
Oh my goodness I adored this!
July 10, 2022
"My best and worst selves always veered close to each other: obsessive, critical, stubborn. And their resistance only made me more reckless and stubborn."
4.5/5 The Atmospherians is a satirical novel about two childhood best friends who reunite after some personal setbacks to start a rehabilitation center to reform men suffering from toxic masculinity. I think that now more than ever, it's imperative to address and explore American white male violence in the age of social media, and Alex McElroy does this masterfully. By presenting a slightly hyperbolic representation of our current digital age, the book explores themes surrounding cancel culture, isolation, gender dynamics, self-delusion, cults, and fatherhood/generational trauma. Most of the characters are imperfect but have at least some likable qualities that keep the reader from condemning them. Humans aren't entirely bad or entirely good. We all live in the grey area.
Since the story is told from the first person perspective of the female protagonist, Sasha, the audience is privy to her inner-most thoughts, anxieties, and projections about her self-serving nature. Choosing a cancelled wellness influencer to comment on society's lack of authenticity and emphasis on performance is brilliant. Sasha is an unreliable narrator and very flawed but relatable at times, which makes her human. I was consistently fascinated by her. Sasha may be one of the most complex and intriguing characters I've encountered in awhile! The whole story, actually, is just so unique in tone and plot. The writing is captivating, crafty, and intelligent. What a thought provoking read.
TW!!!!! - Graphic depictions of ED.
4.5/5 The Atmospherians is a satirical novel about two childhood best friends who reunite after some personal setbacks to start a rehabilitation center to reform men suffering from toxic masculinity. I think that now more than ever, it's imperative to address and explore American white male violence in the age of social media, and Alex McElroy does this masterfully. By presenting a slightly hyperbolic representation of our current digital age, the book explores themes surrounding cancel culture, isolation, gender dynamics, self-delusion, cults, and fatherhood/generational trauma. Most of the characters are imperfect but have at least some likable qualities that keep the reader from condemning them. Humans aren't entirely bad or entirely good. We all live in the grey area.
Since the story is told from the first person perspective of the female protagonist, Sasha, the audience is privy to her inner-most thoughts, anxieties, and projections about her self-serving nature. Choosing a cancelled wellness influencer to comment on society's lack of authenticity and emphasis on performance is brilliant. Sasha is an unreliable narrator and very flawed but relatable at times, which makes her human. I was consistently fascinated by her. Sasha may be one of the most complex and intriguing characters I've encountered in awhile! The whole story, actually, is just so unique in tone and plot. The writing is captivating, crafty, and intelligent. What a thought provoking read.
TW!!!!! - Graphic depictions of ED.
July 29, 2021
3.5 Stars
I’ll be the first to confess I am probably not smart enough for a book like this and most likely missed a bunch of brilliant nuances and what have you. Basically this one had me at cult.
The story here is about Sasha. She was a real up and comer in the social media industry right until she told one of her trolls he should kill himself and he actually went through with it. Now she’s trying to reinvent herself and doing so in a world where men involuntarily find themselves compelled to form “hordes.” What better way to rid them of their behavior than a reprogramming cult, right? The only problem is neither Sasha nor her bestie/business partner Dyson have any experience leading a cult. But hey desperate times call for desperate measures, right? And who could possibly be more desperate than someone who fell victim to cancel culture????
I appreciate satire when it’s done right and this one did it and the comparisons to Palahniuk’s voice are fairly accurate. I appreciate clever. I appreciate fresh. I appreciate different. This was all of those things. And it has a pretty cover. Ha! I'm still shallow!!!!!
I’ll be the first to confess I am probably not smart enough for a book like this and most likely missed a bunch of brilliant nuances and what have you. Basically this one had me at cult.
The story here is about Sasha. She was a real up and comer in the social media industry right until she told one of her trolls he should kill himself and he actually went through with it. Now she’s trying to reinvent herself and doing so in a world where men involuntarily find themselves compelled to form “hordes.” What better way to rid them of their behavior than a reprogramming cult, right? The only problem is neither Sasha nor her bestie/business partner Dyson have any experience leading a cult. But hey desperate times call for desperate measures, right? And who could possibly be more desperate than someone who fell victim to cancel culture????
I appreciate satire when it’s done right and this one did it and the comparisons to Palahniuk’s voice are fairly accurate. I appreciate clever. I appreciate fresh. I appreciate different. This was all of those things. And it has a pretty cover. Ha! I'm still shallow!!!!!
July 3, 2021
2.5 influencer stars
Sasha is an influencer who has created a huge following with her wellness plan. However, an online troll brings out the worst in her and her response causes the man to take drastic action. Her social media presence is wrecked, and she has to go into hiding.
Her childhood friend Dyson appears and wants her to jointly lead a new project called The Atmosphere. It’s a remote camp and promises the men who sign up job skills and restoration to being “good men.” Sasha decides she has no other choice but to join Dyson and she hopes to reclaim her online fame. Just how far is she willing to go?
Things take a chilling turn and they both realize that they don’t have what it takes to lead things at The Atmosphere.
I had a hard time connecting with this one and maybe that's because it is satire. It was a departure read for me, but not my cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy of this one to read.
Sasha is an influencer who has created a huge following with her wellness plan. However, an online troll brings out the worst in her and her response causes the man to take drastic action. Her social media presence is wrecked, and she has to go into hiding.
Her childhood friend Dyson appears and wants her to jointly lead a new project called The Atmosphere. It’s a remote camp and promises the men who sign up job skills and restoration to being “good men.” Sasha decides she has no other choice but to join Dyson and she hopes to reclaim her online fame. Just how far is she willing to go?
Things take a chilling turn and they both realize that they don’t have what it takes to lead things at The Atmosphere.
I had a hard time connecting with this one and maybe that's because it is satire. It was a departure read for me, but not my cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy of this one to read.
March 12, 2021
I finished the book all of 5 minutes ago, and I can’t wait to gush and recommend it to everyone I know. The Atmospherians is an under the radar, cutting satire destined to make my best of the year list. Yes the topic is timely and seems a bit ripped from the headlines, but the approach is so fresh, the dark humour so perfectly balanced, that I didn’t feel like I was reading yet another “anti-toxic masculinity manifesto.”
The story follows disgraced influencer and wellness guru Sasha, who is recruited by her childhood best friend Dylan to co-found a cult to reform problematic men. What could possibly go wrong?
The 5 Part journey that follows is a surreal, disturbing and veeery tongue-in-cheek critique of the wellness industry, the futility and fragility of cultivating an online persona, cancel culture, and yes, toxic masculinity. All of these daunting themes are addressed in a clever and cheekily disdainful fashion, I often found myself re-reading passages multiple times just to let the bite of them sink it. Quips about beloved “masculine” pop culture come fast and furious and never failed to make me giggle- offhand I can recall Joe Rogan’s podcast, Hans Zimmer’s Inception soundtrack, Jeremy Renner and Mark Wahlberg movies (can’t you immediately just picture the EXACT white, cis-gender, heterosexual bro who loves all of these things?)
The most impressive thing about The Atmospherians, is that despite the snarky tone and insane premise, the novel’s big ideas never feel one note or overstay their welcome. The story is well plotted and the characters, while all awful people, are compelling enough that you remain invested in where their self-absorbed antics take them next.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for this rambly, but honest review!
The story follows disgraced influencer and wellness guru Sasha, who is recruited by her childhood best friend Dylan to co-found a cult to reform problematic men. What could possibly go wrong?
The 5 Part journey that follows is a surreal, disturbing and veeery tongue-in-cheek critique of the wellness industry, the futility and fragility of cultivating an online persona, cancel culture, and yes, toxic masculinity. All of these daunting themes are addressed in a clever and cheekily disdainful fashion, I often found myself re-reading passages multiple times just to let the bite of them sink it. Quips about beloved “masculine” pop culture come fast and furious and never failed to make me giggle- offhand I can recall Joe Rogan’s podcast, Hans Zimmer’s Inception soundtrack, Jeremy Renner and Mark Wahlberg movies (can’t you immediately just picture the EXACT white, cis-gender, heterosexual bro who loves all of these things?)
The most impressive thing about The Atmospherians, is that despite the snarky tone and insane premise, the novel’s big ideas never feel one note or overstay their welcome. The story is well plotted and the characters, while all awful people, are compelling enough that you remain invested in where their self-absorbed antics take them next.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for this rambly, but honest review!
June 1, 2021
A canceled wellness guru and a former background actor with body dysmorphia start a cult to reform terrible men. A clever and impeccably written satire, aimed at toxic masculinity and influencer culture. Alex McElroy’s word choice constantly surprised and delighted me. I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
September 18, 2021
I might come back and change my stars to 2. I’m thinking 2.5.
We are supposed to come out with logical, sophisticated, and literary reasons when we want to say we didn’t like the book. I didn’t like the book. I also have my reasons.
I don’t know if it’s cult books and movies that keep falling in my lap or is it just me attracting them. Forever wary of cults and what they do to people and how they are becoming more and more prevalent, I try to dissect their psychology in order not to fall pray to them. I’m too lazy to listen to anyone anyway.
I’m not good at guessing, so I try to do it as little as possible, in life saving situations mostly. That’s why I despise when a story turns out to be more than predictable. If I could guess how it would evolve and I was right, then what did the book had to offer? I know I’m hard on the stories. I’m hard on myself too, if it’s any consolation.
SPOILERS AHEAD. I also don’t like it, when the storyteller is the villain. Maybe they are not, but to me they obviously were a dark character. I like when people are grey. I hate when I have to conclude that a character is unsalvageable. Either consciously or not, they’re making all the wrong choices. Especially if it’s unconsciously, cause that means they don’t have any self awareness. But maybe that was the whole point of the book. How ignorant we are on how ignorant we are.
And I generally did not got absorbed in the writing. It was too long. Too into details that were better off being implied. That’s what the imagination is for. I guess.
The story was not set in the future, yet it was not set in our time either. I couldn’t figure out if the author is making fun of us as readers (for our ideas) or for the others who would not write this story.
It was disappointing not to like this book, because I have heard good things about it. I won’t say I tried to like it. Because that’s not my job. I’m just here to read. So that you won’t have to.
We are supposed to come out with logical, sophisticated, and literary reasons when we want to say we didn’t like the book. I didn’t like the book. I also have my reasons.
I don’t know if it’s cult books and movies that keep falling in my lap or is it just me attracting them. Forever wary of cults and what they do to people and how they are becoming more and more prevalent, I try to dissect their psychology in order not to fall pray to them. I’m too lazy to listen to anyone anyway.
I’m not good at guessing, so I try to do it as little as possible, in life saving situations mostly. That’s why I despise when a story turns out to be more than predictable. If I could guess how it would evolve and I was right, then what did the book had to offer? I know I’m hard on the stories. I’m hard on myself too, if it’s any consolation.
SPOILERS AHEAD. I also don’t like it, when the storyteller is the villain. Maybe they are not, but to me they obviously were a dark character. I like when people are grey. I hate when I have to conclude that a character is unsalvageable. Either consciously or not, they’re making all the wrong choices. Especially if it’s unconsciously, cause that means they don’t have any self awareness. But maybe that was the whole point of the book. How ignorant we are on how ignorant we are.
And I generally did not got absorbed in the writing. It was too long. Too into details that were better off being implied. That’s what the imagination is for. I guess.
The story was not set in the future, yet it was not set in our time either. I couldn’t figure out if the author is making fun of us as readers (for our ideas) or for the others who would not write this story.
It was disappointing not to like this book, because I have heard good things about it. I won’t say I tried to like it. Because that’s not my job. I’m just here to read. So that you won’t have to.
November 19, 2021
4 It's An Onion Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
My dad taught me a phrase that has stayed with me over all these years. He used to say, "Oh, he's kidding on the square". This little phrase works perfectly with this book because, with the onion reference for all the layers, "kidding on the square" is the partner in crime when thinking about all that happens.
This is a sarcastic flavored, yet insightful look at social media and the power it holds over those who follow it without limits. It shows the quick highs and lows of "Followers" and the power of what words can do. It highlights how ugly toxic norms have played out over generations, and looks to see if the blind following that is ugly can be redirected into something good.
Smart concepts.
The Atmospherians
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy provided by Atria Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
My dad taught me a phrase that has stayed with me over all these years. He used to say, "Oh, he's kidding on the square". This little phrase works perfectly with this book because, with the onion reference for all the layers, "kidding on the square" is the partner in crime when thinking about all that happens.
This is a sarcastic flavored, yet insightful look at social media and the power it holds over those who follow it without limits. It shows the quick highs and lows of "Followers" and the power of what words can do. It highlights how ugly toxic norms have played out over generations, and looks to see if the blind following that is ugly can be redirected into something good.
Smart concepts.
The Atmospherianshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A gifted copy provided by Atria Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
June 6, 2021
This book is exceptionally sneaky, in the best possible way. What begins as a fairly straight-forward satire of influencer culture and toxic masculinity turns into a philosophical examination of what it means to want and get attention, group power dynamics, and the double-edged sword of gendered socialization. Throughout it all the language is fresh, the commentary is funny, and the form is pushed in interesting ways. It's so, so good.
November 22, 2021
3.5 stars. Very different kind of book. Don't read to many satires bit found this to be an interesting read, but wasn't a new favorite
August 1, 2021
I absolutely cannot get over how much I loved this book 🙌 And lucky for me, I get to be in conversation with the author on 8/3 at 7:30pm EST via Zoom thanks to Writers & Books! I shared the link in an earlier post if you’d like to join us.
THE ATMOSPHERIANS is everything I love in a novel: dark, funny, and smart. I’ve been on both sides of the influencer world, a micro-influencer as a local blogger and as a social media professional vetting influencers for a brand, so naturally a novel about a disgraced influencer forming a cult with her best friend would be right up my alley! Seriously, what a great premise.
I am happy to inform you that the writing is also excellent. McElroy’s word choice delighted me so many times, the way they pair two words together that you just never see side by side, or even selecting eclectic adverbs and using them in ways others normally don’t.
Loved the themes as well—it explores cancel culture, toxic masculinity, body dysmorphia, and so much more. Our main characters, Sasha and Dyson, are flawed and complex, and yet still fascinating and sympathetic.
Lastly, McElroy is damn funny. I’m still laughing about KLICKS, the nonprofit that “pairs underprivileged children with digital cameras” 💀 So many hilarious lines and witty observations.
Read this book if you’re a social media person, intrigued by cults, or want something that will both make you laugh and think.
THE ATMOSPHERIANS is everything I love in a novel: dark, funny, and smart. I’ve been on both sides of the influencer world, a micro-influencer as a local blogger and as a social media professional vetting influencers for a brand, so naturally a novel about a disgraced influencer forming a cult with her best friend would be right up my alley! Seriously, what a great premise.
I am happy to inform you that the writing is also excellent. McElroy’s word choice delighted me so many times, the way they pair two words together that you just never see side by side, or even selecting eclectic adverbs and using them in ways others normally don’t.
Loved the themes as well—it explores cancel culture, toxic masculinity, body dysmorphia, and so much more. Our main characters, Sasha and Dyson, are flawed and complex, and yet still fascinating and sympathetic.
Lastly, McElroy is damn funny. I’m still laughing about KLICKS, the nonprofit that “pairs underprivileged children with digital cameras” 💀 So many hilarious lines and witty observations.
Read this book if you’re a social media person, intrigued by cults, or want something that will both make you laugh and think.
June 11, 2021
Wish I liked this book more, but it’s ultimately nothing more than an average allegory on today’s society.
Not ashamed to say I rushed through the last 1/4th of the book given how unenjoyable it got in the second act.
It’s too bad - the book starts out great and is funny/satirical but it putters and lands flat in the end.
Not ashamed to say I rushed through the last 1/4th of the book given how unenjoyable it got in the second act.
It’s too bad - the book starts out great and is funny/satirical but it putters and lands flat in the end.
May 14, 2021
Sassy satire and wicked humor, I think this is the book that many people will love and others will simply just not think it is funny at all. That is satire at its wicked best! Masculinity, characters that are hard to like, cults, influencers, and our ways of living are questioned in this unique read! Would love a better more compelling cover as this one seems more bland than I would expect from such a cutting edge book! Definitely a worthy read to challenge your way of thinking and laugh out loud!
January 22, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a review copy of this book! It’s due to release later this year.
The Atmospherians is a modern cultural satire about a cult/rehabilitation group centered around changing men and ridding the world of toxic masculinity. Our main characters are a disgraced social media star and her longtime friend.
This is a hard book to rate, but I think I’m going with 3 stars simply because I feel so indecisive. As I was reading the book I enjoyed it, but I feel it dragged a bit too long—the main character’s leaving randomly toward the end, only to come back a couple chapters later, feels random and misplaced—and a few logic breaks make the ending itself feel rather unrewarding.
Still, this is an entertaining novel, one sure to spark some conversation on topics like groupthink and social media etiquette and toxic masculinity, all topics covered in length here. The author has done a good job of covering these things well, in a respectful and readable way.
I must point out a trigger warning (something I don’t usually do in reviews—maybe I should?) for those who’ve struggled with eating disorders: this book might not be a good experience for those readers.
The Atmospherians is a modern cultural satire about a cult/rehabilitation group centered around changing men and ridding the world of toxic masculinity. Our main characters are a disgraced social media star and her longtime friend.
This is a hard book to rate, but I think I’m going with 3 stars simply because I feel so indecisive. As I was reading the book I enjoyed it, but I feel it dragged a bit too long—the main character’s leaving randomly toward the end, only to come back a couple chapters later, feels random and misplaced—and a few logic breaks make the ending itself feel rather unrewarding.
Still, this is an entertaining novel, one sure to spark some conversation on topics like groupthink and social media etiquette and toxic masculinity, all topics covered in length here. The author has done a good job of covering these things well, in a respectful and readable way.
I must point out a trigger warning (something I don’t usually do in reviews—maybe I should?) for those who’ve struggled with eating disorders: this book might not be a good experience for those readers.
Read
June 29, 2021I DNF'ed this about half way through. It's not the book, it's me. The writing is fine, the satire is clever, but I was experiencing synesthesia while reading - the story smells like sweaty socks and bad milk and I can't take it anymore. Still, I need to give a shout out to the author's skill at describing the essence of a character in one short, sweet sentence. Here's how the narrator describes her mother, a woman who hates beauty products and regimens but can't give them up. "She was among those rare people who were just as tragic as they believed themselves to be." There's a lot a good stuff like that in this book, I hope it smells better to its many future readers than it did to me :)
April 6, 2021
Sasha and Dyson, who have failed in their previous choices in life, establish a "camp" to help men relieve themselves of their toxic masculinity. In order to accept this premise, the reader has to buy into the fact that there is a pandemic of toxicity, which I had a hard time wrapping my head around. Still, there was some very good writing here, some hilarious moments, but when the narration switches from first to third person, my attention began to wane. Wish I'd liked it more.
September 7, 2021
When I say this book involves a cult created to rid men of their toxic masculinity, some of you might applaud that and some of you might feel a heated need to come to the defense of one gender. The latter group might think this is a book of man bashing. Hear me out for a moment: Yes, the author highlights some unsavory male behaviors, but they also look at the root of those behaviors. They closely examine childhood environments and social contributions, acknowledging the external factors that lead to such behaviors. They look at the toxic effects of society on women, as well. I felt the actual attack was on all of the societal norms we’ve allowed to influence our thinking and behavior.
The Atmosphere is a therapeutic environment for males (Atmospherians), founded by a failed actor who proudly proclaims it to be a cult long before anyone else can. Dyson, the fearless leader, invites his disgraced influencer friend to help him with this new program and what ensues is a strong satirical story that will make you wonder if society is, indeed, our charismatic leader, influencing us in ways we barely recognize.
Alex McElroy brilliantly tackled a fascinating concept through a hyperbolic setting, yet its ridiculousness makes you realize how absurd so much of what we unwittingly allow to control us really is. They managed to make me question whether or not I should write this review, telling all of you that you should read this book!
But, you should.
It’s an eye-opening dark comedy that highlights how dependent we can be on an external definition of who we are. I wonder now - how many things are cultish in nature, even though we never refer to them as cults? Because cults are intrinsically bad, right? I’m telling you, there is so much to unpack with this one and my head is still spinning!
I love books like this, with a deeper meaning that has me constantly jotting down thoughts. This read was the exact mental stimulation I’d been craving, which suggests I should have tacked five stars onto this review. It was close to perfect. Unfortunately, although it started out as a propulsive narrative, there were times when the novel lost its footing. McElroy brought me back into it all regularly, but I can’t disregard the moments they lost me.
If you’re looking for a read that entertains with its hilarity and darkness while making you pause to reflect, The Atmospherians is absolutely one to add to your list. I’m still in awe of all that McElroy managed to communicate in a book that barely exceeds 300 pages. I will be thinking about the message for a long time.
I am immensely grateful to Atria Books and NetGalley for my digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
The Atmospherians can be preordered now and will be published on May 18, 2021.
The Atmosphere is a therapeutic environment for males (Atmospherians), founded by a failed actor who proudly proclaims it to be a cult long before anyone else can. Dyson, the fearless leader, invites his disgraced influencer friend to help him with this new program and what ensues is a strong satirical story that will make you wonder if society is, indeed, our charismatic leader, influencing us in ways we barely recognize.
Alex McElroy brilliantly tackled a fascinating concept through a hyperbolic setting, yet its ridiculousness makes you realize how absurd so much of what we unwittingly allow to control us really is. They managed to make me question whether or not I should write this review, telling all of you that you should read this book!
But, you should.
It’s an eye-opening dark comedy that highlights how dependent we can be on an external definition of who we are. I wonder now - how many things are cultish in nature, even though we never refer to them as cults? Because cults are intrinsically bad, right? I’m telling you, there is so much to unpack with this one and my head is still spinning!
I love books like this, with a deeper meaning that has me constantly jotting down thoughts. This read was the exact mental stimulation I’d been craving, which suggests I should have tacked five stars onto this review. It was close to perfect. Unfortunately, although it started out as a propulsive narrative, there were times when the novel lost its footing. McElroy brought me back into it all regularly, but I can’t disregard the moments they lost me.
If you’re looking for a read that entertains with its hilarity and darkness while making you pause to reflect, The Atmospherians is absolutely one to add to your list. I’m still in awe of all that McElroy managed to communicate in a book that barely exceeds 300 pages. I will be thinking about the message for a long time.
I am immensely grateful to Atria Books and NetGalley for my digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
The Atmospherians can be preordered now and will be published on May 18, 2021.
May 27, 2021
Do NOT read this when you want:
- A traditional storyline that makes sense all the time.
- Likable characters.
- A deep clear message about gender politics or social media.
- LGBT representation. (Perhaps it's shelved as such because the author is non-binary? but there is nothing in the book itself.)
- No trigger warnings:
Read this when you want:
- A bizarre book, for when you don't quite know what you want to read, but want it to be weird.
- Not laugh-out-loud humour, but a book that might make you snort from time to time.
- A book that touches on social media, gender politics, start-up culture, wellness culture, political correctness, cancel culture, and probably dozens of other things, without going into any of them that deeply.
- A book that you could probably interpret however way you want (and that another person could interpret the opposite way.)
- A fun book to discuss with a friend, in a "What the hell did we just read" kind of way.
This is an utterly bizarre book, funny at times, touching at others (though perhaps not often enough). A book that was still easy to read despite its weirdness (We all know those books that just take it to the extreme), and a book that seemed to be about a lot of things, but left me wondering if there was any real depth behind any of it.
What is it about?
Sasha, the sole narrator for the majority of the book, used to (almost) make a living by teaching women on social media to abandon all their beauty products and rituals and embrace a new skin-care regimen of doing nothing. Except just as her star is on the rise, one of her followers/trolls kills himself, blaming her for it on a viral video.
So she gets cancelled.
And then agrees to start a cult with her best friend, as one does.
Sasha is an interesting character to follow (note the use of the word interesting, not likeable), at once self-aware and yet unreliable. But in the end, this is not a book you keep on reading because you're deeply invested in the characters. You likely keep on reading, with a kind of bemused interest, wondering where exactly all of this is going? Between all of this stuff, the book's pulling in, where is it finally going to settle?
Except it never settles on anything.
It starts off like it's going to be largely about social media and cancel culture, with Sasha's fall from grace. Then it veers into being more about gender politics, as the idea of reforming men comes in, and then for a while, it seems to be about eating disorders. That, at times, seems to be the core of the book, almost as if it's what the author really wanted to write about, but it is also the piece that perhaps fits the least well with everything else.
Where Sasha insists, and the book as a large seems to support the notion, that the cult is at its core about Dyson's father issues and toxic masculinity. What it really is, is a classic case of someone with an eating disorder pulling others into the sphere of their disorder.
It could have been a fascinating exploration of that too. Sasha, as a teenage girl, is taken with the idea of pulling Dyson, a boy, into the realm of the sort of disordered eating that seems so integral and exclusive to the female experience that he could surely be nothing more than a temporary voyeur. (That part, so heartbreakingly false and yet so understandably a teen girl's perspective is what I found to be the strongest, most resonant bit of the book.)
Years later, Dyson who's now had a lifetime of eating disorders much more severe than any disordered eating Sasha ever engaged in, creates a cult for men. Except, it soon becomes a way for him to preach the same types of purging and binging and starvation that's become a part of his own life to others.
The dichotomy of eating disorders is what would have been so interesting here: Dyson doesn't think he doesn't have a problem. He agrees that he should stop vomiting, he doesn't glorify it, and at the same time, he can't stop himself, and he can't stop preaching it.
Except that's not what the book focuses on. It's only a part of the book, and in the end, it becomes only a very small part, easily lost in the midst of everything else. But, the tragedy and weight the book gives of all of this never quite meshes with the levity with which it treats other serious issues like suicide or rape culture.
It would have been one thing if it was bent on treating everything with the same kind of bizarre dark humour. It also would have been fine if it dove in deep with the eating disorder and left everything else in the periphery. But keeping the one issue utterly serious, makes its treatment of everything else feel insensitive at times, and then refusing to really focus on that one issue makes everything else feel like an escape from the emotional core of the book.
That was, to me, the biggest problem with this book. It seemed that in its desire to poke fun at so many things at once, it could never land on exactly what it was about. Was it about gender politics, internet culture, social media, wellness culture, social isolation, political correctness, tech culture, or etc, etc. The list just keeps on going. You might say, but aren't so many of those things connected? And I would say yes, but if there is a book that could tackle the whole interconnected mess in less than 400 pages, I don't think this one was it.
In the end, the book just felt like it was poking fun of the culture of this point in time in general while trying to hide its lack of depth behind a facade of bizarreness. It shied away from taking a stand on either of the topics it could have been about, gender or eating disorders. It felt, in the end, more like it had given you a whole list of topics you could talk about, if you wanted to, without contributing anything to the discussion.
And that might have been alright, if it didn't feel like it desperately wanted to go deeper into the eating disorder aspect of it all, but was too scared to do so.
I enjoyed reading it regardless, and it was one of the books I was most eager to have someone else read just so I could hear their experiences of it. (In fact, as I'm finishing this, all I can think about is going to read other reviewer's comments.). I suspect, it going into so many different topics means everyone might find a different part of it most resonant. It's one of those books, where there is probably something in it for everyone, but it's unlikely to be wholly satisfying to anyone.
- A traditional storyline that makes sense all the time.
- Likable characters.
- A deep clear message about gender politics or social media.
- LGBT representation. (Perhaps it's shelved as such because the author is non-binary? but there is nothing in the book itself.)
- No trigger warnings:
Read this when you want:
- A bizarre book, for when you don't quite know what you want to read, but want it to be weird.
- Not laugh-out-loud humour, but a book that might make you snort from time to time.
- A book that touches on social media, gender politics, start-up culture, wellness culture, political correctness, cancel culture, and probably dozens of other things, without going into any of them that deeply.
- A book that you could probably interpret however way you want (and that another person could interpret the opposite way.)
- A fun book to discuss with a friend, in a "What the hell did we just read" kind of way.
This is an utterly bizarre book, funny at times, touching at others (though perhaps not often enough). A book that was still easy to read despite its weirdness (We all know those books that just take it to the extreme), and a book that seemed to be about a lot of things, but left me wondering if there was any real depth behind any of it.
What is it about?
Sasha, the sole narrator for the majority of the book, used to (almost) make a living by teaching women on social media to abandon all their beauty products and rituals and embrace a new skin-care regimen of doing nothing. Except just as her star is on the rise, one of her followers/trolls kills himself, blaming her for it on a viral video.
So she gets cancelled.
And then agrees to start a cult with her best friend, as one does.
Sasha is an interesting character to follow (note the use of the word interesting, not likeable), at once self-aware and yet unreliable. But in the end, this is not a book you keep on reading because you're deeply invested in the characters. You likely keep on reading, with a kind of bemused interest, wondering where exactly all of this is going? Between all of this stuff, the book's pulling in, where is it finally going to settle?
Except it never settles on anything.
It starts off like it's going to be largely about social media and cancel culture, with Sasha's fall from grace. Then it veers into being more about gender politics, as the idea of reforming men comes in, and then for a while, it seems to be about eating disorders. That, at times, seems to be the core of the book, almost as if it's what the author really wanted to write about, but it is also the piece that perhaps fits the least well with everything else.
Where Sasha insists, and the book as a large seems to support the notion, that the cult is at its core about Dyson's father issues and toxic masculinity. What it really is, is a classic case of someone with an eating disorder pulling others into the sphere of their disorder.
It could have been a fascinating exploration of that too. Sasha, as a teenage girl, is taken with the idea of pulling Dyson, a boy, into the realm of the sort of disordered eating that seems so integral and exclusive to the female experience that he could surely be nothing more than a temporary voyeur. (That part, so heartbreakingly false and yet so understandably a teen girl's perspective is what I found to be the strongest, most resonant bit of the book.)
Years later, Dyson who's now had a lifetime of eating disorders much more severe than any disordered eating Sasha ever engaged in, creates a cult for men. Except, it soon becomes a way for him to preach the same types of purging and binging and starvation that's become a part of his own life to others.
The dichotomy of eating disorders is what would have been so interesting here: Dyson doesn't think he doesn't have a problem. He agrees that he should stop vomiting, he doesn't glorify it, and at the same time, he can't stop himself, and he can't stop preaching it.
Except that's not what the book focuses on. It's only a part of the book, and in the end, it becomes only a very small part, easily lost in the midst of everything else. But, the tragedy and weight the book gives of all of this never quite meshes with the levity with which it treats other serious issues like suicide or rape culture.
It would have been one thing if it was bent on treating everything with the same kind of bizarre dark humour. It also would have been fine if it dove in deep with the eating disorder and left everything else in the periphery. But keeping the one issue utterly serious, makes its treatment of everything else feel insensitive at times, and then refusing to really focus on that one issue makes everything else feel like an escape from the emotional core of the book.
That was, to me, the biggest problem with this book. It seemed that in its desire to poke fun at so many things at once, it could never land on exactly what it was about. Was it about gender politics, internet culture, social media, wellness culture, social isolation, political correctness, tech culture, or etc, etc. The list just keeps on going. You might say, but aren't so many of those things connected? And I would say yes, but if there is a book that could tackle the whole interconnected mess in less than 400 pages, I don't think this one was it.
In the end, the book just felt like it was poking fun of the culture of this point in time in general while trying to hide its lack of depth behind a facade of bizarreness. It shied away from taking a stand on either of the topics it could have been about, gender or eating disorders. It felt, in the end, more like it had given you a whole list of topics you could talk about, if you wanted to, without contributing anything to the discussion.
And that might have been alright, if it didn't feel like it desperately wanted to go deeper into the eating disorder aspect of it all, but was too scared to do so.
I enjoyed reading it regardless, and it was one of the books I was most eager to have someone else read just so I could hear their experiences of it. (In fact, as I'm finishing this, all I can think about is going to read other reviewer's comments.). I suspect, it going into so many different topics means everyone might find a different part of it most resonant. It's one of those books, where there is probably something in it for everyone, but it's unlikely to be wholly satisfying to anyone.
August 25, 2021
I thought this was kind of a cool concept. A social media influencer gets cancelled after someone commits suicide and fingers her as the reason. To escape from the harassment she’s facing Sasha joins her friend Dyson at this old remote summer camp where he’s trying a pilot project to reform toxic masculinity. This is where the story kind of took a left turn and lost me. The program to reform these 12 men was a little vague and then there was also an app that was supposed to help flag offensive comments and help people like Sasha avoid the social media fallout their comments would provoke. Overall good concept, rocky execution. I lost interest by the end and just finished to finish. It was a great book to read while i was camping and had practically zero cell reception though. Everyone should have some forced social media breaks once in a while and there’s no better place than a beautiful Provincial Park!
June 3, 2021
This book was incredible. The best example I've ever encountered of extended satire, which I think succeeds because of how it blends in pathos and backstory to create emotional anchors alongside the absurdity of the ideas. Alex McElroy really is doing the damn thing.
5/5
5/5
May 16, 2021
What a great imagination combined with tongue-in-cheek ludicrousness! Alex McElroy takes the PC overload of today and envisions a world in the not too distant future. Caucasian men run in wild hordes, some doing good deeds (whether the deeds are wanted or not) and some up to no good at all.
In the midst of this is a popular influencer who preaches that you shouldn’t use any of the beauty and health products out there; no soap, lotion, conditioners, health foods, pills, etc. Sasha is riding the wave, life is great until a viewer's suicide is blamed on her. She crashes and lands in a business venture with her best childhood friend, a not-at-all stable anorexic over-thinker named Dyson.
Their lack of planning, shoot-from-the-hip logic, and constant bickering evolve into a recovery camp for white men who need to relearn all the basic rules and functions of everyday living. The hidden humor, sarcasm, and reflections on today’s slippery slope of correctness is a laugh-out-loud enjoyable work of not-too-far-fetched future fiction.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date was May 18, 2021.
In the midst of this is a popular influencer who preaches that you shouldn’t use any of the beauty and health products out there; no soap, lotion, conditioners, health foods, pills, etc. Sasha is riding the wave, life is great until a viewer's suicide is blamed on her. She crashes and lands in a business venture with her best childhood friend, a not-at-all stable anorexic over-thinker named Dyson.
Their lack of planning, shoot-from-the-hip logic, and constant bickering evolve into a recovery camp for white men who need to relearn all the basic rules and functions of everyday living. The hidden humor, sarcasm, and reflections on today’s slippery slope of correctness is a laugh-out-loud enjoyable work of not-too-far-fetched future fiction.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date was May 18, 2021.
July 7, 2021
Actual Rating 3.5
This was a engaging and satirical look into how The Atmospherian's Cult was created and run by Sasha and Dylan. Sasha finds herself leading a cult while struggling to come to terms with her life and those who have abandoned her. Men in this near future are running amok and in clear need of guidance and help, this cult offers them a way toward redemption. Sasha and Dylan are best friends who love each other out of mutual feelings of guilt. The book makes some funny and poignant commentary on society's obsessions that I really enjoyed.
The downfalls of this book have to do with pacing and length. Sone chapters could have bee skipped entirely without changing and plot points. The character development was done well however so I felt myself invested in what happens. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy interesting ideas and ruminations on how society works. While this is about a cult that is secondary to Sasha and Dylan's friendship and Sasha's inner turmoil. Trigger Warning for eating disorders and suicide.
This was a engaging and satirical look into how The Atmospherian's Cult was created and run by Sasha and Dylan. Sasha finds herself leading a cult while struggling to come to terms with her life and those who have abandoned her. Men in this near future are running amok and in clear need of guidance and help, this cult offers them a way toward redemption. Sasha and Dylan are best friends who love each other out of mutual feelings of guilt. The book makes some funny and poignant commentary on society's obsessions that I really enjoyed.
The downfalls of this book have to do with pacing and length. Sone chapters could have bee skipped entirely without changing and plot points. The character development was done well however so I felt myself invested in what happens. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy interesting ideas and ruminations on how society works. While this is about a cult that is secondary to Sasha and Dylan's friendship and Sasha's inner turmoil. Trigger Warning for eating disorders and suicide.
Read
April 25, 2022This book was such a trip, I'm trying to decide the good or bad kind. Sasha was an incredibly unlikeable character but i could not STOP READING. much to think about, much to ponder. probably going to reread in the future
May 29, 2021
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Atmospherians is a smart, satirical novel about toxic masculinity, body image, and influencer culture. I thought it was fun, dramatic, and impactful.
For you if: You like satire (…and are OK reading about eating disorders).
FULL REVIEW:
Before I started The Atmospherians, all I knew about it was that it’s satire, and that the main character is a “disgraced influencer.” Being a person with a small ~internet presence~, I wondered what I’d gotten myself into (and it didn’t help that she lives in Hoboken, a little too close to me here in downtown Jersey City). In the end, though, this book is a super entertaining read, both comical and uncomfortable, impactful and disquieting.
The main character is named Sasha, and she preached a wellness routine she dubbed “Abandon,” which called for women to literally abandon all wellness products and practices (lol). But a careless comment caused her to plummet, fast, which might even be an understatement. Her former best friend, an actor, shows up and tells her they are going to found a cult dedicated to reforming toxic men, The Atmosphere.
A couple of big trigger warnings here, just FYI: eating disorders and disordered eating (there is graphic, near-reverent description of binging and purging), and suicide.
I thought this was a fun read that hit a little too close to reality (which the best satire does). It’s about not only toxic masculinity but also definitely body image and internet culture, especially influencers. It’s about the parts we play for ourselves and others. Now, I don’t tend to love the experience of reading *dramatic* books (which I know puts me in the minority), so there were times I struggled with it. But that’s definitely a me thing, because Alex McElroy wrote a book that’s smart and effective, and I think it absolutely does all that it intends to do.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Disordered eating and eating disorders (graphic, glorified depiction of binging and purging); Suicide ; Body hatred and fatphobia; Animal cruelty/death
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Atmospherians is a smart, satirical novel about toxic masculinity, body image, and influencer culture. I thought it was fun, dramatic, and impactful.
For you if: You like satire (…and are OK reading about eating disorders).
FULL REVIEW:
Before I started The Atmospherians, all I knew about it was that it’s satire, and that the main character is a “disgraced influencer.” Being a person with a small ~internet presence~, I wondered what I’d gotten myself into (and it didn’t help that she lives in Hoboken, a little too close to me here in downtown Jersey City). In the end, though, this book is a super entertaining read, both comical and uncomfortable, impactful and disquieting.
The main character is named Sasha, and she preached a wellness routine she dubbed “Abandon,” which called for women to literally abandon all wellness products and practices (lol). But a careless comment caused her to plummet, fast, which might even be an understatement. Her former best friend, an actor, shows up and tells her they are going to found a cult dedicated to reforming toxic men, The Atmosphere.
A couple of big trigger warnings here, just FYI: eating disorders and disordered eating (there is graphic, near-reverent description of binging and purging), and suicide.
I thought this was a fun read that hit a little too close to reality (which the best satire does). It’s about not only toxic masculinity but also definitely body image and internet culture, especially influencers. It’s about the parts we play for ourselves and others. Now, I don’t tend to love the experience of reading *dramatic* books (which I know puts me in the minority), so there were times I struggled with it. But that’s definitely a me thing, because Alex McElroy wrote a book that’s smart and effective, and I think it absolutely does all that it intends to do.
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Disordered eating and eating disorders (graphic, glorified depiction of binging and purging); Suicide ; Body hatred and fatphobia; Animal cruelty/death
October 21, 2021
Funny, dark and disturbing, thought-provoking, and chock full of sad, bad things. This satire of social media and culture is one where none of the characters is particularly likeable. In this version of America, spontaneous hordes of men swarm and perform "helpful" acts such as changing flat tires against the will of the car-owner...and then turn increasingly menacing.
When recently disgraced social media maven Sasha Marcus is rescued from the angry men picketing outside her apartment by her best friend Dyson, he brings her to his family's farm where he is starting a cult to cure a discipler's dozen of men with toxic masculinity issues. Dyson's plan somewhat mirrors his significant body issues and the death of his father. So Dyson should not be setting himself up as a cult leader (I mean no one should) and neither should Sasha, who still yearns for the vapid friendships her social media lifestyle attracted. There is a pervasive and deeply unsettling sickness that Alex McElroy manages to present with tragic humor...though increasingly it becomes more tragic than amusing.
So, not a feel-good read, but definitely interesting and a book that is ripe for discussion.
When recently disgraced social media maven Sasha Marcus is rescued from the angry men picketing outside her apartment by her best friend Dyson, he brings her to his family's farm where he is starting a cult to cure a discipler's dozen of men with toxic masculinity issues. Dyson's plan somewhat mirrors his significant body issues and the death of his father. So Dyson should not be setting himself up as a cult leader (I mean no one should) and neither should Sasha, who still yearns for the vapid friendships her social media lifestyle attracted. There is a pervasive and deeply unsettling sickness that Alex McElroy manages to present with tragic humor...though increasingly it becomes more tragic than amusing.
So, not a feel-good read, but definitely interesting and a book that is ripe for discussion.
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