The Riemer Book Club has been around for a few years now and has a constantly changing group of participants. So if you'd like to join once, you're more than welcome. But if you enjoy it, you're welcome to come every month. Either way, it's an accessible gathering with a book at its heart.

Atmosphere lends itself perfectly for discussion. The budding, emotional love between aerospace engineer Vanessa and Joan Goodwin is beautifully written. A love between two women is unthinkable – and especially unacceptable – in the male-dominated world of NASA in the 1980s. The story builds to a thrilling climax when Vanessa is piloting a space shuttle in danger of crashing and Joan must guide her from the ground at the Johnson Space Center. A deeply emotional ending…

And what leads up to it – the flashbacks about their families, relationships, and Vanessa and Joan’s youth – makes it a highly engaging read. Especially Joan’s sister Barbara is portrayed brilliantly (an unbearable character). A bundle of frustration, trying to give her life meaning through various men. That doesn’t bring much, except for a child. One she doesn’t know what to do with and ends up neglecting. This sweet girl, Frances, loves her cousin more than her mother, with all the understandable consequences that follow.

Bookstore Riemer Groningen looks forward to discussing this book together. Buy the book in our store or through our website, and sign up for the book club. We hope to see you there!