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A review by hopebrasfield
Weather by Jenny Offill
5.0
What a weird book. Felt like reading a dream journal. I loved it.
I'm not sure if you can spoil this book, really. It's not super plot driven. But just in case, putting the rest of my thoughts behind spoiler tags.
After finishing the book, I found myself doing some casual reading in the lit re: limerence. There's more out there than I would have thought! Fun rabbit hole to go down, if you're looking for one.
Great podcast episode with Offill: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6itTBeUSbgrK3b4cWhkeQM?si=8DcviD_JQnW_po4-IxCQqg
In the podcast linked above, she says of the MC, "whoever's loudest is who she hears." And of the MC's husband, he's so "even tempered" that he doesn't always "register" for the MC. This exploration of the connection between proximity and relationships was super interesting in the novel. But she also explores the connection between perceived proximity to danger and one's relationship to preparation for future disasters. And so in this way she's exploring selfish tendencies as they manifest both externally (proximity to people, relationships with people) and internally (perceived proximity to danger, relationship to preparation). Is it selfish, though? I don't think she describes her character in this way, and I'm not saying they aren't common tendencies, but yeah--I think they tend toward being selfish, and that's probably why we're too ashamed to write about them in our personal journals (let alone talk about them out loud!). But that's also what makes it interesting, and why this novel will stick with me for quite a while!
Memorable quotes:
"Young person worry: what if nothing I do matters? Old person worry: what if everything I do does?"
"They say people who are lost will walk trancelike past their own search parties. Maybe I saw you. Maybe I passed you on my street. How will I know you? Trust me, you'll say."
"The thought of having to be with someone else long enough to deserve it again. That's what feels impossible. Because the part where they are charmed by you, where you are every good thing, and then the part later--sooner, maybe, but always later--where they tire of you, of all your repetitions, of all your little and big shames, I don't think I could bear that."
"This is why you must make a plan before disaster strikes. In a hotel, study the fire exits. On a ferry, look for the life jackets. On a plane, read the card they tell you to read. Without such a plan, people quickly lose their bearings. Husbands leave behind their wives. Parents flee without their children. You might even repeat to yourself, like a mantra, I have children! I have children!"
"He tells me that at the wilderness camp they teach the kids something called 'loss-proofing.' In order to survive, you have to think first of the group. If you look after the needs of others, it will give you purpose and purpose gives you the burst of strength you need in any emergency. He says you never know which kids will do well. But in general the suburban kids do the worst. They have no predators, he says."
"Funny how when you're married all you want is to be anonymous to each other again, but when you're anonymous all you want is to be married and reading together in bed."
I'm not sure if you can spoil this book, really. It's not super plot driven. But just in case, putting the rest of my thoughts behind spoiler tags.
After finishing the book, I found myself doing some casual reading in the lit re: limerence. There's more out there than I would have thought! Fun rabbit hole to go down, if you're looking for one.
Great podcast episode with Offill: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6itTBeUSbgrK3b4cWhkeQM?si=8DcviD_JQnW_po4-IxCQqg
In the podcast linked above, she says of the MC, "whoever's loudest is who she hears." And of the MC's husband, he's so "even tempered" that he doesn't always "register" for the MC. This exploration of the connection between proximity and relationships was super interesting in the novel. But she also explores the connection between perceived proximity to danger and one's relationship to preparation for future disasters. And so in this way she's exploring selfish tendencies as they manifest both externally (proximity to people, relationships with people) and internally (perceived proximity to danger, relationship to preparation). Is it selfish, though? I don't think she describes her character in this way, and I'm not saying they aren't common tendencies, but yeah--I think they tend toward being selfish, and that's probably why we're too ashamed to write about them in our personal journals (let alone talk about them out loud!). But that's also what makes it interesting, and why this novel will stick with me for quite a while!
Memorable quotes:
"Young person worry: what if nothing I do matters? Old person worry: what if everything I do does?"
"They say people who are lost will walk trancelike past their own search parties. Maybe I saw you. Maybe I passed you on my street. How will I know you? Trust me, you'll say."
"The thought of having to be with someone else long enough to deserve it again. That's what feels impossible. Because the part where they are charmed by you, where you are every good thing, and then the part later--sooner, maybe, but always later--where they tire of you, of all your repetitions, of all your little and big shames, I don't think I could bear that."
"This is why you must make a plan before disaster strikes. In a hotel, study the fire exits. On a ferry, look for the life jackets. On a plane, read the card they tell you to read. Without such a plan, people quickly lose their bearings. Husbands leave behind their wives. Parents flee without their children. You might even repeat to yourself, like a mantra, I have children! I have children!"
"He tells me that at the wilderness camp they teach the kids something called 'loss-proofing.' In order to survive, you have to think first of the group. If you look after the needs of others, it will give you purpose and purpose gives you the burst of strength you need in any emergency. He says you never know which kids will do well. But in general the suburban kids do the worst. They have no predators, he says."
"Funny how when you're married all you want is to be anonymous to each other again, but when you're anonymous all you want is to be married and reading together in bed."