A review by frasersimons
Atmospheric Disturbances by Rivka Galchen

challenging funny informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An analyst pulls on various knowledge in his field when he convinces himself of the Doppler effect, and determines his wife is a doppelgänger herself. He then discerns esoteric clues based on esoteric clues as to where he might find his real wife. But it’s actually a story about rifts in identity shifting  the perception of people. A literalization of the “I don’t even know who you are anymore”, but from a psychological travelogue romp where you don’t know if he’s right or wrong, or what that quite means. It won’t be the kind of story some people will be able to be invested in, but I found it engaging and insightful, and quirky—in a good way. Just the right amount of challenging. Plus, lots of interesting analyst shop talk. A confluence of stuff I’m interested in, basically.