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A review by thethirdcrouch
The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church
4.0
I remember a TV host asked about why do we still choose to love someone even if it hurts. I think this is more about people who've been hurt by past relationships and still choosing to love again. She answered that it is because we like how it feels, that we cherish being in love and being loved. I heard this during the time that I was angry, furious at Meridian's husband and at her. In this post-pandemic era people would call it red flags. Those kind of astute nerd guys are devoid of emotional intelligence it's impossible he felt love for her. It's him roleplaying what patriarchy expected him to do. A task, a sort of obligation as an eomployee to the company. Then she'd meet and have an affair with a young man named Clay who was too good to be true that I didn't want to fall in love in their relationship. He's really good, thank you very much. He cared for her and her crows and he liberated her. She healed him. He was there at the right time much like Belle was. Belle was there to inspire her in her career and shower her love. Clay was too.
Towards the latter of the story, her husband fell ill at the time when she had decied to leave him and get her life back. She didn't leave him. She chose to stay by his side. I think it's guilt. I don't believe it's love or whatnot. It's unfair and I hate it. Especially what she learned after this. And there's a woman named Emma who she'd confide during these times but she's not Belle. Belle would be my avatar in this story and I know she won't let Meri accept patriarchy's fate for her. This Emma is the counter that people would use right now, coincidentally, against Rachel Zegler's comments anout her role as the live-action Snow White. Emma chose and likes domesticity, being a housewife, caring for her husband. I understnd this and I know feminism accepts this as long as it is the woman's decision and she has agency. Emma has. But then again I always think how much of this is their dream growing up and how much was just settling down because you became a wife and a mother and it is the patriarchy's choice that the woman should care for the family. It is noble and it is a remarkable task but, much like what Meri did when she married her husband, it was her sacrifice. She chose it ultimately but why is it her sacrifice to make? Emma clearly expressed that she chose her role and understood that women deserve the freedom of choice but she's weirdly holding Meri back. There was this implicit notion that her choice was the default one but Meri's was rebellion, an escape from the normal, from the safety.
Another funny coincidence is me reading this book and then Oppenheimer came out. This novel gave more grounded view of America during the war and glimpses of the bombs' implications. But this novel is a love story. Of a woman to her self and her dreams. Of a woman to the man she deserves should she choose to give love. I hope everyone finds love, romantic or otherwise, who let's them be free as the birds of the wild. Ultimately I think Meri did. She deserved better. Some time I'll be able to reconcile that.
Towards the latter of the story, her husband fell ill at the time when she had decied to leave him and get her life back. She didn't leave him. She chose to stay by his side. I think it's guilt. I don't believe it's love or whatnot. It's unfair and I hate it. Especially what she learned after this. And there's a woman named Emma who she'd confide during these times but she's not Belle. Belle would be my avatar in this story and I know she won't let Meri accept patriarchy's fate for her. This Emma is the counter that people would use right now, coincidentally, against Rachel Zegler's comments anout her role as the live-action Snow White. Emma chose and likes domesticity, being a housewife, caring for her husband. I understnd this and I know feminism accepts this as long as it is the woman's decision and she has agency. Emma has. But then again I always think how much of this is their dream growing up and how much was just settling down because you became a wife and a mother and it is the patriarchy's choice that the woman should care for the family. It is noble and it is a remarkable task but, much like what Meri did when she married her husband, it was her sacrifice. She chose it ultimately but why is it her sacrifice to make? Emma clearly expressed that she chose her role and understood that women deserve the freedom of choice but she's weirdly holding Meri back. There was this implicit notion that her choice was the default one but Meri's was rebellion, an escape from the normal, from the safety.
Another funny coincidence is me reading this book and then Oppenheimer came out. This novel gave more grounded view of America during the war and glimpses of the bombs' implications. But this novel is a love story. Of a woman to her self and her dreams. Of a woman to the man she deserves should she choose to give love. I hope everyone finds love, romantic or otherwise, who let's them be free as the birds of the wild. Ultimately I think Meri did. She deserved better. Some time I'll be able to reconcile that.