Et cetera : What We're Reading: Tilt

I recently read 'Tilt,' the debut novel from climate journalist Emma Pattee. This book was recommended to me by Ellen Szabo during our library's recent Writing Cli-Fi workshop, and I'm so glad I read it.

The book opens with Annie, an expectant mother, buying a crib in IKEA in Portland. She has a few short, cursory exchanges with the staff and fellow shoppers, and it is clear she would rather be anywhere else but there. Suddenly disaster hits as an earthquake seriously injures several shoppers and causes extreme damage to property and the local utilities. What ensues is a gripping story of survival as Annie digs deep beneath the surface of her daily stresses to find the strength to persevere. Her path crosses that of several other survivors, and we're given a glimpse of humanity during trying times. What stood out to me was the author's clear and concise writing style, peppered with honest internal dialogue from a mother in a profoundly difficult situation.

'Tilt' currently has 3.57/5 on goodreads.com and was an NPR favorite fiction read of 2025.

Happy reading,

Kelly