“All of Us Atoms” Review: A Memoir, a Memory Maze, and the Satsuma Metaphor We Didn’t Know We Needed
Holly Dawson’s memoir "All of Us Atoms" explores memory loss, identity, and familial bonds with quirky lyricism and emotional depth. A thoughtful, if occasionally indulgent, debut.
Aussie Take on a Brainy Book
Imagine your brain short-circuiting mid-thought, your memory flaking like a week-old lamington, and your doctors telling you to recall numbers backwards like you’re auditioning for “Cognitive Crufts”. That’s the reality Holly Dawson paints in her memoir-meets-mental-mystery All of Us Atoms – and mate, it’s as poetic as it is perplexing.
Fast Facts: “All of Us Atoms” by the Numbers
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Medical Twist | Damaged hippocampus & benign tumour |
| Debut Book | Yes – Dawson’s literary brainchild |
| Origin Story | Industrial town ➝ Cornish coast ➝ East Sussex |
| Roles Explored | The Sister, The Dancer, The Mother… and more |
| Word Style | Lowercase musings, poetic fragments, metaphor-heavy prose |
| Family Theme Score | 10/10 – Think emotional bungee cord with bonus guilt trips |
| Referenced Influences | Virginia Woolf (but no deep dive – it’s more of a passing flirt) |
| Core Message | Memory + language + time = the soul’s tripod |
| Most Confusing Metaphor | Children as… satsumas (you read that right) |
Memoir or Moodboard?
Dawson’s approach to storytelling is less chapter-by-chapter and more poetic jigsaw puzzle. You’ll bounce from childhood flashbacks where her skin is “erupty skinny red” to adult introspections in which she ponders her “you-ness” and “we-hood”. It’s part memoir, part existential diary, part spoken word performance at your local artisan kombucha bar.
Her choice to sidestep the first-person pronoun “I” feels less like literary innovation and more like emotional hide-and-seek. It’s deep, yes, but sometimes comes off as dodging the hard stuff.
The Good, The Odd, and The Satsuma
What Works:
- Honest, tender writing about family, particularly her bond with her mother and brother.
- Refreshingly abstract meditation on memory – how fragile it is, and how tightly it’s woven into identity.
- Shimmering lines like: “Caring is the only truly important thing we do in every phase of our brief time on Earth.”
What Might Confuse the Uninitiated:
- The shifting narrative voice (first, second, third – like a one-person play on a tightrope).
- The metaphors occasionally go full-tilt arty: the satsuma-as-child analogy is the literary version of a cheese toastie sprinkled with lavender – intriguing but maybe too much.
- No deep unpacking of her philosophical or literary influences. It’s vibe-based referencing only.
Our Two Cents (with GST Included)
If you’re the kind of reader who likes a memoir that’s more “pass the tissues and ponder your existence” than “here’s my life story in bullet points”, you’ll probably love All of Us Atoms. It’s heartfelt, lyrical, occasionally frustrating, but definitely memorable – ironically, considering it’s about forgetting.
It’s less your Sunday arvo beach read and more your midnight-in-a-beanbag-under-a-lamp-while-sipping-herbal-tea kind of book.
Final Verdict: Worth the Read?
Yes – but only if you’re into poetic memoirs and don’t mind digging for meaning like you’re panning for gold in a river of lowercase prose.
Book: All of Us Atoms by Holly Dawson
For lovers of: Maggie Nelson, Virginia Woolf, or anyone who’s ever said, “I feel feelings, and I must write them down… vaguely.”
