Narrated by Ariel Blake, Tilt by Emma Pattee is a standalone thriller is a standalone story whose events take place over one day, when a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. This debut novel shares the events Annie faces as she makes her way across town to find her husband.
by Emma Pattee
Narrator: Ariel Blake
Length: 6 hours and 54 minutes
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm *affiliate
Narration: 4 cups Speed: 1.5x
Set over the course of one day, a heart-racing debut about a woman facing the unimaginable, determined to find safety.
Last night, you and I were safe. Last night, in another universe, your father and I stood fighting in the kitchen.
Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA when a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. With no way to reach her husband, no phone or money, and a city left in chaos, there’s nothing to do but walk.
Making her way across the wreckage of Portland, Annie experiences human desperation and strangers offering help, a riot at a grocery store, and an unlikely friendship with a young mother. As she walks, Annie reflects on her struggling marriage, her disappointing career, and her anxiety about having a baby. If she can just make it home, she’s determined to change her life.
A propulsive debut, Tilt is a primal scream of a novel about the disappointments and desires we all carry, and what each of us will do for the people we love.
We meet Annie, a very pregnant (nine months pregnant, to be exact) as she is shopping in IKEA for a crib in Portland, Oregon. It’s something she has put off despite offers from her husband to help her. It is here that a massive earthquake hits and Annie sets off on foot to reach her husband. The tale that unfolds follows Annie as she makes her way across town. As she travels on foot, we meet others, some desperate, some lost and all of them panicked about the event. As Annie offers aid, she reflects on life, her marriage, her career and the fear of having this baby.
I cannot say that I cared for Annie or perhaps I struggled to connect. I desperately wanted children and loved the idea of creating our family, plus my husband and I were very much on the same page about our goals. Annie and her husband, at thirty-five, clearly are not. I will say I appreciated Annie’s wit and her tenaciousness to push through. The story is told from Annie’s perspective with flashes of her life with her husband, Dom.
While this tale falls under the thriller genre and has suspenseful moments, it leans more towards women’s fiction with its thought-provoking insight into the human struggle. I felt like the flashbacks slowed the pace and took away from the situation. Annie’s anger towards her husband is clear throughout the story, yet she persists in her search for him.
Listening enhanced my overall experience and Ariel Blake captured Annie’s wit perfectly. I wonder if the story would have benefited from Dom’s perspective as well.
The conclusion was intentionally ambiguous, leaving the interpretation to the reader. This will frustrate some listeners. The messages of hope, pushing forward and that a moment can be life changing, were powerful and while we didn’t see character growth, we saw Annie endure.
About Emma Pattee
Emma Pattee is a climate journalist and a fiction writer. Her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and more. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
About Ariel Blake
Ariel Blake is a Black and Guyanese (American) theater artist, teacher, abolitionist & birth keeper based in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Her voice can also be heard narrating An Abolitionist’s Handbook by Patrisse Cullors and Raven Leilani’s Luster, among other titles.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Ethan
Great review! It sounds like a tense, reflective journey that blends survival with emotional depth. I’m intrigued by the setting and Annie’s determination, even if she’s not the easiest character to connect with. The ambiguous ending has me curious!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
This sounds like an interesting read and a compelling concept. I don’t think it’s a book for me though. I really struggle with ambiguous endings – and not connecting with the main character would be another negative. Great review!