Thank you, I was starting to feel rather alone in being charmed by this book 😂 I especially liked how their physical remoteness from Earth altered their mental perspective of it, and the tension between seeing the bigger picture and not being able to affect or help with anything.
I've just finished this book tonight, I was absolutely in love with it from the start. I loved all the lyrical writing, the geopolitical and the personal. The insights into life, death, and our place in the world and the universe. Orbit 13 with the potted cosmic calendar was I think my favourite section on the whole. This better make the short list, or they'll have me to answer to!! I think this will become one of my favourite books of all time!
I just finished Orbital and love your review. Perfectly describes this unique book and some things that might come up for a reader as they consider the experience. The rhythm of going round and round in space and also for us on earth - we go round and round, too. Also, to learn a bit about life at the space station was interesting.
Thank you for this thoughtful review. I have just finished it and agree with everything you say. I loved it and think it is an important book in so many ways.
This captivated me. The writing is beautiful, touching on so much in so few pages. In my opinion, for readers, this book requires you to read slowly and let the words sink in, look wider than the words. I don’t want to put spoilers, but if it is read too fast, you will miss the bigger pictures. I enjoyed your review. Spot on.
I'm loving the Booker 2024 Longlist. I'm 7 1/2 books in. Thrilled that 2 of my Favs - Everett's James and Mattar's My Friends - are on the list. I plan to reread Held, which I loved in April, and Orbital, which I merely liked in May. I was gobsmacked by my heartfelt response to Headshot. (I'm not a contact sports fan.) I'm always grateful for your POV, BtB. Thank you for your generous work!
I agree that this is a very special & interesting book. At the same time, I found this small book very hard to get through. I think it was the repetition of the 16 orbits -- but maybe that was part of the point.
I love that doggie ❤I put the audio of Orbital and promptly fell asleep. That’s not the books fault. I’m permanently knackered. It was very soothing. I’ll have to try again.
I have finished the book this week and still thinking about it. The book has many layers and I definitely felt the isolation of the situation they were in. It’s the first of the long list I have read. So it was a good start. I can see the benefits of a reread at some point.
Great review (hi dog!). I'm about half way through orbital right now. I also found it very interesting how these astro/cosmonauts are where they are, in part, because of nationalist agendas, and in some cases those feelings of national pride and reputation have motivated them personally. And then they're in space, and the people on the ground are still trying to treat them as representatives of nations, and while those divides don't totally disappear - they're making jokes about 'the national toilet'.
Oh, this book is very much politic. It's an open propaganda. I mean, the book compares Sergei Krikalev (russian politician and a huge supporter of putin) to God. WTF?? And I don't even want to start on all the cultural appropriation going on there. To be honest, I'm disappointed by your review.
I was haunted by Orbital too. After I read it, I recommended it to lots of different people. I was so happy to see it on the Booker longlist.
Thank you, I was starting to feel rather alone in being charmed by this book 😂 I especially liked how their physical remoteness from Earth altered their mental perspective of it, and the tension between seeing the bigger picture and not being able to affect or help with anything.
Ooh, I love how you put that! And yeah, I thought it would be a much more loved one!
I've just finished this book tonight, I was absolutely in love with it from the start. I loved all the lyrical writing, the geopolitical and the personal. The insights into life, death, and our place in the world and the universe. Orbit 13 with the potted cosmic calendar was I think my favourite section on the whole. This better make the short list, or they'll have me to answer to!! I think this will become one of my favourite books of all time!
Aha, yes! It really lingers, doesn’t it?! I really hope it makes the shortlist- lilting books like this take such skill to pull off!
Reviews featuring dogs are my favs! I’m looking forward to this one.
Aha, yes! Unfortunately, I can normally only film when the dogs are sleeping, which makes it trickier to get them on camera!
I just finished Orbital and love your review. Perfectly describes this unique book and some things that might come up for a reader as they consider the experience.
The rhythm of going round and round in space and also for us on earth - we go round and round, too.
Also, to learn a bit about life at the space station was interesting.
Yes! I loved that rhythm to it! Such a unique little book!
I am currently listening to the audio of this, and it's so nice! I really love the writing. I think I'll come back to this review when I've finished.
Ooh, I’d love to hear how they capture that sense of awe and stillness.
Just bought it and started reading - very engrossing and some beautiful thoughts.
Ooh, glad to hear you’re enjoying it!
Thank you for this thoughtful review. I have just finished it and agree with everything you say. I loved it and think it is an important book in so many ways.
Thank you! And so glad to see some love for this book- it’s such a sleeper hit, I think!
Okay the dog cameo is delightful. I'm on a wait list for Orbital at my local library.
Oooh, fingers crossed! And I think you’ll like it!
This captivated me. The writing is beautiful, touching on so much in so few pages. In my opinion, for readers, this book requires you to read slowly and let the words sink in, look wider than the words. I don’t want to put spoilers, but if it is read too fast, you will miss the bigger pictures.
I enjoyed your review. Spot on.
Thank you, and glad to hear you liked it so much!
And yes! It forced me to slow down a bit, and really sit in the magic of it.
I'm loving the Booker 2024 Longlist. I'm 7 1/2 books in. Thrilled that 2 of my Favs - Everett's James and Mattar's My Friends - are on the list. I plan to reread Held, which I loved in April, and Orbital, which I merely liked in May. I was gobsmacked by my heartfelt response to Headshot. (I'm not a contact sports fan.) I'm always grateful for your POV, BtB. Thank you for your generous work!
Oh wow, nice, you’re getting through them well!
And yes! I normally don’t like contact sports either but I liked it a lot!
Glad you liked this one sir!
whiplash from watching your video & then Bob’s straight after😂📚 both great reviews though ofc!👏
I agree that this is a very special & interesting book. At the same time, I found this small book very hard to get through. I think it was the repetition of the 16 orbits -- but maybe that was part of the point.
I love that doggie ❤I put the audio of Orbital and promptly fell asleep. That’s not the books fault. I’m permanently knackered. It was very soothing. I’ll have to try again.
He’s such a sweetheart! And I can imagine that about the audio- it’s such a quiet book (in a good way, I think).
A kind and thoughtful review. 💙The thought of reading this book twice made me shiver, and not in the good way. 😂
Ahahaha, fair! I can see why people have mixed feelings on it!
Sweet dog! I am torn about this one. I will read if I can get a copy at a reasonable price.
Ah fair! I can imagine the audiobook for it would be lovely!
I have finished the book this week and still thinking about it. The book has many layers and I definitely felt the isolation of the situation they were in. It’s the first of the long list I have read. So it was a good start. I can see the benefits of a reread at some point.
Yes! I think it’s the kind of book that demands several readings!
2024 Booker Prize Winner 🏆
Great review (hi dog!). I'm about half way through orbital right now. I also found it very interesting how these astro/cosmonauts are where they are, in part, because of nationalist agendas, and in some cases those feelings of national pride and reputation have motivated them personally. And then they're in space, and the people on the ground are still trying to treat them as representatives of nations, and while those divides don't totally disappear - they're making jokes about 'the national toilet'.
Thank you! And yes! It plays so cleverly with that idea of nationality/ism, and I think it’s so quietly powerful for that!
goodness another book I feel the need to read...how many pages?😊
Aha, it’s a shorter one at least- about 150 pages!
Bob’s got a Golden Retriever boyfriend and he pawing him unrelentingly!
Aha, he’s a lovely boy!
Oh, this book is very much politic. It's an open propaganda. I mean, the book compares Sergei Krikalev (russian politician and a huge supporter of putin) to God. WTF?? And I don't even want to start on all the cultural appropriation going on there.
To be honest, I'm disappointed by your review.
Orbital is next on my physical TBR 📖🪱💚
Yay! Enjoy!