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A review by anusha_reads
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
BOOK #3 ORBITAL, SAMANTHA HARVEY, LONGLISTED FOR #BOOKERPRIZE2024
Six astronauts, one spacecraft, and their journey around the blue dot. Samantha Harvey has brilliantly crafted a novel that explores the psychology of these individuals and their relationship with Mother Earth as they rotate the earth.
The book delves into the lives of astronauts confined within a capsule. It describes how they eat dehydrated food, drink recycled water from urine, sleep while floating, interact with each other, log their experiences, and even watch movies. They miss their families on Earth and exercise to minimize muscular atrophy. One of the crew members develops a tumour but refuses to disclose it, fearing it might jeopardize the mission, forcing others to accompany him back.
The magnitude of the blue dot as viewed from space is profound. Tellurians (Earth dwellers) are seen fighting, creating boundaries, and separating themselves from one another. The book reflects on the paradoxical distance and closeness of Earth.
As Earthlings, we perceive only the land, flora, fauna, and nature around us. However, the book offers a breath-taking perspective of our planet from millions of miles away, highlighting its beauty, flaws, the changing of day to night, the oceans, mountains, fjords, and more.
The astronauts, unable to distinguish day from night as they orbit Earth, adhere to a strict schedule, relying on their watches to remind them of the time of day. The book encourages readers to cherish the remarkable blue dot we call home.
Six astronauts, one spacecraft, and their journey around the blue dot. Samantha Harvey has brilliantly crafted a novel that explores the psychology of these individuals and their relationship with Mother Earth as they rotate the earth.
The book delves into the lives of astronauts confined within a capsule. It describes how they eat dehydrated food, drink recycled water from urine, sleep while floating, interact with each other, log their experiences, and even watch movies. They miss their families on Earth and exercise to minimize muscular atrophy. One of the crew members develops a tumour but refuses to disclose it, fearing it might jeopardize the mission, forcing others to accompany him back.
The magnitude of the blue dot as viewed from space is profound. Tellurians (Earth dwellers) are seen fighting, creating boundaries, and separating themselves from one another. The book reflects on the paradoxical distance and closeness of Earth.
As Earthlings, we perceive only the land, flora, fauna, and nature around us. However, the book offers a breath-taking perspective of our planet from millions of miles away, highlighting its beauty, flaws, the changing of day to night, the oceans, mountains, fjords, and more.
The astronauts, unable to distinguish day from night as they orbit Earth, adhere to a strict schedule, relying on their watches to remind them of the time of day. The book encourages readers to cherish the remarkable blue dot we call home.