Orbital by Samantha Harvey-A 2024 Booker Prize Longlist Review

[@stevies-readies]

i read this a few months ago, without any expectations or predispositions, and certainly without comparing it to any other books. i thought it was absolutely magical, immersive, sort of life-affirming. whenever i read, i look and listen for the way language rolls off the tongue. Harvey's language is almost musical, songlike, which as a musician, was a great pleasure to read. It's also meant, I think, to be savored slowly. To your point about prize lists, I think attacking the list with a begrudging sense of obligation has a negating effect on the pleasure of reading. Also, I had a similar empathic reaction as you -- I felt like I was on the station with them, just pondering our place on the Earth. It honestly shook my soul a bit! On the topic of Praiseworthy, I enjoy it, weirdly, in a similar way to Orbital. The language of Praiseworthy rolls off the tongue, in a weird and unfamiliar, but still pleasing way. It's also very light on plot; you could read the blurb on the back and understand the entirety of what it's trying to do. But it's the reading experience that sets these novels apart for me.

[@lw5417]

Hi Gretchen. Since the book won, I decided to give it a try via the audiobook. I found it to be poetic, unique and interesting. Listening was an immersive experience. I was leaning in, concerned about safety when the book just, stopped. This, for me, was an unsatisfying ending. It was impactful though. It will linger in my thoughts. Your review was wonderful. This is a hard book to describe, but you captured its essence. 🌸

[@TKTalksBooks]

I listened to this beautiful book late at night on my pitch dark screened porch. Your review was spot on

[@janethansen9612]

I enjoyed Orbital. It was slow and meditative, but quite lovely. It did get repetitive in the second half, but I think that reflected life for the astronauts on the space station.

[@TheLeniverse]

Oh, good talk, Gretchen! I liked this book quite a lot too. I read it early in the year and put it on my Women's Prize prediction list. I was quite happy to see it on the Booker. That said, I don't think it will be shortlisted because it definitely doesn't have that broad appeal and it doesn't do enough. But it has such an atmosphere to it, I think it does something unique enough to deserve its place on the longlist. I have thought about it quite a lot in the months since I read it. It's a book that lingers and that has grown on me.

[@virginiaanderson8875]

Thanks for your review - just saw this one is the winner of Booker - definitely will get it to read - thx for review!!

[@madeubook]

Yeah I’m a little surprised it won because of its competition but I still enjoyed it.

[@SelinaAllinson]

A great review Gretchen! I really enjoyed hearing your reasons for liking and appreciating this book. It totally makes sense what you say about feeling connected to it in terms of reminiscing on your own life and childhood and how you feel awe and wonder from those space related memories. Sadly, I wasn't a fan of it. I don't mind books with little plot but something about the writing just irked me to the point of distraction and then I couldn't stop rolling my eyes at it. Oh dear. I do think you're right when you say people get more p****d at books when they don't live up to prize worthy expectations, there's always going to be a book we don't like and that's what makes all of this so interesting. Looking forward to seeing how you get on with the rest of the list 💕

[@paulaallison9239]

Thank you for this thoughtful review. I loved this book and think it is very important.

[@madeubook]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@scothatfield]

Picked this up last week with zero knowledge outside the publisher summary. Contemplative, it felt like a 200 page poem. The prose was just beautiful. I wasn't in the mindset for a book like this, and I still loved it. Booker list-worthy or not, I'm glad the attention will expose it to new readers.

[@madeubook]

So glad you liked it! It’s one of the better ones this year in my opinion.

[@nikkivenable73]

See, your reasons for enjoying this book are all the reasons I'm excited to read it. I'm nostalgic, sentimental and am obsessed with outer space, esp our own little blue dot called earth. It's just so majestic and mysterious! Well done on this video! Edit: I'm so curious: have you read Milkman by Anna Burns. This book won the Booker in 2018. I'm reading it now and am absolutely blown away by how good it is. Not an easy read for a number of reasons, but worth it!

[@mareeabee8293]

I love your reviews and your joyous spirit, Gretchen!! Personally, I’m more of a Western Lane girlie than an Orbital girlie, but hearing your romantic defense of this novel was welcome and helped balance my experience with the book. I love Booker longlist discussion and look forward to your reviews to come!!

[@iamtherealjulia]

Such an eloquent defense of this book! Will definitely pick it up now. Thank you Gretchen!

[@tam876]

I really thought Orbital was beautiful. 😊 I read it before it was listed.

[@karenmoore4430]

Hi Gretchen I read Orbital at the weekend. I thought it was beautifully written, but wanted a bit more. Made me think about the guys who are stuck on the ISS until 2025. It had a claustrophobic feel to it.

[@Book_Hugger]

I fell in love with this book, however, I also am a sucker for words that create “art” in the pages of my books. This made me think, meditate, and tab so many things to go back to think on some more. There are many “now” subjects flowing and floating like the astronauts are in their life. However, if the reader is rushing through, because they think it will be a quick read, they will miss the point of the book. I learned a lot about the anatomical effects zero gravity has on the human body too! I also am awed by the cosmo beauty. So, I concur, some may love it, but I don’t think it is hate worthy. Some won’t vibe with it, but the underlying political and real life messages, in combination with the lyrical writing makes it Booker Worthy, in my opinion. I did read it because of the longlist,but had planned on it because of the beautiful cover 😂

[@Rosiemayj]

I really enjoyed this beautiful little book, and your thoughtful review Gretchen, I also really enjoyed Western Lane which you mentioned. I was disapointed Clear by Cerys Davis wasn't on the longest as I felt it was incredibly well written and a wonderful story, however not every brilliant book can be long listed, and I feel sad and frustrated when I hear book tubers being ungenerous and unduly negative about books they didn't enjoy- that said, I think the inclusion of American writers for the booker has made the prize less diverse, which is disappointing, and I don't mean any disrespect to the many wonderful American writers who are eligible, only that smaller commonwealth countries are less evident on the list which is a real shame, as the U.S has several prestigious book prizes already.

[@bstephens44]

I agree with your excellent review of Orbital. I have finished 9 of the long list books and so far Orbital is my favourite. It's a beautiful, lyrical work worthy of attention. Safekeep and James are also excellent. Overall, however, this is not a great collection of books, at least not for me. I did not enjoy Wild Houses or Wandering Stars because of the depressing emphasis on substance abuse and addiction. Seen enough of that, thanks. This Strange Eventful Journey was neither strange nor very eventful. Held did not hold my attention. I am more than half way through both Headshot and Enlightenment and so far they are ok, but we will see. I DNF'd My Friends earlier this year but am going to give it another try since it made the list. The other three books are not yet available in Canada. Hopefully at least one gem in there.

[@ganeshasr141]

❤ not yet read it, but, yes I'll definitely like this book seeing the blue dot earth from space station cupola... 'Western Lane', did not like it at all.. 200 times word 'Papa' repeating😂😂 Keep inspiring Gretchen ❤🤗

[@joangavrilik3009]

I expected to love this book for all the reasons you describe. But I didn't. I found certain snippets compelling, but as a whole, I found it hard to get through. I thought much of it was repetitious, and yet the book didn’t hold together for me- which is odd to say about a book that takes place over such a short time period and in such a small space. I am not, however surprised to see it on the Booker longlist - and I like to see a wide variety of books on the list. And I totally enjoy seeing that every book has lovers and haters (although I don’t believe I’ve seen anyone hate James yet).

[@chambersstevens3135]

I am on chapter 7 and ready to throw it against the wall. But after seeing your video I will go back.

[@madeubook]

Oh no! Don’t force yourself to finish! If you’re not already liking it, it likely won’t get better for you. After hearing lots of others talk about this book, it seems to be a love it or hate it read. Save yourself the frustration and read something you vibe with. Your wall deserves better!!!! 😂🤣😂

[@AnaReads19]

I liked this book. I thought it was very lyrical

[@markhnk]

I read this one prior to the longlist being announced (or the leak), but like you, I already had a feeling it might be a Booker book. I didn't hate it, but I found it a bit mediocre and disappointing (it's a bit like your experience with Western Lane, which I also found mediocre). I really sympathize with what you say about why you enjoyed that book, and I think that's what really counts, so I don't want to take anything away from it with my criticism. I think this novel relies heavily on a sense of wonder, but my issue is that it didn't do anything for me that countless Science Fiction novels I’ve read in the past haven't already done. I know the author wanted to write a realist novel about people in space, so maybe she was trying to make something accessible to the literary reader that isn’t as available in non-genre fiction. However, I thought it was a bit easy to rely on the reader's sense of wonder about the vastness of space or the feeling of looking at Earth from space. I don't feel the actual book did anything particularly interesting in addition to these very common observations or found any unique language (yes, the Earth is beautiful and blue, but I already knew that).

[@madeubook]

Those are all wonderful points! I’m not really a sci-fi reader so I am not exposed to this type of content very often. I agree that she wasn’t saying anything new and I have certainly contemplated all of those things before, but it has sadly been ages for me. This book was a nice reminder for me to revisit those feelings which is probably the real reason why I enjoyed my time with it, as well as all the happy childhood memories it triggered for me. I bet if the judges took a good camping trip a couple weeks before they made their final decision, we might have a very different list 😂