This month’s snapshot includes a much-acclaimed Booker Prize winner, a short story collection by the mother of one of my favourite novelists and an account 
The novel I’m reading is Samantha Harvey’s Orbital which follows six astronauts aboard a space station as they encircle the earth multiple times in a day. Counter intuitively, the unimaginable distance between them and their home intensifies their connection with both it and their loved ones. I’ve just started and am taking my time my time savouring its beautiful descriptive writing and perceptive characterisation. Here are three more detailed reviews by blogger pals: Annabel’s here, Kim’s here,
and Cathy’s here.
The short story collection I’m reading is Hilma Wolitzer’s Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket. Most of the stories were first published in the ‘60s and ‘70s although the final lengthy piece, which I’ve yet to read, was written in 2020. Several are dryly humorous, some, inevitably, a little dated but all, so far, share the same acute social observation that characterises her daughter Meg’s writing.
The non-fiction book I’m reading is Lucy Leonelli’s alphabetically arranged account of her time exploring a variety of British subcultures, A Year in the Life. I’ve got as far as N is for Naturists which might give you a flavour of Leonelli’s pluck. Her motivation seems to be a niggling feeling of missing out on the more interesting aspects of life having spent years working in a corporate culture. She’s both funny and brave, often beset by nerves but overcoming them and eventually enjoying herself. Others on her list include goths, circus, battle re-enactors and hill baggers. I’m looking forward to the drag queen chapter
What about you? What are you reading?
Loved Orbital though I loved her The Western Wind and Dear Thief even more!
I’ve read The Western Wind but not Dear Thief. One for the list!
Really enjoyed Orbital but still have doubts about its Booker winner status. What I am reading… Seiffert’s new book Once The Deed is Done, Oliver’s Upstream (essays), and Paul Durcan’s anthology of poems 80 at 80.
That’s a nicely varied selection! I’m learning towards happy it won the Booker.
I really enjoyed Orbital as well but not all the members of my book club were so enthusiastic. I’m trying to tick off more books on my 20 Books of Summer list but it’s slow progress as there are some big books on there but I did that deliberately so only myself to blame!
I can see it might not appeal to everyone. Canny strategy! I hope it works for you.
Orbital is a stunner. I’ve heard a little about A Year in the Life and it seems totally charming!
Leonelli’s so game! I’m amazed at what some people get up to in their spare time, and admiring of the way she pitches in, the naturist chapter being a case in point.
Thank you for the link. LOVED that book. I’m currently on my 5th book for #WITMonth – The Time of Cherries – a Catalan rediscovery from Daunt. Richard Armitage’s 2nd thriller next.
You’re welcome! I’m quite a bit further on although still trying to take it slowly. Daunt are always a good bet, aren’t they.
I liked A Year in the Life, and I think I subscribed for that one so you might find my name in the supporters list! I am currently reading a book about Kwame Nkrumah and a book about the British landscape – 500pp each, in a horrible error that means I am stuck in a loop of massive books for a while!
I did see that and thought it must be you. Oh dear! I hope they’re both worth it.
I have Orbital in the TBR but yet to get to it! The other two sound really charming, especially the Leonelli.
One for #NovNov? The Leonelli is such fun. I wish I had even half of her gumption.
So glad you are reading Orbital. Loved it: https://wordsandpeace.com/2024/11/16/book-review-for-novnov-novellas-in-november-orbital-by-samantha-harvey/
Thank you, and for the link. Such an impressive piece of fiction.
Thanks so much for linking to my review Susan, I was so impressed with Orbital.
You’re welcome, Cathy. Such an original novel.
I’ve heard so much about Orbital and really must try it. I’ve been reading Kokoro by Natsume Soseki, and it’s one of those books that gets better as it goes along. I found it a bit slow-going at first but am enjoying it as it reaches the climax.
Definitely deserving of all the praise heaped upon it. I’ve not read anything by Soseki.
The only one I’ve read is Orbital, which I liked but either read too quickly (for a library duedate) or maybe my expectations were out of whack (I loved her first book and still plan to read the ones I’ve missed). I’ve got Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World, Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste, and a reread of Middlemarch slowly progressing, on today’s stack.
Ah, Middlemarch – always worth a reread or two. Having read Siri Hustvedt’s The Blazing World I’d be interested to see what you think of the book she references.