“Orbital: A Novel” by Samantha Harvey
Looking for a great escape? Have you thought about space travel? Let me enlighten you about some of what I learned from reading “Orbital: A Novel” by Samantha Harvey.
The author describes a nine-month mission, 250 miles above the earth with six crew members: four astronauts and two cosmonauts, four men and two women.
What do they pack for such a long journey when the cargo hold in their vessel is so precious?
- 36 changes of a T-shirt
- 135 changes of underwear
- 54 clean pairs of socks
There is almost a dream-like quality to Harvey’s writing. “Space shreds time to pieces. Keep a tally of when you wake … tell yourself this is the morning of a new day.” She describes the 16 sunrises and sunsets they will see throughout one day in orbit and how the “whip-crack of morning arrives every 15 minutes.” They pass over five continents from autumn to spring, glaciers to deserts and wilderness to war zones.
We also learn about the crew’s daily tasks. They each must complete a vigorous two-hour exercise program to maintain some health standards. Plus, they have to conduct experiments keeping plants and animals alive for the duration and monitoring their own medical conditions. They photograph the earth constantly and notice the development of a super-typhoon tracking toward the Philippines.
We learn very little about these astronauts as the novel is just 200 pages. There is a limited description of their lives before they became a family unit in space. It becomes evident that the Japanese astronaut knows her mother will die before she returns to Earth but as long as she’s in space, her mother is still alive to her. Anton has discovered a lump in his neck but knows that if he alerts mission-control they will send three more astronauts to the rescue and two of his companions will have their mission cut short. Shaun and Nell debate the existence of God as they note the wonders of space with its beauty and the vulnerability of the Earth as evidence of their opposing viewpoints. The Russian, Roman, keeps listening to ham radio transmissions from Earth and of course, he sleeps in the Russian galley with a photograph velcroed to the wall of Krikalev , the first Russian in the space station.
NASA astronauts have commented that Harvey “gets” what it’s like to be in orbit and feel like children of Mother Earth. You can join the crew and while reading the book meditate on the bigger picture of who we are and what our purpose is.
— Review by Lizz Taylor, Poor Richard’s Books
“Death at the Sign of the Rook: A Jackson Brodie Book” by Kate Atkinson
Jackson Brodie is a retired British police detective now turned private investigator. In this, the sixth novel in the Jackson Brodie series, author Kate Atkinson, uses an “Agatha Christie” set, where a painting has gone missing after the death of Lady Milton.
Lady Milton’s children, presumedly the heirs, hire Brodie to locate the painting.
They inform him that the only other person in the household besides the servants was their mother’s caretaker, Melanie Hope. Of course, Melanie has disappeared and her phone no longer responds, which makes her a convenient suspect.
When asked about the painting, the heirs think it could have been from the Renaissance era but it was never appraised or insured, and they don’t think anyone ever photographed it. Brodie concludes: who would keep a Renaissance painting and not have it insured? The only logical answer is that the painting, itself, is a stolen piece of art.
Brodie researches stolen art, and discovers that there is a world-wide cache of stolen art pieces that have never been located. Perhaps this is one of those. He contacts a former police colleague to research if there have been other thefts reported with a similar background.
The Agatha Christie moment comes when a dinner mystery theatre is set to occur in the mansion. Actors are gathered along with the servants and guests willing to pay a price to dine at the manor, spend the night and solve the mystery. And to top off the setting, Atkinson adds a snow storm, a vicar who has lost his faith, an Army veteran with a prothetic leg, an escaped murderer and a real corpse in the freezer.
Atkinson is clever weaving together all the threads of the plot. She blends the stolen art with the murder mystery party all while dealing with typical Yorkshire villagers.
Even though this is the sixth in the series, it is easily a stand-alone title. But be forewarned — you will want to read them all!
— Review by Lizz Taylor, Poor Richard’s Books
“The Unwedding” by Ally Condie
A recently divorced woman, a planned vacation at a spectacular resort (complete with an eclectic art collection), a natural disaster, and two murders — what more could any lover of a locked-room mystery ask for? New York Times best-selling author Ally Condie delivers in this Reese’s Book Club pick.
Ellery Wainwright was supposed to be celebrating her 20th wedding anniversary at a renowned resort in Big Sur, but after her husband told her he wanted out of the marriage, she decides to take the trip on her own, hoping to find some sort of direction for her life after the divorce.
To Ellery’s dismay, a wedding is taking place at the resort. After Ellery discovers the body of the groom, floating in the pool on the morning after leaving his bride at the altar, a “storm of the century” moves in, washing out the only road that leads to the resort before the police can get there, trapping the guests. The resort’s art collection plays a major role in this intriguing mystery, providing clues to Ellery and her new friends as they attempt to uncover the murderer in their midst.
Condie is best known for her young adult and middle grade works. This is her first adult novel.
— Review by Jean Ruark, Paul Sawyier Public Library
“Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey
Alright, alright, alright! Let’s talk about Matthew McConaughey’s memoir, “Greenlights.”
It takes the reader on a journey that is packed with wisdom and down-to-earth advice for navigating life. His humble accounts of the learning moments in his life will capture the reader and lead them on a path full of emotions. The tough love that he received from his parents helped him stay grounded and encouraged him never to stop chasing his dreams in acting. The book contains many enjoyable little additions like poetry, bumper sticker slogans and notes to self.
“Less Impressed. More Involved.”
“I believe the truth is only offensive when we’re lying.”
The audiobook version of this memoir is a must, as it gives the story so much more heart. McConaughey’s impressive storytelling has the ability to make the listener laugh out loud and in the next moment cause them to shed tears. The situations he finds himself in throughout his life are at times comical and at other times heartbreaking. But no matter the outcome, he always finds the silver-lining. By “getting relative with the inevitable,” one can enjoy more “Greenlights” and realize that the yellows and reds eventually turn green.
Review by Jenny Carano, Paul Sawyier Public Library
