Orbital by Samantha Harvey: book review

Orbital by Samantha Harvey Overview: Six astronaut are living in the International Space Station. The book follows a single day of orbiting the Earth and gives glimpses into the pasts and presents of all of the astronauts from the US, England, Japan, and Russia. As they watch the world go by, they consider the world in a macro fashion. Orbital is the winner of the 2024 Booker Prize. Overall: 3.25 Characters: 3 We don't get to know any of these astronauts very well. Even though we briefly get into the minds of all of the astronauts, they aren't given much depth. Many are forgettable or have interchangeable backgrounds. The only ones that stuck with me were Nell and her fascination with the Challenger explosion and Chei, whose mom dies during the orbit. These are just about the only characteristics they're given. While I understand the limitations of showcasing characters trapped in a confined space for a short period of time, the novel is so short that there was much more...