Orbital (Samantha Harvey) - No plot only Vibes

This is a book that has no story line, no character arc, no plot. It is just a vibe ...... but what a vibe!

Harvey tells us about the life of 4 astronauts and 2 cosmonauts in a space shuttle. They have spent varying amounts of time in space, combining this trip and some previous ones. They are all in this together now and trying to keep sense and sensibility together, keeping their bodies functioning, their minds sharp and their sense of time and space intact. In this closed space, so far away from the Earth they all know, we understand their daily routine, get a sense of the routine they set for themselves, because there are 16 days and nights they see every 24 hours. The sun rises and its sets multiple times a day as they orbit across the skies and see different parts of the globe all in the same 24 hours. 

Different memories get triggered for these 6 and we also learn some things about their lives back on Earth - their loves, fears, disappointments, affections, ambitions. All Earthly things that seem both irrelevant and at the same time extremely vital in their lives so far away. Politics does not matter here, nor do earthly rules like what you are allowed to share or not share with the Russians (the toilets have been earmarked Russian and American!) but who cares where you are taking a dump in a zero gravity setting! They recognise different parts of the earth and identify the land forms, though, as they tell us, it is only in the night phase of each part of their journey that you can tell that the Earth is inhabited because of the lights. In the day, it is just a green and blue planet.

I learnt of interesting trivia like the India Pakistan border is the only national border that can be made out from space since it is lighted up. No other country border (artificial as they are!) can be made out from space. Don't know whether to be proud or upset about this detail though. 

I read this book as it was highly recommended - it was a quick read at only 136 pages. The descriptions are vivid and beautiful. The perspective is fresh and different. The truth that we are but a speck in the universe and have so much to be grateful for, instead of squabbling over irrelevant things is much needed, and human kind would be much the wiser and safer if it realizes this in time to make amends and save this planet.