The Long Way... To a Common Orbit flash group discussion

Finished? No need for spoiler tags here!

I want to thank Carol for encouraging me to read A Closed and Common Orbit! I really, really enjoyed this read and I don't know when I would have gotten around to it without her.

I hope I didn't go overboard with the different chapter headings. I really, really enjoyed this book!

~gulp~


I just ate this book up. Almost--but not quite--literally. I bought it, had some time free, started reading and didn't come up for air until I was done. I thought about stopping to post or check in... but I didn't. Because I really wanted to know what happened next.

Glad that you joined in, MrsJ! I knew when I saw your enthusiasm that I had something great to look forward to.

I know that feeling! Work was torture.

I've been thinking about what the different section names meant: Drift, Pull & Circle

I've been thinking that initially, all three (Jane/Pepper, Owl and Sidra) were drifting alone, in a way. Well, Pepper and Owl were together for a long time but they were wrenched apart. And though Sidra had Pepper and Blue, she felt completely alone most of the time.

Then in the Pull section, different actions, people and information started to pull the three together. If Owl hadn't rescued Jane... If Jane hadn't rescued Blue... If Pepper hadn't rescued Sidra

And then in Circle, the Drift and the Pull finally meet: all of the things that Owl, Pepper, and Sidra did: which included saving Blue and befriending Tak - made it possible for their little family to exist.

Ugh! So lovely. I'm getting misty eyed.

I noticed that as well, MrsJ. Not exactly subtle, is she? ;)

Carol. wrote: "I noticed that as well, MrsJ. Not exactly subtle, is she? ;)"

Not at all...but I'm totally giving her a pass for the feels. She gave me all the feels and I just love it to pieces, lol.

She managed heartwarming without sappy both times. Quite the feat.

I read this a few months ago and because I was reading it on my phone it was really too fast to enjoy. Library book--otherwise I would've reread it. It was so fun to read it with so many "demmed fine" readers!!

And yes "heart-warming without being sappy". Second the motion.

Carol. wrote: "She managed heartwarming without sappy both times. Quite the feat."

Absolutely - I think these may be the cosiest, most comforting books I have read in years, but it doesn't shy away from covering tough subjects... it is so far from being sickly sweet, which is nice for cynical readers (guilty); there's still plenty to get your teeth into but it's just oh so lovely!

Arielle! So glad you could join in.

I agree these are comforting, particularly for sci-fi, which seems to want to muddle around in the tech possibilities, conflict on a galactic scale or man's in/humanity, I appreciate Chambers playing with these topics in a more feel-good way. I suppose, kind of like Next Generation Star Trek.

Carol. wrote: "Arielle! So glad you could join in.

I agree these are comforting, particularly for sci-fi, which seems to want to muddle around in the tech possibilities, conflict on a galactic scale or man's in..."

I don't know about Star Trek, but I found, I have sort of "after thoughts" of this book for a long while. I mean, the question here is (or so I feel), what EXACTLY defines being sentinent (or, to a much closer degree: human)? Is there a line? If so, where would it be?

It's certainly more Roddenberry than not. Which I love. I was a bigger fan of Star Trek while Roddenberry was at the helm.

To explain further, I think Star Trek was on my mind bc my mom has been watching the originals occasionally. It's certainly popularized space fiction, which is the other thing I was thinking about. And contrary to the first ones, where Kirk is a sexist pig shmexying his way through the galaxy, this reminded me of issues in Next Gen like can Data feel and what does humanity mean? with general ability to ignore the controversial and complexity of the issue.

I think it is pretty much given for the narration of the story that Sidra is a sentinent being who should have a life of her choosing, although the political structure is against that. But Chambers never really goes into the issues behind it, only the prejudice Sidra experiences and others' fear for her welfare. So, it is kind of 'feel good' in that we get a happy personal ending--much like NextGen.

Saphana, I wonder if these are also on your mind because Chambers, for the most part, doesn't delve into them in any depth? She approaches them sideways once in awhile (Sidra's interaction with the ticket computer, the ship computers) but generally avoids it.

Carol. wrote: "And contrary to the first ones, where Kirk is a sexist pig shmexying his way through the galaxy, this reminded me of issues in Next Gen like can Data feel and what does humanity mean? with general ability to ignore the controversial and complexity of the issue. "

You know, I don't really feel that Chambers is necessarily avoiding the larger picture of the universe and it's political structure. I feel its more that she's focusing on the micro and not the macro. Becky's characters are all "common man" people. They are not the politicians nor are they special snowflakes out to save the galaxy. They are just the regular people trying to find happiness, family and survival.

I think that so many of our books now focus on that "game changer" character/group that we almost expect to see the actions of the characters to reflect across the universal landscape.

Oh sure, but I'm speculating that this micro level is what allows us the 'feel good' part of Chamber's stories. I'm not knocking that, just speculating on why it seems rare to find a sweet/feel-good story these days. I think about Paolo B. how he takes things to other levels (The Windup Girl) that of necessity, become sticky and yucky.

Carol. wrote: "Oh sure, but I'm speculating that this micro level is what allows us the 'feel good' part of Chamber's stories. I'm not knocking that, just speculating on why it seems rare to find a sweet/feel-goo..."

Can't read Paolo. Yall warned me off quickly. O_O

I do understand what you mean. I think you're right in that focusing on the small guy allows us to relate, get attached and cheer for someone that "we could know."

I also think that it's a deliberate choice of Chambers - that she is intentionally creating a very realistic universe in all its hypocritical and complicated glory - and then NOT focusing on that. She could focus on the terrible - like the unending civil war from the cook in book 1 or whatever war that's currently happening. I'm just glad she didn't.

MrsJoseph wrote: "she is intentionally creating a very realistic universe in all its hypocritical and complicated glory - and then NOT focusing on that"

I think this is the aspect I loved most - it made reading so much more relatable. Kind of like Next Gen, where you know there is an entire galaxy/universe with its own complexities, but each episode focuses on a small, character-driven part of that. I'm curious to see whether Chambers expands her focus in the next book, but will be perfectly content to keep reading on the "micro level"!

Oh yes--Kirk "schmexying" his way around the universe!!! How funny!!!

One of the big differences between the American idea of heroics and Eastern heroes is that the lone Superman does it all, all by himself, and nobody else can help. From Kirk to to Dirty Harry--these men typify you average Joe's day dreams about conquering all obstacles. Women think so much more about creating solutions in teams, and without power struggles or palace intrigue, if they can help it.

Becky's characters have individual problems that are best solved in partnership, and she's interested in the negotiations more than potential personal conflicts. Sidra/Lovey is unique in that she has to first come to grips with the fact that she is s separate person, before she can enter a partnership. This kind of story crafting feels new and fresh to me--but that's just because I don't read a lot of books written about people trying to create partnership. Maybe it's not all that fresh.

Harryo wrote: "This kind of story crafting feels new and fresh to me--but that's just because I don't read a lot of books written about people trying to create partnership. Maybe it's not all that fresh. "

I think it's not used often enough to be a trope, except 'the team of misfits pulls together.'

Interesting insight about American heroics and Eastern ones!

Carol. wrote: "I think it's not used often enough to be a trope, except 'the team of misfits pulls together.'

Interesting insight about American heroics and Eastern ones! "


This IS interesting. Would you have any Eastern Fantasy books to recommend?

Don't do it, Harryo! People the next state over are tripping over MrsJ's to-read list!

LOLOL!

I could possibly resemble that...

:D

What a cuddly book!! :) The epilogue reminded me of the historical romance novels that skip a year or two to show our happy couple surrounded by bairns. Nothin' wrong with that.

Arielle said: "it is so far from being sickly sweet, which is nice for cynical readers (guilty)"

Also guilty! Angry Planet didn't manage to get under my skin--which made me think the cynic in me had won out after all, especially considering others' responses to it--but this one sure did. Haven't gotten this weepy over a book in ages.

MrsJ said: "I also think that it's a deliberate choice of Chambers - that she is intentionally creating a very realistic universe in all its hypocritical and complicated glory - and then NOT focusing on that."

Agreed! The Enhanced's planet stuck out in this regard. You know the basic situation, a dystopia created to support a utopia (topical!), but the attention is entirely on how Jane deals with her life there.

Speaking of Jane, the thought cropped up--not sure from where, either one of these threads or a review--that Jane earned her happy end. I had this thought too, but then right afterward thought... well, okay, but she deserved to be happy regardless of whether she "earned" it.

She's a determined person, for sure, and that determination made her able to escape her circumstances. But, as is said explicitly in the novel at least once, the other Janes, and all the other girls, deserve happiness too, and I'd add that that is true regardless of how strong, or weak, their determination is.

Good thoughts, that this story leans more on cooperation than heroics, and has a more feminine and/or Eastern vibe to it.

You don't have to look very far to find cooperation-based narratives in manga and anime, although most of what's translated that has that kind of framework skews young and action-y. Fruits Basket immediately comes to mind as a story about characters with terrible pasts, about found family and hope. (And also isn't an action story, more of an urban fantasy, sort of?)

Beth wrote: "Speaking of Jane, the thought cropped up--not sure from where, either one of these threads or a review--that Jane earned her happy end. I had this thought too, but then right afterward thought... well, okay, but she deserved to be happy regardless of whether she "earned" it.

She's a determined person, for sure, and that determination made her able to escape her circumstances. But, as is said explicitly in the novel at least once, the other Janes, and all the other girls, deserve happiness too, and I'd add that that is true regardless of how strong, or weak, their determination is."


Oh my. I love this sentiment. And I agree, the other Janes (and Marys, etc) all deserved happiness. I also wonder if (farther away) there are boys like the Janes to do heavier work.

Beth wrote: "Speaking of Jane, the thought cropped up--not sure from where, either one of these threads or a review--that Jane earned her happy end. I had this thought too, but then right afterward thought... well, okay, but she deserved to be happy regardless of whether she "earned" it.
."

love this!

THIS WAS SO GOOD. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START, BUT I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE READ IT WITH A GROUP. Sorry for joining in so late, everyone--there was taxes and moving and very little time for reading.

Agree with everyone about this being a feel-good story, but it's not sickly sweet or overly precious. It had just the perfect amount of heart and depth, and it left me feeling wholly satisfied. I really like the two-storyline narrative and how they converged, although it took awhile for me to get into Sidra's story, and I didn't get hooked until the quest for Owl was on.

Mimi wrote: "THIS WAS SO GOOD. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START, BUT I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE READ IT WITH A GROUP. Sorry for joining in so late, everyone--there was taxes and moving and very little time for reading..."

:-D

Every time someone says they like this, I get a cheesy grin.

I just finished reading like 5 seconds ago, so I'm still coming down from it high and will probably sing Becky Chamber's praises for days or however long the high lasts. :D

Mimi wrote: "I just finished reading like 5 seconds ago, so I'm still coming down from it high and will probably sing Becky Chamber's praises for days or however long the high lasts. :D"

I carried it around with me for about a week.

Everywhere.

LOL

I'm greedy and now that I'm a whole few days away from reading the second book, I want more news about the third... aside from the all-but-blank GR page that tells us it's a thing that will exist.

Mimi wrote: "I just finished reading like 5 seconds ago, so I'm still coming down from it high and will probably sing Becky Chamber's praises for days or however long the high lasts. :D"

That's so cool! I do enjoy her writing. I think there's enough to it as well that it holds up to re-reading. You do see the flaws, but they don't bug me that much because I appreciate what she accomplishes emotionally.

There are flaws, like the writing not being isn't as polished as it could've been in some places, but the ending more than made up for them. This may be the high talking, but that ending--THAT ENDING--was so good I'm willing to forget all the things that bothered me, both in this book and the previous one.

Mimi wrote: "There are flaws, like the writing not being isn't as polished as it could've been in some places, but the ending more than made up for them. This may be the high talking, but that ending--THAT ENDI..."

YES!

I admit I was a little misty eyed.

The part where Owl visits Jane in the sim got the waterworks going the hardest for me. I loved the ending, too.

Oh yeah, same here. That part got me right in the feels. Any moment with Jane and Owl after that was gutwrenching, except for the ending.

Speaking of the ending (again), it's been one year since Owl's rescue, and I thought there'd be some mentions of the Wayfarer crew, however briefly, but no mentions at all. So who or what was Sidra throwing that party for?

Mimi wrote: "Speaking of the ending (again), it's been one year since Owl's rescue, and I thought there'd be some mentions of the Wayfarer crew, however briefly, but no mentions at all. So who or what was Sidra..."

It was the grand opening of her bar.

Ah I see. Totally missed that part in my rush to get to the end.

Finally finished! I liked this one more than the first and felt I was able to appreciate her imagination with fewer things distracting me. Maybe that was because her focus was on fewer characters.
I liked the two storylines, but had mixed feelings about how rapidly it switched back and forth. On one hand, it was easy to find a stopping point if I needed one, but on the other, I would have liked to sink into one character's story a little longer before switching gears.
I'm glad they rescued OWL, and happy that meant an AI friend for Sidra. I really like what the author did with her journey and her ultimate solutions to living in a body.
I wonder if the next book will have a connection with characters we already know, or if she'll be in a completely different part of the universe.

yaaaaay!

I also want to catch up with the other crew.