A review by isabyrne
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is the second book to the Wayfarers world. After having read The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, you can read the other Wayfarers books in any order, but I would read this one next. It is a standalone that takes place during the final moments of the first book, and features characters who make a small appearance in the first book.
This book is quite different from The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. At first I felt disappointed that it didn't keep following the characters from The Long Way, but I got over that very quickly — it's really special in it's own way. It still has that Becky Chambers touch that is about taking care of yourself and others.
This book is much more intimate in scope. You closely follow two characters over two timelines. This book is all about those characters' development over a long period of time. It is about the struggles of discovering oneself and finding your place in the world. It is also about finding your people in difficult circumstances. Some parts of it were sad and heartbreaking to read, but left me with an optimistic feeling. You get to know the characters really deeply and feel very protective of them and their happiness.
I really loved the parts of this book that were "on the ground" as one other reviewer put it, where you get a taste of everyday life in Becky Chambers' universe through the eyes of a character experiencing it for the first time: mingling with other species, ordering food, going to parties, reading text chats. It feels very grounded and was one of my favourite features of the book. It made a world I was already in love with feel so real and relatable.
This book is much more intimate in scope. You closely follow two characters over two timelines. This book is all about those characters' development over a long period of time. It is about the struggles of discovering oneself and finding your place in the world. It is also about finding your people in difficult circumstances. Some parts of it were sad and heartbreaking to read, but left me with an optimistic feeling. You get to know the characters really deeply and feel very protective of them and their happiness.
I really loved the parts of this book that were "on the ground" as one other reviewer put it, where you get a taste of everyday life in Becky Chambers' universe through the eyes of a character experiencing it for the first time: mingling with other species, ordering food, going to parties, reading text chats. It feels very grounded and was one of my favourite features of the book. It made a world I was already in love with feel so real and relatable.
Overall, it is a great book. It didn’t have the same impact that The Long Way did for me, because I really enjoyed the multiple-character, plot-driven nature of the first book, but it was nonetheless touching, affective, and hopeful in this author’s unique way. Becky Chambers just has this way of writing that is deeply sentimental and impactful. Her books just have so much damn HEART. At this point I will read anything in this universe that Becky Chambers puts out and can't wait to continue on with the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Slavery