Reviews and Comments

Human Relationships

Describes the way our relationships with others evolve through our lives. Beginning with her view of little children's relationships with adults, followed by those of adolescents with adults and each other. The having, and changing, best friends, and the uncertainty about whether we will find 'the right person'. The sliding into a relationship with the right person without realising this, and the way having children changes our views on relationships, and what is important. Almost returning to the start with the adults relationships with small children, and how this changes as the children grow into adolescents.

Silence

Natalia suggests that silence is a sin, and that we are all smothered by silence, incapable of exchanging an unconstrained word.

My Vocation

Describes how her writing style has changed and evolved over time, and how the process intertwines with her emotions

The Son of Man

The title is a reference to Matthew 8:20 where Jesus says 'The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head'. This is linked to the destruction by war of peoples homes, and how those have experienced this can never feel safe again

He and I

Written in 1962, about the relationship between Natalia and her second husband Gabriele Baldini.

La Maison Volpe

Describes, as she encountered it, the English attitude to food.

England: Eulogy and Lament

Written in London in 1961, some of the descriptions seem outdated, but others resonate. The food and drink has transformed since then, and some social attitudes may have changed.

Portrait of a Friend

Although neither the friend, nor the city which he loved are named, he was probably Cesare Pavese, and the city Turin. The descriptions convey the complex moods of both person and city.

Worn-Out Shoes

She recollects her time alone in Rome during the German occupation when she had no choice but to wear worn-out shoes. Old shoes provide a connection with a friend, as well as where shoes fit in her financial priorities.

Winter in the Abruzzi

Describes her internal exile by the Fascist government of the time, with her husband to Abruzzi. At first she finds the people and their way of life strange, but gets to know them better.

Despite recent increases in geographical mobility about 60% of British people still live within 20 miles of where they lived when they were fourteen.

It is interesting to compare Orbital with Chris Hadfield's An astronaut's guide to life on Earth

Towards the start of the narrative Solomon is living with his wife Anne in the village of Fort Edward, in Old Fort House, This had been been occupied by General John Burgoyne, who was possibly a friend of my ancestor William Webster

Reading this for our book group. I would not have discovered it otherwise, but glad I did