Welcome to the Book Review Book Club! Every month, we select a book to discuss with our readers. Sometimes that’s a new book we’re excited about and would love to introduce you to; other times, it’s an older book that’s back in the cultural spotlight. What do all of our selections have in common? They’re great reads primed for robust, thoughtful conversations. Last month, we read “Our Evenings,” by Alan Hollinghurst. (You can also go back and listen to our episodes on “Small Things Like These,” “James” and “Intermezzo.”)

I have a confession: I’ve never been that excited about space. It’s not that I dislike it; I’ve just never been able to fully grasp it, with all its vastness and mystery. Intellectually, I recognize that it is fearsome and awe-inspiring, but emotionally, I’ve never felt it.

Until I read “Orbital,” by Samantha Harvey.

The novel, which won the Booker Prize last year, has a tight, poetic frame: We follow one day in the lives of six people working on a space station above Earth, orbiting the planet 16 times every 24 hours. But this is not a saga of adventure or exploration. It’s a quiet meditation on what it means to be human, prompted by a series of personal reckonings each character faces while floating 250 miles above their home.

Space unlocks something in these characters as they look back on the planet from orbit and reflect on life’s difficulties — and witnessing that made me cherish Earth a little bit more and unlocked in me a deeper appreciation of the cosmos too.

I hope it’ll unlock something in you, too. In February, the Book Review Book Club will read and discuss “Orbital,” by Samantha Harvey. We’ll be chatting about the book on the Book Review podcast that airs on Feb. 28, and we’d love for you to join the conversation. Share your thoughts about the novel in the comments section of this article by Feb. 17, and we may mention your observations in the episode.

Here’s some related reading to get you started:

• Our review of “Orbital”: “The book is ravishingly beautiful. … The novel’s refreshing view of Earth restores some of life’s original magic.” [Read the full review, by Joshua Ferris, here.]

• The Booker judges’ citation describing “Orbital”: “With her language of lyricism and acuity Harvey makes our world strange and new for us.” [Read the full citation here.]

• The Guardian’s interview with Samantha Harvey after she won the Booker Prize: “When I’m down here on Earth, I find it difficult to be consoled by the things that we’re doing to the Earth and to one another. But when I zoom out, I can feel something that more resembles peace. I can look at it almost without judgment, just look at its beauty,” Harvey said. [Read the full interview here.]

We can’t wait to discuss the book with you. In the meantime, happy reading!