Name: Fraser Simons's review of Satellite Love by Genki Ferguson
Item: Satellite Love
Rating: 4
Author: Fraser Simons

Genki Ferguson

Set in 1999 Japan, Satellite Love is a heartbreaking and beautifully unconventional debut novel about a girl, a boy, and a satellite--and a bittersweet meditation on loneliness, alienation, and what it means to be human. On the eve of the new millennium, in a city in southern Japan that progress has forgotten, sixteen-year-old Anna Obata looks to the stars for solace. An outcast at school, and left to fend for herself and care for her increasingly senile grandfather at home, Anna copes with her loneliness by searching the night sky for answers. But everything changes the evening the Low Earth Orbit satellite (LEO for short) returns her gaze and sees her as no one else has before. After Leo is called down to Earth, he embarks on an extraordinary journey to understand his own humanity as well as the fragile mind of the young woman who called him into being. As Anna withdraws further into her own mysterious plans, he will be forced to question the limits of his devotion and the lengths he will go to protect her. Full of surprising imaginative leaps and yet grounded by a profound understanding of the human heart, Satellite Love is a brilliant and deeply moving meditation on loneliness, faith, and the yearning for meaning and connection. It is an unforgettable story about the indomitable power of the imagination and the mind's ability to heal itself, no matter the cost, no matter the odds.

Satellite Love

A Novel

margot colville

Beatrice Falby

Fraser Simons

Now, this book goes into a lot of mental health issues I know nothing about, so mileage may vary here. I can’t speak to the representation there, and it’s a huge component of the story. But I think the conceit around it is interesting and makes for compelling reading, and feels well handled? 

It is also bleak. Boy is it ever, sometimes. The mental health of the protagonist improves and degrades with her interactions with other people. A rich inner life is basically the only thing keeping her together as she suffers ostracizing and has much more responsibility placed on her by her family than most young adults her age. Talking about the central conceit of the book I would consider to be a spoiler. It’s also the most interesting aspect of the story; something I found very relatable at times. Suffice it to say the surrealistic aspects are not something I’ve come across quite like this. 

It’s brutal and honest, very human in its depiction of humanity. Nuanced enough that characters all felt fleshed out. Heartbreakingly sad at times, coupled with mental health components and self-harm, I’d caution readers to consider their own headspace going into the story. If in the right place to contemplate the questions, and how they’re raised, I think this could range from very meaningful to at least fairly unique. In the wrong headspace, I expect this could feel crushing.

The audiobook, by the way, has multiple narrators and were all absolutely excellent. Great production values. Standout.

a multi-perspective look at a young american-japanese girl’s descent through loneliness and her attempts to cope through her imagination. overall the storytelling is calming and has a sort of cadence to it, but in reading it feels a little…ambitious, maybe? the frequent perspective switches — anna, the satellite/leo, soki, and grandfather — help with pacing, but it can feel like a big jump without much time to gain footing before switching again. through more than the first half i felt confused and out of the loop, and not in a where-is-this-going? page-turner type way. 

however, it begs to be acknowledged as a debut novel satellite love is super impressive and i can’t wait to see more from genki. 

Anna

I was pleasantly surprised with the direction this book took. Many of the subjects were quite profound and thoughtful which I always enjoy. Really made me think about life and society in general. I enjoyed this novel and would recommend :)

Beatrice Falby &
Satellite Love by Genki Ferguson

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Beatrice Falby &Satellite Love by Genki Ferguson

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Beatrice Falby &
Satellite Love by Genki Ferguson