Michelle Paver plunges man and wolf into an Arctic Circle horror in Dark Matter
Halloween may have come and gone, but there was a haunting theme to November's meeting as members tackled Michelle Paver's Arctic chiller Dark Matter.
There was much appreciation for Paver's atmospheric writing and her ability to situate the reader in a cold, harsh world.
There was general agreement though that even if the book was effectively written, it didn't feel particularly spine-chilling. That didn't put members off, and for some it was a relief, but there was some discussion about why it didn't seem too terrifying.
Some felt a writing style which felt novelistic rather than an authentic first person narration did not allow the reader to suspend disbelief.
There was agreement though that this was a convincing account of the mental disintegration of the central character, with the book also effectively exploring the class divisions within the group of explorers.
Members enjoyed the growing relationship between protagonist Jack and one of the wolves. The sense of dread was also built effectively as the haunting of the party gathered pace.
There were some convenient coincidences that allowed Jack's isolation to build, but that went with the territory of as ghost story.
There was some discussion about the need and impact of a significant death toward the novel's conclusion, with opinion varying on whether it was too predictable.
There was much appreciation for Paver's atmospheric writing and her ability to situate the reader in a cold, harsh world.
There was general agreement though that even if the book was effectively written, it didn't feel particularly spine-chilling. That didn't put members off, and for some it was a relief, but there was some discussion about why it didn't seem too terrifying.
Some felt a writing style which felt novelistic rather than an authentic first person narration did not allow the reader to suspend disbelief.
There was agreement though that this was a convincing account of the mental disintegration of the central character, with the book also effectively exploring the class divisions within the group of explorers.
Members enjoyed the growing relationship between protagonist Jack and one of the wolves. The sense of dread was also built effectively as the haunting of the party gathered pace.
There were some convenient coincidences that allowed Jack's isolation to build, but that went with the territory of as ghost story.
There was some discussion about the need and impact of a significant death toward the novel's conclusion, with opinion varying on whether it was too predictable.
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