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Ginger's Reviews > The Terror
The Terror
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by
Whew! I finished it. Wowza!
This is such a long book!!!!!!!
Don’t go into this one unless you enjoy big books, having the patience to let the story evolve and knowing that the pace can be slow at times.
I stuck in there from the beginning and the ending was well worth it! I was struggling in the beginning because the first 10 or so chapters in this book alternate between the present and the past when the Franklin expedition was started.
It also has different POV chapters with characters so know that going in as well. You'll figure out who everyone is if you just take the time to let the story develop.
While reading The Terror during winter, I always felt cold. This story sucks all the warmth from you from the below freezing temperatures in the book, the bleak surroundings, and the isolation that the Franklin expedition endured. The Arctic was its own character in this book with the constant darkness and freezing conditions.
Good grief, I now need to go on a vacation to a warm tropical island after reading this book!
This was a re-telling of the Franklin expedition from the details of the officers, seamen and the steps they took that got them stuck in the ice during the period of 1845-1848 near King William Island. The Royal Navy wanted to find a Northwest Passage from Britain to China and going through the Arctic was the steps they wanted to take to accomplish this.
In the Royal Navy’s mind, whether this expedition made it was another story.
Just keeping trying until they can get that Chinese tea and opium! It's gold I tell ya!
Dan Simmons not only used the real names of the crew from HMS Erebus and HMS Terror but he used historical details of the nautical life during that time and geographical locations to really give this book staying power. I kept thinking, is this non-fiction but then the white, monster-like Yeti would come into the next chapter and I would say, “Nope!”.
The best part of this book was finding out that men can be more of a monster then the "demonthing" monster. Simmons writes this well and I experienced such hatred and despair while reading the last 25% of this book!
Jesus, I wanted to turn into the white, monster-like Yeti myself and kill some people!
I’m still not sure how to categorize this book. I’m guessing its a main dish of historical fiction, a side dish of some horror with a dessert of magical realism.
I really enjoyed the ending. It ended on a high note and I was satisfied with slogging through the Arctic and the slow beginning to get there!
This is such a long book!!!!!!!
Don’t go into this one unless you enjoy big books, having the patience to let the story evolve and knowing that the pace can be slow at times.
I stuck in there from the beginning and the ending was well worth it! I was struggling in the beginning because the first 10 or so chapters in this book alternate between the present and the past when the Franklin expedition was started.
It also has different POV chapters with characters so know that going in as well. You'll figure out who everyone is if you just take the time to let the story develop.
While reading The Terror during winter, I always felt cold. This story sucks all the warmth from you from the below freezing temperatures in the book, the bleak surroundings, and the isolation that the Franklin expedition endured. The Arctic was its own character in this book with the constant darkness and freezing conditions.
Good grief, I now need to go on a vacation to a warm tropical island after reading this book!
This was a re-telling of the Franklin expedition from the details of the officers, seamen and the steps they took that got them stuck in the ice during the period of 1845-1848 near King William Island. The Royal Navy wanted to find a Northwest Passage from Britain to China and going through the Arctic was the steps they wanted to take to accomplish this.
In the Royal Navy’s mind, whether this expedition made it was another story.
Just keeping trying until they can get that Chinese tea and opium! It's gold I tell ya!
Dan Simmons not only used the real names of the crew from HMS Erebus and HMS Terror but he used historical details of the nautical life during that time and geographical locations to really give this book staying power. I kept thinking, is this non-fiction but then the white, monster-like Yeti would come into the next chapter and I would say, “Nope!”.
The best part of this book was finding out that men can be more of a monster then the "demonthing" monster. Simmons writes this well and I experienced such hatred and despair while reading the last 25% of this book!
Jesus, I wanted to turn into the white, monster-like Yeti myself and kill some people!
I’m still not sure how to categorize this book. I’m guessing its a main dish of historical fiction, a side dish of some horror with a dessert of magical realism.
I really enjoyed the ending. It ended on a high note and I was satisfied with slogging through the Arctic and the slow beginning to get there!
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Reading Progress
December 10, 2017
– Shelved
December 10, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 1, 2018
–
Started Reading
February 3, 2018
–
8.0%
"I love the historical details of the North-West Passage along with the ships in this book. Hoping for some action to start soon though!"
February 6, 2018
–
11.0%
"I'm coming to the theory that Sir John Franklin is a pompous idiot.
He should have took Captain Crozier's suggestion."
He should have took Captain Crozier's suggestion."
February 10, 2018
–
20.0%
"So far, I like Crozier’s chapters the best. Goodsir’s chapters are okay, but hoping for more from this character.
I can’t stand Franklin. Glad he won’t be in the book much longer. 😜🤣"
I can’t stand Franklin. Glad he won’t be in the book much longer. 😜🤣"
February 13, 2018
–
30.0%
"I'm checking all the expiration dates and edges of my canned goods now. o.O hahaha"
February 21, 2018
–
54.0%
"Good God! I should have waited until after lunch to read that last chapter. o.O ha!! (Psst, yeah, I still shoveled it in. I'm sick like that.)"
February 26, 2018
– Shelved as:
2018
March 1, 2018
–
67.0%
"Finally under the 300 page mark! So it will be just like reading a normal book now. ha!"
March 2, 2018
–
73.0%
"Good grief! If these guys didn't have bad luck, they wouldn't have any luck at all."
March 4, 2018
–
83.0%
"Grrrrrrrr!!!!! So pissed, AGAIN.
The last chapters in this book have been great and maddening!"
The last chapters in this book have been great and maddening!"
March 4, 2018
–
Finished Reading
August 1, 2018
– Shelved as:
buddy-read
January 3, 2022
– Shelved as:
horror
December 2, 2022
– Shelved as:
own
Comments Showing 1-50 of 95 (95 new)
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Ryan
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Feb 04, 2018 05:23AM
This looks fantastic! I hope it picks up because I am ready to read it if you like it!
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Ryan wrote: "This looks fantastic! I hope it picks up because I am ready to read it if you like it!"The plot is a bit slow right now but I'm usually okay with that since it's setting the scene, so to speak. The first part of the book has different POVs so once I get everyone down, I think it will pick up!
Congratulation on finishing this one, Ginger!And wow, so fast. The last third of the book must be really good. Can't wait to get there myself :)
Feli wrote: "Congratulation on finishing this one, Ginger!And wow, so fast. The last third of the book must be really good. Can't wait to get there myself :)"
Thanks Feli! The last 20% of this book is hard to put down. It finishes strong. I hope you enjoy the end!
I need to think on my review tonight and do it tomorrow.
Glad you enjoyed it, Ginger. I look forward to your review :)
Deanna wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it, Ginger. I look forward to your review :)"Thanks Deanna! I hope to get it done tomorrow.
Guests came over so I have to be social. 😜🤣
Ginger wrote: "Deanna wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it, Ginger. I look forward to your review :)"Thanks Deanna! I hope to get it done tomorrow.
Guests came over so I have to be social. 😜🤣"
Ugh...I hate being social ;-) lol
Oh my, sounds great! Curious to see your full review! 😉
i read about this expedition in Oslo at Fram museum and it makes me laugh to see that Simmons wrote a horror about that fiasco.
When I read it, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I expected. Can't wait to see how the AMC show goes.
Orient wrote: "Oh my, sounds great! Curious to see your full review! 😉"Graeme wrote: "Cool. Looking forward to your review."
Hope to get it done today. I'll have to do it between work hours. ;) hahaha
Adina wrote: "i read about this expedition in Oslo at Fram museum and it makes me laugh to see that Simmons wrote a horror about that fiasco."I thought that he did a good job with the failed expedition and turning it into a historical fiction/horror/thriller/etc. book.
Honestly, I don't even know how to categorize this! haha
Brendan wrote: "When I read it, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I expected. Can't wait to see how the AMC show goes."Yeah, me too Brendan! I'm excited to see how the AMC series will go down. Hopefully you'll enjoy that more then the book. I can see how the book wouldn't work for everyone. It's so detailed and loooooooooong! haha
Long is right. At some points, I felt like I was as much stranded as the crew ;-)
Brendan wrote: "Long is right. At some points, I felt like I was as much stranded as the crew ;-)"Hahaha!! Definitely! :D
Congratualtions You finished!!!!! This is a HUGE book. I have picked it up several times at my library only to return it without reading because I have so many other books to read and as this is so BIG, I keep putting it off.
Debra wrote: "Congratualtions You finished!!!!! This is a HUGE book. I have picked it up several times at my library only to return it without reading because I have so many other books to read and as this is so..."Oh, I understand this Debra! If it wasn't for a buddy/group read, it would have taken much longer for me to get to this one.
It's a HUGE book, you're right!
Ben wrote: "I'm so glad you finished this because I was waiting for your review. I'm glad that it picked up enough to actually earn a "Wowza!" :)"Ha!! Wowza was more for the fact that I finished it. It was still a good book but I can understand why you gave up on it.
Lots of details and it's a long, cold Arctic slog to read. ;) hahaha
I hope to get it done today or tomorrow. Work is now officially in charge again.
Ginger wrote: "Adina wrote: "i read about this expedition in Oslo at Fram museum and it makes me laugh to see that Simmons wrote a horror about that fiasco."I thought that he did a good job with the failed expe..." Which is good. it means it is complex and has a bit of everything.
Great review, Ginger! A bit of magical realism? I had no idea. I really need to pick this up soon, but I also got 11/22/63 eyeing from the shelves! Do I dare to mimic what you did? :p
Sr3yas wrote: "Great review, Ginger! A bit of magical realism? I had no idea. I really need to pick this up soon, but I also got 11/22/63 eyeing from the shelves! Do I dare to mimic what you did? :p"Only if one is an audio book. ;) ha!
Thanks Sreyas! I hope you enjoy this one if you decide to take on that long, Arctic journey. Just bundle up my friend! :D
Wonderful review, Ginger! I can't believe I haven't heard of this book before. Not sure it's my cup of tea, but you do make it sound very interesting. =)
For a moment there, I thought this was a book written by Gene Simmons. Well, that would be something.A book made for loving. In Detroit.
Ha ha ha.
Igor
Jody wrote: "Wonderful review, Ginger! I can't believe I haven't heard of this book before. Not sure it's my cup of tea, but you do make it sound very interesting. =)"Thanks Jody!! I'm glad I did that at least. :D
Orient wrote: "Great review, Ginger 💜😉"Thanks Orient!
Igor wrote: "For a moment there, I thought this was a book written by Gene Simmons. Well, that would be something.A book made for loving. In Detroit."
That's true! This book would be in a whole other genre. ;) hahaha
A whole BETTER genre. Because it's got KISS.Igor
Igor wrote: "A whole BETTER genre. Because it's got KISS.Igor"
Hahaha!! :D
Graeme wrote: "Fabulous review Ginger."Thanks Graeme!
Great review, Ginger. 😊 Don't forget to bring a book or two on a tropical island. 😊
Samir wrote: "Great review, Ginger. 😊 Don't forget to bring a book or two on a tropical island. 😊"That's the truth and something not set in the Arctic! :)
Thanks Samir!
Sounds fascinating! So do the yetis feature often in it?
John wrote: "Have you read his "Abominable"? Holy crap, it's long too, but it's even better."No!! But if I can get through this one, I'll do that one as well John. haha It sounds great!
James wrote: "Sounds fascinating! So do the yetis feature often in it?"Thanks James! It's not actually a yeti. ha! I got a bit fantastical while describing the monster in this review. It's scary as hell though!
Loved this one when I read it. It's kind of a slow-burner but in a good way.
Twerking wrote: "Loved this one when I read it. It's kind of a slow-burner but in a good way."I agree! It is a slow burner but gets so great at the end.
Great review! I'm generally intimidated by long books, but I've found that reading them on my Kindle makes it easier.
Michelle wrote: "Great review! I'm generally intimidated by long books, but I've found that reading them on my Kindle makes it easier."Yes! I agree Michelle. I read this on my Kindle and it didn't seem so intimidating. :D
And thank you!
Ben wrote: "Excellent review Ginger. I've liked your reviews so far, and this one makes me want to take it out of the DNF file and give it a second shot!"Thanks!! Really?!! That's great Ben. I swear that it does get better. I was struggling with it in the beginning as well. If you do decide to try it again one day, I hope it works better for you!
Wow, terrific review, Ginger! I agree, this book definitely sucked all the warmth out of me also while I was reading, lol.
Terry wrote: "Wow, terrific review, Ginger! I agree, this book definitely sucked all the warmth out of me also while I was reading, lol."Thanks Terry!!
Great review of a great book.
Lavell wrote: "Great review of a great book."Thanks Lavell!!
Yo! This is on my 2018 priority TBR! Great review Ginger I can't wait to read this one!
Mary ~Ravager of Tomes~ wrote: "Yo! This is on my 2018 priority TBR! Great review Ginger I can't wait to read this one!"Yes! I hope you like it Mary! Just stick in there in the beginning. It's a bit slow with building up the story and characters.
And thank you! xoxoxo
I just found out that there is a TV show based on the book! It started March 26. :D
Trish wrote: "I just found out that there is a TV show based on the book! It started March 26. :D"Yes! I've already watched the first 2 episodes Trish. It's good but it's different then the book. They changed a few things.
I'm keeping an open mind and just trying to enjoy it! :D
