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Under a Pole Star

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Under a Pole Star

By: Stef Penney
Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron, Thomas Judd
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About this listen

The Richard & Judy Book Club Pick. Shortlisted for the 2017 Costa Novel Award.

Follow the path to the freezing north. Follow your ambition. Follow your heart

Flora Mackie first crossed the Arctic Circle at the age of 12. Years later, in 1892, determination and chance lead her back to northern Greenland as a scientist at the head of a British expedition, defying the expectations of those who believe a woman has no place in that harsh world.

Geologist Jakob de Beyn was raised in Manhattan. Yearning for wider horizons, he joins a rival expedition. Jakob and Flora's paths cross. It is a fateful meeting, where passion and ambition collide and an irresistible attraction is born.

The violent extremes of the north obsess them both: perpetual night and endless day; frozen seas and coastal meadows, and the strange, maddening pull it exerts on the people trying to make their mark on its vast expanses - a pursuit of glory whose outcome will reverberate for years to come.

©2016 Stef Penney (P)2016 WF Howes Ltd Action & Adventure Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Victorian Polar Region Heartfelt New York

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Critic reviews

"A supreme storyteller." ( Sunday Times)
"One of the best novels I have read for a very long time." (Richard Madely)
"A dazzling tale of romance and survival." ( Guardian)
All stars
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Any additional comments?

Best book I have read in recent months - great evocation of the early arctic explorations, strong characters, gripping story. If the book has a weakness I think it is in the length and number of graphic descriptions of the main characters' sexual experiences. The author does write better than most about sex, but I thought there was a bit too much of it.

Wonderful

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I was completely absorbed by this story. It is so beautifully written and narrated and I feel as though I have walked alongside the characters and lived all of their experiences with them( including the beautiful , sensitive intimate scenes ☺️).
What an exceptional talent Stef Penney is and the narrators brought it to life.
Feeling bereft at the moment...

Absolutely loved this book. Best Audible yet

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An incredibly immersive, rich, absorbing read/listen. The writing is stunning and the performances more than measure up. I cannot do this justice in a review - I can only say that this is the best literary discovery I have made all year. I had to buy the physical copy as well so that I could sink in to the text, so wonderfully brought to life by these excellent narrators.

Outstanding

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A lot to enjoy here - I liked the main character Flora and loved the lyrical descriptions of the Arctic. However this book could have been reduced by a third and would be much the better for it. The same conversations take place several times which is very tiresome. Far too much and too detailed back story. Just too long. In the end I was glad to finish it.

Too long winded

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Would you consider the audio edition of Under a Pole Star to be better than the print version?

Yes. I enjoyed the different voices

What did you like best about this story?

The heroine , she was a fascinating character from start to finish

What does Cathleen McCarron and Thomas Judd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

They were excellent narrators , both of them

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

there were many moving scenes

Any additional comments?

I loved this story , Steph Penny is a wonderful author and this latest book is even better than her previous

Superb

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It is hard to believe that Stef Penney can keep producing books to the same high standard. Finishing the book felt like a bereavement from the characters and the landscape. A magical journey to the arctic lands with a wealth of description. The accents of the Inuits made the audiobook seem very authentic - as if we were in their igloos with them. Excellent performances from the narrators.

Another wonderful book from Stef Penney

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Very much enjoyed this book, a glimpse into an entirely different time and place brought vividly alive.

Loved it.

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I really loved this. How very beautiful it is. On all levels. I've enjoyed every minute.

Gorgeousness

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This is a love story and Arctic exploration with lead characters whose personalities are sufficiently developed and I appreciated how the chapter headings, at one point annoying, enabled the story.
There are themes of western colonialism, chauvinism, sexual equality and more than a number of unexpected sensuous scenes. These were sensitive and genuine but could drag a little . I enjoyed the socio-historical aspects of the period, the detailed polar descriptions and the cultural references.
I’m not sure the two narrators achieve accuracy of the ethnic minorities, but they they do succeed in individualising the characters, particularly the Inuit and I thought Flora was really well presented.
Not stunning but easily recommended

Entertaining

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while it was a pretty enjoyable book, there simply was too much sex and this not me being prudish.

too much sex

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