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Under a Pole Star
- Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron, Thomas Judd
- Length: 20 hrs and 8 mins
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Under a Pole Star
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Summary
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew D
- 16-01-18
Wonderful
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.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Elaine Gillies
- 03-08-21
Absolutely loved this book. Best Audible yet
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...
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mary
- 02-10-19
Outstanding
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.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- fieldfare
- 15-10-17
Too long winded
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.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms
- 10-01-17
Superb
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
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Fiona
- 13-01-17
Another wonderful book from Stef Penney
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 15-12-17
Loved it.
Very much enjoyed this book, a glimpse into an entirely different time and place brought vividly alive.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms Kl Smith
- 05-06-18
Gorgeousness
I really loved this. How very beautiful it is. On all levels. I've enjoyed every minute.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Roly
- 31-03-21
Entertaining
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
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Gavrilo Princip
- 10-10-17
too much sex
while it was a pretty enjoyable book, there simply was too much sex and this not me being prudish.
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