Welcome to Litsy!

I love polar exploration stories, and I had not heard of this one. This book recounts the Belgian mission to find the magnetic South Pole. Sancton‘s descriptions had me reaching for my blankets and hot coffee. The ship is stuck in the ice for a year, and men have to survive the dark and cold. This is a fascinating tale of the men who take on years-long journeys at great risk to health and life. Absolutely absorbing.

This was fantastic!!!! Honestly, I cannot recommend highly enough! ⭐️🌟🌟🌟🌟

This weeks reading goal- listen to more of 'When He Was Wicked' by Juila Quinn on my drive to work and (possibly) finish 'Madhouse at the End of the World' by Julian Sancton 👍❤️🧭⚓️⛵️❄️

Saturday morning at my daughter's riding lesson is my fave time of the week- I get to read in peace with a coffee ...and this week I've even got Revels #winning 😉

Currently reading non-fiction- 'Madhouse at the End of the Earth' ... bit different for me but enjoying it. Currently listening to 'When He was Wicked' by Julia Quinn (Francesca's story) on Audible .... good for the commute as not too taxing ❤️

What a fascinating group of people in extraordinary circumstances! Sancton is able to bring the beauty and isolation of the Antarctic to the reader through his vivid descriptions. I truly enjoyed this journey with these explorers!

School has been keeping me very busy, but I had a great time doing some shopping with the gift cards that I received over the holidays. #bookhaul

This book is filled with interesting characters; Roald Amundsen, the famed explorer; Frederick Cook, proactive and energetic and a little bit full of himself; and the captain Adrien de Gerlache, hubristic, unwise, and far too young to be in charge of the Belgica. The best adventure books keep you tense and attentive even when you know how they end, and I certainly was holding my breath as the crew attempted to break their ship out of the sea ice.

I guess I just want to travel, because earlier this week I was dying to go to Kenilworth and after finishing Madhouse at the End of the Earth this morning I starting googling “Antarctic cruises“ #morningreads #FridayReads

Were I to contemplate a sea voyage to Antarctica, I would not hire a mechanic whose letter of recommendation reads “In summation, it is possible that Mr. Duvivier might figure out how to work a very simple engine, like the Belgica's, but I cannot guarantee it.“

🖋 Luc Sante, Stephen King, Sarah J Maas
🖋 Any from Daughter of Smoke & Bone: Karou, Akiva, Zuzana, Hazael.
🖋 Tagged.

@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Birthday book haul 🎉🎉🎉

5/5
This book tells the story of the polar expedition in 1897 that lead to insanity. I really enjoyed how the author told this story in a way where you‘re not just being told a old story but as if you are there.

After a slow start, things pick up when they arrive in Antarctica, & there is a lot of information about the main individuals involved & the horrors they endured. I thought it was very well researched & there are several maps to help. It did drag a little in places though. Overall I rated this one 3.5🌟

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Random House UK/Ebury Publishing/W H Allen, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Ever since reading Dan Simmons‘s novel The Terror, I‘ve been fascinated by polar expeditions. This book details the Antarctic expedition led by Adrien de Gerlache in 1897. I‘m always amazed at the poor decision making that often accompanies these adventures-people so focused on glory that they ignore all sense and end up trapped for months while crew members die. I didn‘t care for the audiobook narrator, but the tale itself was gripping.

Daaaaamn!!!!! All the stars for this book.
1897 - the Belgica leaves for a jaunt to Antarctica and ends up unexpectedly overwintering in the pack ice. Scurvy, insanity, and despair plagues the crew (except maybe for Amundsen, since he was such a bad ass).

The usual review cliches: jaw-dropping, compelling, riveting. Well-researched, never tedious.
Can‘t recommend it highly enough.