The White Darkness by by Geraldine McCaughrean

This is challenging reading--you have to really be ready for visualizing the action and setting. The main character, Sym, gets "kidnapped" by her "uncle" and and dragged off to Antarctica. Much of the book is the gradual psychological exploration of how Sym got to this place both physically and emotionally. It is also a pretty good review of the psychology behind some of the explorers and adventurers. I had read "Into Thin Air" a while ago by John Krakauer. It's about climbers dying on Mt. Everest (he was almost one of them). The idea of what makes people pursue extreme sports is one I like to explore sometimes.

Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a reading accident. I download audio books to my smart phone and this was on the library's website. I went through a "dragon" phase about 6 years ago and decided to go ahead and listen to it. It was surprising. I hadn't read the first book so I started this cold and had to figure out the context. That wasn't too bad, but it would be a good idea to go back and read the first.



I'm definitely appreciating the historical perspective. I need to read up a bit on this period in China. I don't remember there being much of a French presence. Using fiction to explore history is a great idea. But, I worry that if authors don't get the facts right they may be creating misinformation in reader's minds.


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