Anthony O Donnell

This is the first Kate Morton book I have read, however I hope it won’t be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It moves at its own pace and it's a little on the long side at over 600 pages. I encourage anyone that starts it to see it through. There are many layers going on beyond simply what happened on Christmas Eve 1959. The struggle to find one’s place in the world, defining what home is, the characters struggles to accept the past yet returning to it frequently. I found myself wanting to read it more and more as I got into the latter stages of the story. Thank you Kate Morton.

I really enjoyed this book. It probably could have been shorter as others commented but I didn’t find myself bored at any stage. Actually found myself excited to pick it up each time. The transformation the main character goes through both mentally and physically is well detailed. That doubt at times about Toby’s memories adding to the tension. What feel like inconspicuous moments and the huge shift it can cause in one’s life.

Spoiler alert if you’re not aware of this story in detail and what Shackleton and his team achieved. This book gave such a detailed account of what Shackleton and his team went through. The brutal unforgiving environment they found themselves in, the human will to survive and the fact everyone came back alive. Those last chapters to reach the whaling station, to then get back for the survivors on elephant island really had me on edge as I wasn’t aware of the full history. Beautifully written. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Slow to start but my god it’s worth it. I went to the library for The Book Thief but glad I came away with this. Many emotions throughout, but all I can say is submerse yourself in the tide of Dunbar past.