Ali9321 Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Hi I'm new here so please be nice!!! Just wondering if anyone else has stumbled across this and what they thought? I heard it discussed on Radio 2 and it piqued my interest so decided to give it a go. Absolutely loved it - the suspense was totally there and I was bowled along by the tension build up.... Not even looked to see what else she's written or what any of those are like Maybe one day when the "to read" pile has reduced, LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Hi Ali - I have seen this one in the bookshops and having read all of Michelle Pavers fantastic Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series I was tempted to pick it up, but I'm a big old chicken when it comes to scary stories, and I think it would be too spooky for me, but glad to hear that you enjoyed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caitlin marie Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 I literally just finished reading this for a book club in school and wanted to read on a forum what everyone else thaught, I signed up. I didnt like this book, it seemed like the intro went on FOREVER and nothing much happened until the end, the epic final moment was rushed and wasnt written in the same perpective as the previous chapeters and I found it drew away from what was actually happening. I thaught, also the ending was unlikely and confused me even further... if that's possible! getting into the book took a while and it didnt hold my interest well until jack was alone which wasnt until page 117. I was dissapointed by this book which had had a lot of strong reviews, so maybe its just me and my style of reading and lack of attention, oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 I spotted this the other day, but the reviews are SO mixed on amazon, I'm not sure whether to try it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Hi Ali, how are you? I read 'Dark Matter' in September here is my review ~ The Story ~ 'Dark Matter' is the story of Jack Miller, twenty~right years old, alone and living in London. His life changes when he is offered the chance to be the wireless operator on a Arctic Expedition with four other men, Algernon 'Algie' Carlisle, Hugo Charteris-Black, Teddy Wintringham and Augustus 'Gus' Balfour, all four men are university graduates, whilst Jack got his degree at University College London, he sees himself as lower class compared to the others and its shows, he had hoped to study to become a physicist but due to lack of money he was unable to and took a job as a export clerk, now he has an opportunity for a new start. Gus begins the meeting by telling Jack what their plan of action is, the expedition is to study High Arctic biology, geology and ice dynamics and completing a meteorological survey, sending data to the Government forecasting system, their destination is Gruhuken (which is the part of archipelago of Spitsbergen, the new name being 'Svalbard but its still called Spitsbergen) and they will stay there for a year. Jack initially does not want to go, his ideas of of being lower class stopping him but he changes his mind and decides to take a chance. The four men (Teddy's father passes away and he cannot go on the expedition) begin their journey on the ship Isbjorn with the skipper, Eriksson and it is uneventful until Hugo has an accident and breaks his leg and they return to land for medical assistance, then Eriksson tells the men that he will not go directly to Gruhuken and will not give a reason, eventually Jack talks Eriksson around but the man refuses to tell his reasons why he wants avoids Gruhuken, they arrive safely and begin to build their camp, then Jack sees a dark figure, a dark figure that he only sees, who else is on Gruhuken? What I thought of 'Dark Matter ~ A Ghost Story' ~ I do love a good ghost story and 'Dark Matter' is definitely that, its set in the Arctic, you can practically feel the cold and the isolation around the camp, everything starts off normal with Jack, Algie and Gus accepting life on Gruhuken but then strange things begin to happen, Jack has the feeling he is being watched and does not want to tell Algie and Gus, as the story progresses the feeling of an presence grows, you cannot see it but you can feel it, as does Jack, he is not sure if its a real feeling or its cabin fever, he is in turmoil and is determined to prove himself by continuing to work as the situation worsens. I enjoyed 'Ghost Matter' and it is very creepy, you may find yourself becoming steadily frustrated by Jack, I did, my thoughts were 'you've done all you can, get out!'. A ghost stories with atmosphere and the beauty of the Arctic ~ enjoy. Rating ~ 9/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Books do furnish a room Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I read Dark Matter earlier this year, here is what I thought: Atmospheric ghost story about a fictional expedition to the arctic in 1937. The main part of the book is the journal of one of the men on the expedition. Five men plan to go to the arctic to monitor weather, wildlife, geology. Two are forced to drop out before they arrive and the other two have to leave temporarily following an accident. Jack is left with the huskies as the winter draws in and permanent night sets in. In the darkness he realises he is not alone. Has some similarities to M R James. The landscape is at the centre and is well described and there is a good build up of tension. It is not a substantial book and the very beginning does not work well for me. However, that said I enjoyed it and read it in three sittings. A good account of our fear of isolation and the dark combined cleverly together. Any fans of a good ghost story will enjoy this. Not a classic, but not bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali9321 Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Interesting to hear what other people think I hadn't read a good ghost story in ages and I really enjoyed getting caught up in the feeling of dread and tension. Ashamed to say I cried over then ending but then I'm a doggy person, maybe that was the problem!! LOL After posting here I was whittering about it at work and discovered my friend had also heard about it from the radio and hadn't yet read it. She's now borrowed it and zoomed through it, really enjoying it too. Interesting it had mixed reviews.... I'd love suggestions of other books that invoke that similar tension and dread that I got from this one (or do it better!!!!!!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Books do furnish a room Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 If you haven't read any of Susan Hill's ghost stories I would recommend them. Also viago have a couple of excellent collections of ghost stories written by women. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Interesting to hear what other people think I hadn't read a good ghost story in ages and I really enjoyed getting caught up in the feeling of dread and tension. Ashamed to say I cried over then ending but then I'm a doggy person, maybe that was the problem!! LOL After posting here I was whittering about it at work and discovered my friend had also heard about it from the radio and hadn't yet read it. She's now borrowed it and zoomed through it, really enjoying it too. Interesting it had mixed reviews.... I'd love suggestions of other books that invoke that similar tension and dread that I got from this one (or do it better!!!!!!!!) Was debating whether to read this but don't think I'll bother now knowing the ending is sad and it involves a dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali9321 Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 Oops It wasn't a spoiler honest Do try it still!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I can't remember the last time I read a book in one day. In fact, I would probably have done it in one sitting if I could have. Okay, it's quite short, but even so, I just loved it. I haven't read a good ghost story in years, so I found it really refreshing. I thought the journal style worked really well. Ironically, I'm also reading Dracula at the moment, which - of course - is also written in diary/letter style, although from multiple viewpoints. Perhaps it wasn't quite as scary as I'd hoped it would be, and perhaps that's just me becoming hardened to these things over the years (cos, let's face it, if it isn't a Japanese girl with long black hair clawing her way out of a tv set, it just isn't scary anymore!). I was trying to remember the last book that really scared me and I struggled. I'd probably have to go back thirty years to when I first read The Shining or Salem's Lot. This one wasn't quite up there with those, but I felt tense all the way through it, and I was turning the pages as fast as I could. I liked the ending, because it didn't go the way I expected. I bought the book on a whim when I saw it on the Richard & Judy Book Club stand in Smiths, and I'm really glad I did. Another 9/10 here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali9321 Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 That's exactly how I felt about it! It takes a lot to scare me too but this book did tick a lot of boxes and I too bought it on a whim! Probably less scared than just appreciating the build up of tension all the way through, but I did find it really hard to put down I read Dracula the other year, having picked up a copy in Whitby when the family were visiting. It surprised me what a great read it was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 I read Dracula the other year, having picked up a copy in Whitby when the family were visiting. It surprised me what a great read it was Ah, I ended up not enjoying it much. I posted my thoughts here so won't repeat myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I've just posted my review of it in my reading blog, and I have to say, for someone who doesn't like ghost stories, I liked it a lot, but mainly because of Paver's writing, which I admire greatly. I love her children's books, which are also wonderfully written, so if you like her writing in this book, I would recommend trying the first book of The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, Wolf Brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 I just finished this, and really enjoyed it. Like others have said, it's very atmospheric, and you really get the feeling of the darkness and isolation. I'd recommend it, for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madeleine Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 I remember reading it when we had a bit of snow here, and I could really feel the cold coming through! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I loved this too, I don't usually read scary books so I was terrified at one point and had to stop reading it for a while until Steve was home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 ^ Yep, I don't think I would have been able to read it if I'd been home alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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