Annabel is one of the editors of shiny new books and would love to go to the far north one day. Nov 02, 2017 stef penneys extraordinary novel, covering a period still partly within living memory, is a gripping example of how far we have come in little more than a generation. The central character is flora, a girl who was brought up. Flora mackie first crosses the arctic circle at the age of twelve, and falls in love with the land a people of the far north. Stef penneys atmospheric the tenderness of wolves won the costa book of the year award in 2006 for a murder mystery set in the canadian tundra. Sometimes you have to travel to the farthest edge of the world in order to find your true place in it. This is the first book i have read from this author, although i had heard of this book previously along with the tenderness of wolves another book i havent got round to picking up. Her mother has died, and her father sees no option but to take her on his voyages, trying to shield her eyes from the brutal realities of whaling. Stef penneys under a pole star is shortlisted in the costa awards novel category, and is the work of an assured author who has proved herself at her finest in the drama and beauty of a snowscape her first novel, the tenderness of wolves, won the costa prize more than a decade ago. Flora mackie was twelve when she first crossed the arctic circle. Unfortunately, its also the main focus of the novel which meant i struggled with large chunks of the narrative, especially the middle section where, after so much cock. Stef penney, under a pole star quercus, 2016 9781786481160, 596 pp.
Under a pole star, by stef penney in a way, i am the ideal and worst reader for this novel. In a way, i am the ideal and worst reader for this novel. Epic in feel, under a pole star is another wellwritten and very enjoyable novel from penney, recommended for those who like to get stuck into a big fat adventure. Under a pole star by stef penney, 9781786481191, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Under a pole star by stef penney farm lane books blog. It is a taste she will savor for the rest of her life. Years later, in 1892, determination and chance lead her back to northern greenland as a scientist at the head of a british expedition.
Stef penney perfectly captures this harsh existence, but i suspect that is all ill remember of under a pole star in years to come too. In 1889, the whalers daughter from dundee dubbed by the press the snow queen sets out to become a scientist and explorer. Against this backdrop stef penney weaves an irresistible love story, a compelling look at the dark side of the golden age of exploration, and a mystery that flora, returning one last time to the north pole as an old woman, will finally lay to rest. Flora mackies upbringing is unconventional, to say the least. Intelligent, ambitious and flawed, flora mackie is a strong female protagonist. Flora mackie, the scottish heroine of stef penneys under a pole star, is, like jane eyre, thoroughly plain. Under a pole star signed first edition stef penney. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. My book club read for september was stef penneys latest novel, under a pole star. The stark beauty of the arctic, where pack ice can crush a ship like an eggshell, and the empty sweep of the tundra, alternately a snowmuffled wasteland and an unexpectedly gentle meadow, are vividly evoked.
You read one of stef penneys stories to find yourself transported to the most northern, snowy and chilly places of the earth. Why boris johnson should take a leaf out of jack reachers book kevan christie trending. A dazzling tale of romance and survival guardian follow the. Under a pole star by stef penney a whalers daughter, flora mackie first crossed the arctic circle at the age of twelve and fell in love with the cold and unforgiving terrain.
The tenderness of wolves, the invisible ones, and under a pole star. Against this backdrop stef penney weaves an irresistible love story, a compelling look at the dark side of the golden age of exploration. Under a pole star tells the story of flora mackie, who grows up on the decks of a whaling ship captained by her father, a widower. Sep 05, 2017 listen to under a pole star audiobook by stef penney. It exerts a strange, maddening pull on those trying to make their mark on. I like the chronicle approach building a picture of a whole human life from start to finish, i also loved the depiction of floras relationships with other people, particularly the inuit people. Penney previously won the costa prize for her debut, the tenderness of wolves i have not read it. Under a pole star by stef penney 2017, hardcover for sale. She made three short films before studying film and tv at bournemouth college of art, and on graduation was selected for the carlton television new writers scheme. Shortlisted for the 2017 costa novel award by stef penney, in very good condition.
A panoramic historical epic and an unforgettable love story from the author of the tenderness of wolves, for fans of kristin hannah, sarah perry, and barbara kingsolver a whalers daughter, flora mackie first crossed the arctic circle at the age of. She has degrees in philosophy and theology and film and tv, and was selected for the carlton television new writers scheme and has since written and directed two short films. Stef penneys first book was excellent, the second one i did not. Under a pole star by stef penney 4 stars 8 out of 10 i read and enjoyed stef penneys first novel the tenderness of wolves, so was interested in reading her latest work under a pole star to be published in october 2016. Nov 07, 2016 under a pole star tells the story of flora mackie, who grows up on the decks of a whaling ship captained by her father, a widower. Under a pole star by stef penney incredible books from quercus. The mysterious disappearance of her fellow explorers. A whalers daughter, flora mackie first crossed the arctic circle at the age of 12.
Richard and judy autumn book club pick, under a pole star by stef penney, is an irresistible love story that takes a compelling look at the dark side of the golden age of exploration in the nineteenth century. Flora mackie first crossed the arctic circle at the age of twelve. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the uk. In 1889, the whalers daughter from dundee dubbed by the press as the snow queen sets out to become a scientist and explorer. She has subsequently written the invisible ones 2011 and under a pole star 2016, the latter shortlisted for the 2017 costa book awards. In 1889, the whalers daughter from dundee sets out to become a scientist and explorer. Richard and judy introduce under a pole star by stef penney. Seeing no reason why the young girl shouldnt accompany him on his trips, floras father introduces her to a life of adventure, discovery, and independence. Under a pole star by stef penney 2017, hardcover for. A woman attempts to throw off victorian convention as an explorerand a lover. A panoramic historical epic and an unforgettable love story from the author of the tenderness of wolves, for fans of kristin hannah, sarah perry, and barbara kingsolver a whalers daughter, flora mackie first crossed the arctic. Listen to under a pole star audiobook by stef penney. Under a pole star by stef penney is shortlisted for the 2017 costa novel award.
Under a pole star by stef penney the hysterical hamster. Despite those who believe that a young woman has no place in this harsh world of men, her determination leads her back to northern greenland at the head of. Under a pole star by stef penney the owl on the bookshelf. Under a pole star by stef penney overdrive rakuten. If you missed the announcement last night, under a pole star has made the shortlist for the best novel category in the costa book awards this year so i wish the author the very best of luck. Author stef penney set her first novel, the tenderness of wolves, in the bleak frozen landscape of northern canada and won the prestigious costa book of the year award in 2006. Under a pole star is a well written novel of love, loyalty, intrigue and inequality in a harsh, cruel yet beautiful landscape. Stef penneys extraordinary novel, covering a period still partly within living memory, is a gripping example of how far we have come in little more than a generation. In an epic adventure story that explores themes of ambition, perseverance, and love against all odds, the sensual under a pole star returns to the wild arctic setting stef penney brought so vividly to life in her breakout debut, the tenderness of wolves. Under a pole star, by stef penney all about argyll.
Under a pole star has made the shortlist for the best novel category in the costa book awards this year so i wish the author the very best of luck. Apr 16, 2018 stef penney s under a pole star is shortlisted in the costa awards novel category, and is the work of an assured author who has proved herself at her finest in the drama and beauty of a snowscape her first novel, the tenderness of wolves, won the costa prize more than a decade ago. Whatever the anthropological reason, in the case of stef penneys under a pole star, i found the story of our starcrossed, illfated lovers to the weakest part of the book. Nov 25, 2016 under a pole star by stef penney is published by quercus. Under a pole star marks a triumphant return to the snows from the author of the costawinning the tenderness of wolves. I have a decidedly soft spot for neovictorian novels such as john. This combination is the true rocket fuel of under a pole star, and what makes it resonate long after the snow queen has divulged her longheld secret guardian a terrific and beautifully written yarn that will make readers yearn to travel and fall in love in a cold climate the times penney works hard to fill her canvas with colour and. It shows that sometimes you have to travel to the furthest edge of the. Under a pole star by stef penney 9781786481191paperback. Jul 02, 2017 you read one of stef penneys stories to find yourself transported to the most northern, snowy and chilly places of the earth. She has subsequently written the invisible ones 2011 and under a pole star 2016, the.
Stef penney grew up in the scottish capital and turned to filmmaking after a degree in philosophy and theology from bristol university. Shortlisted for the 2017 costa novel award first edition by penney, stef isbn. Why boris johnson should take a leaf out of jack reachers book. In 1889, she sets out to become a scientist and explorer. Yearning for wider horizons, he joins a rival expedition. Under a pole star by stef penney 4 stars 8 out of 10 i read and enjoyed stef penney s first novel the tenderness of wolves, so was interested in reading her latest work under a pole star to be published in october 2016. Flora mackie first crossed the arctic circle at the age of 12. Sep 05, 2017 stef penney is a screenwriter and the author of three acclaimed novels. All are obsessed with the land under the pole star, a place where violent extremes exist side by side. Under a pole star stef penney published november 22, 2017 by bibliobeth. Under a pole star is the penultimate pick for the richard and judy book club here in the uk and is something i like to follow. Homepage of stef penney, author of the tenderness of wolves and the invisible ones home. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Intelligent, ambitious and flawed, flora mackie is a strong female protagonist and we join her on her journey to become the first woman polar. The tenderness of wolves won the costa prize for book of the year, theakstons crime novel of the year, and was translated into thirty languages. In under a pole star, stef penny deploys her magestrial command of language and place to chart a life lived absolutely on the edge. What i havent read is stef penneys under a pole star. Dec 09, 2016 under a pole star marks a triumphant return to the snows from the author of the costawinning the tenderness of wolves. As stef penney suffered from agoraphobia at the time of writing this novel, she did all the research in the libraries of london and never visited canada. Stef penney is a screenwriter and the author of three acclaimed novels.
As soon as i read the synopsis for this novel, i have to say i was very excited. To connect with stef check out her website at stefpenney. Under a pole star is a fictional recreation of the first expeditions who went to the north pole in the late 1800s, journeys that were equally thrilling and dangerous. Set against the stark, timeless beauty of northern greenland, and findesiecle new york and london, under a pole star is a compelling look at the dark side of the golden age of exploration, a study of the corrosive power of ambition, and an epic, incendiary love story. Under a pole star is a sprawling novel about polar expeditions at the end of the 19 th century. With the fan on full blast, i began to read her third, under a pole star, shivering in happy anticipation of another voyage into the ice. This book, i believe her third, seems to be a historical novel about a female explorer who traversed the.