The Discovery of Slowness
Registered by 
GoryDetails
of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 10/24/2015
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 10/24/2015 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I ordered this fair-condition softcover from Better World Books after seeing a recommendation from BCer Maenade in this forum post. I've been fascinated by the tragic history of the Franklin Expedition for years, and was riveted by the recent discovery of his ship Erebus, so I'm looking forward to this novel about his life.
Later: The novel takes us through Franklin's life from early childhood, as experienced by him - and, however accurate the author's take on how "slow" Franklin may have been, it gave me a different perspective on this man, who seemed from most accounts to be relatively stuffy, good-natured but not brilliant, and - well, not very interesting. This novel suggests that he had some kind of learning disability, putting him effectively on a time-delay in his responses to everything from simple questions to life-threatening events. Given the time to think things through and plan a response he can be quite effective; taken flat-footed, his reaction is stillness...
Most of the book takes us through his earlier life, so we don't even reach his first Arctic expedition until well into the book. That one was very nearly a complete tragedy, with Franklin and a handful of others barely surviving; the fact that he survived at all was one reason for his nomination to his final post, but while his hard-won knowledge might have been of use under some circumstances, the situation he faced at the end was beyond his ability to alter.
I appreciated the section on his time as a provincial governor in Australia, which tends to get less press than his Arctic doings - or his tragic fate; this was a part of his life in which he had the opportunity to do great good for many people.
The whole story suggested an appreciation for "slowness", and an unexpected way of looking at historical events.
Later: The novel takes us through Franklin's life from early childhood, as experienced by him - and, however accurate the author's take on how "slow" Franklin may have been, it gave me a different perspective on this man, who seemed from most accounts to be relatively stuffy, good-natured but not brilliant, and - well, not very interesting. This novel suggests that he had some kind of learning disability, putting him effectively on a time-delay in his responses to everything from simple questions to life-threatening events. Given the time to think things through and plan a response he can be quite effective; taken flat-footed, his reaction is stillness...
Most of the book takes us through his earlier life, so we don't even reach his first Arctic expedition until well into the book. That one was very nearly a complete tragedy, with Franklin and a handful of others barely surviving; the fact that he survived at all was one reason for his nomination to his final post, but while his hard-won knowledge might have been of use under some circumstances, the situation he faced at the end was beyond his ability to alter.
I appreciated the section on his time as a provincial governor in Australia, which tends to get less press than his Arctic doings - or his tragic fate; this was a part of his life in which he had the opportunity to do great good for many people.
The whole story suggested an appreciation for "slowness", and an unexpected way of looking at historical events.
Journal Entry 2 by GoryDetails at Rodgers Memorial Library in Hudson, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, December 3, 2015
GoryDetails at Rodgers Memorial Library in Hudson, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, December 3, 2015
Released 8 yrs ago (12/3/2015 UTC) at Rodgers Memorial Library in Hudson, New Hampshire USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I donated this book to the ongoing book-sale shelves in the library at around 5. [They sell donated books for low prices, with the proceeds going to benefit library programs.] Hope the buyer enjoys the book!
*** Released as part of the 2015 D for December release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2015 D for December release challenge. ***
