Shiver

by Nikki Gemmell | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by Ada2 of North Avoca, New South Wales Australia on 8/30/2004
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Ada2 from North Avoca, New South Wales Australia on Monday, August 30, 2004
from http://business.virgin.net/nikki.gemmell/shiver.html
"I can catalogue Antarctica by touch. The touch of air sucked dry on my cheek, the fur of a day-old seal pup, the touch of an iceberg, a blizzard, a lover, the touch of sweat at minus twenty-three, of a camera stuck to the skin on my face, of cold like glass cutting into my skin, of a snowflake, of a dead man, of a doctor's fingers on my inner thigh, of a tongue on my eye."


Shiver is Nikki Gemmell's first novel.
It is the story of Fin, a young woman who gets the chance of a lifetime to go to Antarctica.

Surrounded by the cruel beauty of the last great wilderness on earth, she finds herself transfixed by the power of the land.

Travelling and living with a close-knit and idiosyncratic team, Fin learns the rules and taboos of community life in Antarctica, and then promptly breaks the strictest taboo of all - she falls in love. The consequences are shattering.

Lyrical, haunting and sometimes painfully moving, Shiver is a first novel of great power and beauty.
end

Journal Entry 2 by Ada2 from North Avoca, New South Wales Australia on Friday, September 3, 2004
BOOKRING
PM me to join


1 Megi53 (USA) - sent September 24, 2004
2 jenndiggy (USA)
3 WarEagle78 (USA)
4 LilElf (USA)
5 goatgrrl (Canada)
6 Leester (Canada)
7 RikkiDD (Germany)
8 jackiea (Australia)

back to me...

Journal Entry 3 by Ada2 at on Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Released 19 yrs ago (9/27/2004 UTC) at

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:
September 24th, 2004:
This little book is starting its big adventure! Hope everyone enjoys it.

Journal Entry 4 by Megi53 from Danville, Virginia USA on Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Arrived in yesterday's mail. It's the only fiction bookring/ray in my possession right now -- which is terrific, because when I signed up for it I thought it was Nikki Gemmell's true account of Antarctic adventures!

Looking forward to starting it today or tomorrow.

Journal Entry 5 by Megi53 from Danville, Virginia USA on Saturday, October 16, 2004
A unique novel with a wonderful love relationship, interesting job, family and friendship scenes, and subtle humor. The focus of it all, however, was the thrilling Antarctic landscape.

Here's one of my favorite descriptive passages, about icebergs:

"Some are like Walt Disney castles or pooltables or Cambodian temples or Uluru. One day we pass one that's so blue, it's as if its ice has captured a piece of the sky inside it."

I enjoyed it thoroughly and read it fast! Mailed to jenndiggy in West Virginia this morning.


Journal Entry 6 by jenndiggy from Terra Alta, West Virginia USA on Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Just received in the mail today! Looking forward to reading it! :)

Oct 22: Finished reading this tonight. I expected it to be non-fiction, but was pleased it was fiction. (Have read a little too much non-fiction lately)

It was a fun read, a quick read. Definately have needed something enjoyable to read after having read more heavy stuff lately.

It sounds like Antartica would be an amazing place to visit. I'm sure its too cold for me though! LOL!

Will be mailing on tommorrow.
Post office delivery confirmation number:
02805213907081402390

Journal Entry 7 by WarEagle78 from Opelika, Alabama USA on Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Arrived in Hoover, AL in today's mail, along with its kookaburra postcard. I can't wait to read it, I love Antarctica books! I have two rings ahead of it, but will get to it very soon. Thanks Ada2!

Journal Entry 8 by WarEagle78 from Opelika, Alabama USA on Sunday, November 7, 2004
It took two or three attempts to get started with this book, but once I was a couple of chapters in, I was hooked. Fin's view of Antarctica, including the trips there are back, are vivid and memorable vignettes of settings, personalities and feelings that will be with me for a long time. The ending was not what I had hoped, but I don't want to post any spoilers for future readers.

This book will continue on its way as soon as I have the next address. Thanks, Ada2 for sharing!

Journal Entry 9 by WarEagle78 from Opelika, Alabama USA on Saturday, November 13, 2004
In mail to LilElf today. Thanks again, Ada2!

Journal Entry 10 by LilElf from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Saturday, December 4, 2004
I recieved this book in the mail (I am sorry I haven't journaled before now..I moved just after I got it in the mail)... This is an amazing book! I am about 1/2 way through it..It is sooo amazing...I can't put it down!
As soon as I finish the book, I will send this on :)
--Maya

Journal Entry 11 by LilElf from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Saturday, December 11, 2004
Oh this book was amazing!! I am so glad I joined this book ring!!
I am ready to send to send it along....
--LilElf

Journal Entry 12 by LilElf from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Saturday, December 11, 2004
I will be sending the book on to GoatGrrl on monday... I got the address today thanks!
--Maya

Journal Entry 13 by LilElf from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Friday, February 18, 2005
It is in the mail...I am sorry for the big delay...I got sick and was not able to get this book in the mail to goatgrrl till this week...she should have it in a couple of days...
--LilElf

Journal Entry 14 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, February 26, 2005
I picked Shiver up from the Purolator terminal this afternoon -- thanks very much, Ada2 and LilElf, for sharing this one and sending it along to me. As I'm just about ready to start a new book, I'll try to have it read and sent along to the next reader by next weekend (we're leaving then for a week's holidays). Best wishes to all from New Westminster, Canada!

Journal Entry 15 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, March 1, 2005
What a quick read! I enjoyed Shiver, but until the very last pages I was still waiting for the sinister plot twist – the "shattering consequences" of Fin’s romantic affair, as promised by the book’s back cover. Instead, the denouement was – for me – somewhat disappointing from a story-telling point of view (without giving too much away, the sort of thing that occurs at the end of the book always seems to me dramatically cheap or "easy" as a plot device – offering much dramatic bang for very little effort on the writer’s part!).

What I enjoyed about Shiver was the glimpse into the lives of those scientists and adventurers who travel to Antarctica. I liked reading about what it’s like to live there, and about what effect Antarctic conditions can have on personalities and social dynamics. I was intrigued by how emotionally fragile social relations may become in an isolated community, and this is the psychological context in which I thought the much foreshadowed "shattering consequences" might unfold. Instead, the story told in Shiver – in terms of what actually happens between the characters – was remarkably mundane, especially contrasted with the novel's unique and dramatic setting (I can’t stop thinking "Shopaholic Takes Antarctica", though this is probably overstated ;^)...).

The above notwithstanding, I’m still happy to have had the opportunity to read Shiver – it got me through a long, sad commute to and from a friend’s Mom’s funeral yesterday, and passed the time during a rainy lunch hour today. So thanks very much, Ada2 and previous readers, and on to Leester!

Journal Entry 16 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, March 1, 2005
I'll be mailing this to Leester tomorrow -- happy reading, Leester, and thanks again, Ada2!

Journal Entry 17 by Leester from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Saturday, March 12, 2005
Yay, another book ring book from Ada2!
I received this sometime during this past week, and will start reading it today. Looking forward to it. Thanks all!

Journal Entry 18 by Leester from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Sunday, March 20, 2005
Finished reading this book and have spent a while thinking about what I would write here, and what rating I would give it. Because it has left me thinking about it ever since I put it down, I am giving it an "8". I didn't particularly like the character of Fin, but it was absolutely fascinating to get this glimpse into an Antarctic expedition. The group dynamics, and even the logistics of it all were very interesting to read about. Thank you once again, Ada2, for giving me the opportunity to glimpse into a world I knew very little about.

Will be mailing this out to RikkiDD tomorrow.

Journal Entry 19 by Leester at Post Office in Toronto, Ontario Canada on Saturday, April 2, 2005

Released 19 yrs ago (3/26/2005 UTC) at Post Office in Toronto, Ontario Canada

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailed this off to RikkiDD. Was supposed to take only a couple of days so I hope it arrived there safely.

Journal Entry 20 by RikkiDD from Dresden, Sachsen Germany on Saturday, April 2, 2005
The book found its way to Europe into my letter box. After a long journey it can rest here for a while and will be read very soon after three other rings before it starts its way bock to the home continent.
---------------------------------------------------
edit 24 April 2005
I loved to read this book.It was the first time to read s story about travelling into the Antarktis. Its a pitty that she didn't write more about actually being there and the work from the scientists.

Journal Entry 21 by RikkiDD at mail in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, April 24, 2005

Released 18 yrs ago (4/22/2005 UTC) at mail in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

The book is on its way back to Australia to its last station.

Journal Entry 22 by jackiea from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Received today and next on the pile. Thanks RikkiDD.

Journal Entry 23 by jackiea from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, May 25, 2005
I was expecting a story of the author’s experiences in Antarctica, but was disappointed to encounter one that was mostly a love affair. I found the author’s style very harsh and ugly and in short, not a book I enjoyed.
Sorry, Ada2, but thanks for sharing.
Sent home to Ada2

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.