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Sara's Reviews > Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
by
by
Sara's review
bookshelves: non-fiction, seafaring, adventure, exploration, 2022-aty-challenge
Aug 20, 2022
bookshelves: non-fiction, seafaring, adventure, exploration, 2022-aty-challenge
But the sea is a different sort of enemy. Unlike the land, where courage and the simple will to endure can often see a man through, the struggle against the sea is an act of physical combat, and there is no escape. It is a battle against a tireless enemy in which man never actually wins; the most that he can hope for is not to be defeated.
Wow, who knew an account of a failed expedition across Antarctica could be so emotional. I feel I crossed a continent with these men and that I was cold and hungry and wet, always wet. And, it was miserable, but these men were amazingly optimistic and congenial and stoic. I am sure I would have been worthless and depressed just watching the ship, the Endurance, fall into the sea, crushed by ice pressure. I know I would have been devastated by some of the difficult tasks they had to perform and some of the things they were required to eat.
The heart of this journey was Ernest Shackleton himself, a man who led quietly and competently and never despaired; a man who showed great care and concern for his men and made tough decisions without looking backward; and a man who never gave up his faith or tenacity in the face of unbelievable odds.
When I had finished reading the book, I went online to find the pictures were taken on the voyage and survived. They were amazing and reinforced, even more, the courage and resilience needed to endure this catastrophe.
I enjoyed every page of this book, and as I always say when I have finished such an historical account, I need to read more non-fiction!
Wow, who knew an account of a failed expedition across Antarctica could be so emotional. I feel I crossed a continent with these men and that I was cold and hungry and wet, always wet. And, it was miserable, but these men were amazingly optimistic and congenial and stoic. I am sure I would have been worthless and depressed just watching the ship, the Endurance, fall into the sea, crushed by ice pressure. I know I would have been devastated by some of the difficult tasks they had to perform and some of the things they were required to eat.
The heart of this journey was Ernest Shackleton himself, a man who led quietly and competently and never despaired; a man who showed great care and concern for his men and made tough decisions without looking backward; and a man who never gave up his faith or tenacity in the face of unbelievable odds.
When I had finished reading the book, I went online to find the pictures were taken on the voyage and survived. They were amazing and reinforced, even more, the courage and resilience needed to endure this catastrophe.
I enjoyed every page of this book, and as I always say when I have finished such an historical account, I need to read more non-fiction!
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Reading Progress
January 27, 2022
– Shelved
January 27, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 14, 2022
– Shelved as:
short-listed
August 17, 2022
–
Started Reading
August 18, 2022
–
21.28%
"Part I complete - Difficult to even imagine this kind of situation. I do not, in fact, understand why men are willing to put themselves in such peril to make an exploration of this kind, but we would all be the poorer had no one ever had that kind of courage. I shivered with both cold and fright while reading this section...and the Endurance is already lost."
page
60
August 19, 2022
–
24.11%
"I understand the necessity to kill Sirius and the others, but that was a very sad moment for me and sets the tone for how heartbreaking this journey is going to be."
page
68
August 19, 2022
–
30.85%
"In some ways they had come to know themselves better. In this lonely world of ice and emptiness, they had achieved at least a limited time of contentment. They had been tested and found not wanting."
The value of such an experience is what it helps you find in the way of strength inside yourself. It is very unlifting to read of how they not only faced this adversity, but profited from it."
page
87
The value of such an experience is what it helps you find in the way of strength inside yourself. It is very unlifting to read of how they not only faced this adversity, but profited from it."
August 19, 2022
–
34.4%
"End of Part II - "Hogmany (the Scottish feast of New Year's) and a bitter one too, being adrift on the ice instead of enjoying the pleasures of life like most people. But as the saying is, there must be some fools in this world."
One cannot help wondering how they did endure."
page
97
One cannot help wondering how they did endure."
August 19, 2022
–
45.39%
"Have to stop and fix something to eat. I am totally engrossed in this book and marveling at the amount of resilience people can have in the face of what must have been so mentally, as well as physically, taxing. I always read these kinds of accounts and think what a woos I am."
page
128
August 19, 2022
–
49.65%
"Off the floes and into the water with land in sight but still chancy. It is amazing how every time it looked desperate for these men a door of opportunity opened. More than chance."
page
140
August 20, 2022
–
62.41%
"End of Part IV and they have found land. I do not know how they managed to maintain the strength to pull those boats through, but the land they have found is very inhospitable and many of these men have severe frostbite and other serious ailments. The test is not completed."
page
176
August 20, 2022
–
78.37%
"But the sea is a different sort of enemy. Unlike the land, where courage and the simple will to endure can often see a man through, the struggle against the sea is an act of physical combat, and there is no escape. It is a battle against a tireless enemy in which man never actually wins; the most that he can hope for is not to be defeated."
page
221
August 20, 2022
–
95.04%
"The slide down the glacier face made me smile and this book is not fraught with reasons to smile. I was put in mind of Butch and Sundance jumping from the cliff into the river."
page
268
August 20, 2022
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
August 20, 2022
– Shelved as:
seafaring
August 20, 2022
– Shelved as:
adventure
August 20, 2022
– Shelved as:
exploration
August 20, 2022
–
Finished Reading
August 22, 2022
– Shelved as:
2022-aty-challenge
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by
Christine
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Apr 14, 2022 08:32AM
Sara, you GOTTA read this. Will be on my final Top 10 list when I die.
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Christine wrote: "Sara, you GOTTA read this. Will be on my final Top 10 list when I die."WOW, that is quite an endorsement. I'll just move it up the chain to next month, Christine. Thank you!
Sara wrote: "Christine wrote: "Sara, you GOTTA read this. Will be on my final Top 10 list when I die."WOW, that is quite an endorsement. I'll just move it up the chain to next month, Christine. Thank you!"
Awesome, Sara, I really hope you love it too! Go into it as cold as you can.
Christine--Wow, everything you promised!
I've always wanted to read this. That whole journey sounds impossible.
Diane wrote: "I've always wanted to read this. That whole journey sounds impossible."Even reading it in that kind of detail, it is hard to believe it would be possible that anyone could survive it. I haven't felt this cold since I watched Doctor Zhivago.
Sara (taking a break) wrote: "Christine--Wow, everything you promised!"Yay, Sara! I am so pleased you loved this! I have another one you must read—I found it nearly if not just as phenomenal as this one, and it’s related. The Lost Men: The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party.
by Kelly Tyler-Lewis. This is the story of the Ross Sea Party—the guys who were to meet up with Shackleton’s party from the other side of the continent. I guarantee it is a winner—one of my very best reads this year!
Another one that is already on my TBR, but now I want to read it right away. How interesting to see what was going on on the other side! Off to find a copy. :o)
Sara, do you read ebooks or just real books? I found it on my Libby app.
Thanks, I located a copy right away.I never thought I would like ebooks better than print (and I still love to have a 'real' book in my hands), but I have become spoiled to a quick download and being able to adjust font size...old eyes!
Know what you mean about old eyes!
Very good, Sara.I read this years ago, but I can still remember having the same reactions to it that you describe. Right after I finished the book I ordered a copy of the other book that Christine recommended, but haven't read it. Your review and her reminder leads me to put it on the TBR pile -- near the top.
I am drawn to stories like this - though I'd never survive twenty-four hours in those conditions! These are also perfect to read in the heat of summer when one wants to "cool off" considerably :D Your splendid review tells me that I'll definitely find a lot to admire here when I get to it, Sara :)
Howard wrote: "Very good, Sara.I read this years ago, but I can still remember having the same reactions to it that you describe. Right after I finished the book I ordered a copy of the other book that Christin..."
I have slated the other book for next month, Howard, kicking off something else off the schedule that was already there. I want to read the other "half" of this story while the details from this one are fresh. I was surprised how gripping this was!
Candi wrote: "I am drawn to stories like this - though I'd never survive twenty-four hours in those conditions! These are also perfect to read in the heat of summer when one wants to "cool off" considerably :D Y..."I think we are drawn to strength in others, especially when we doubt we would have the same. I would never even be brave enough to sign up for the expedition in the first place! Definitely a summer book or, if read in winter, requires a roaring fireplace.
After a terrible night of food poisoning I almost could not even read a book about ships !Then my darling partner said "Imagine if you had food poisoning and motion sickness !" What a pal huh ?
So happy you enjoyed Sara !
Yikes! Glad you survived the food poisoning. I shudder at the thought.
I don’t read much non fiction either, Sara. I’m always appreciate of what I learn from friend’s reviews. Terrific.
