February 2022 - Book #2
Thin Air by Michelle Paver:-
Ok, so I actually started reading this book back on the 4th November 2020. I remember I took my mum to a hair dressing appointment and rather than sit in the salon and wait I went for a wonder. I decided that I fancied a coffee and a read, but didn’t have anything with me. Coming across The Works shop, and knowing how you can often find a respectable book and a reasonable price I had a browse around. With what felt like a rummage around, I was about to give up hope of finding a book and would turn to grab a magazine, gazing down at the very bottom shelf at the back of the shop stood Thin Air with its deep blue cover enticing me in.
Now, I have read Michelle Paver before. I absolutely loved Dark Matter; A Ghost Story. Michelle is able to build atmosphere and suspense in such a way that you don’t need to see a ghost or ghoul, you know its there. It looms large in the background and you’re driven to place yourself in the shoes of the character, to feel the void which comes with being left alone in a desolate environment which we know is frightening enough in itself. But then you’re made to feel that lurking in that void is a faceless foe, a presence of unnerving fear, disbandment and desolation. She has a way of putting a unique twist of the ghost story franchise. It took me a while to find an author I could connect with when it comes to a classic ghost story.
Thin Air kept my admiration strong for this author. It is chilling in both the sense that you’d get when strap to the side of a mountain thousands of feet in the air and that which you’d feel if you were left alone with a malevolent spirit. Combine the two and you’re in for a rollercoaster of a ride. What I like most though about Michelle’s ghost stories is that you get an explanation. We discover why these spirits haven’t moved on, why they continue to suffer their own torment and subject those un-expecting travellers to the despair as well.
This was a strong five star review from me. I am just hopeful that one can expect more chilling tales from this author. She appears once again on my to read list in the form of Wakenhyrst which I am keen to move on to.
Overall, a very pleasing experience. Once I managed to get back into reading it I was gripped and couldn’t put it down. These are definitely worth of the experience of reading at night, where they will play on your mind and make you wonder if the creak you heard in the hallway was just the aging of the house, or something more.
