Graham writes...

Michelle seems to have a great skill in researching the background to each of her novels and making sure the readers find themselves fully engrossed in that background as well as enjoying the story she weaves into it. "Thin Air" is no exception in this regard.

I know nothing about mountaineering, and as I am not at all a sporty person it is not something that particularly interests me. More power to Michelle’s elbow, then that she had me gripped from the beginning to the end of this novel, enjoying all that mountaineering background. Everything from the scenery, the technical side of the sport, and the medical background was covered brilliantly. Also, the dating was covered very well too, with the rather racist attitudes of the time (early 20th century) coming through in the language used by the main characters.

The interpersonal relationships, which actually are probably extremely important during a climb, were covered extremely well. This was particularly the case with the narrator, Dr Pearce, and his brother Kits.

All of this ignores the fact that “Thin Air” is actually a ghost story. And I think it ignores it deliberately. Most ghost stories would focus on the ghostly encounter itself, with everything else being background. But I found the mountaineering itself, the description of the locations, and the interpersonal relations of the climbers filled most of the novel, with the ghost story almost being just an overlay. Which worked, for me, extremely well.

As I found was the case with Michelle’s “Wakenhyrst”, there is an element to the ending which you could take as questioning whether it really ends the way you are led to believe it does. It is even more subtle here, and I believe most readers would accept the ending as stated. But my rampant imagination enjoyed playing with the idea that it really ended very differently. I will not spoil your reading by saying any more!

An engrossing read, which is what I have come to expect from Michelle Paver.

Michelle Replies...

And again, thank you, Graham, for that very nice review of Thin Air.  I'm so glad that you enjoyed it!  With best wishes, Michelle

Graham writes...

I have just written for Goodreads a review of your wonderful book Wakenhyrst and thought you might like to read it, so here it is:

This novel combines gothic horror, ancient fenland folklore, and the social history of the fens. It also depicts very well how women in the early 20th century (as in many other periods too) were downtrodden and mistreated, how the “under classes” were, like the women, either ignored or badly treated, and how children had to behave impeccably or suffer the consequences.

It is very well written in thriller style, making you eager to turn the next page and find out what happens next. In doing so you also imbibe all that mixed factual material about the fens and mediaeval history.

The novel leaves you wondering throughout whether what is happening is the result of mental instability or if there really are demons working behind the scenes. When you finish you initially feel it is all down to the former. But then you may, like me, feel a slight flutter suggesting perhaps there was a little more to it after all.

A good read!

Michelle Replies...

Dear Graham, I've just got home and read your marvellous message.  Thank you SO much - not only for the brilliant review, but also for letting me know about it via your posting; that was really thoughtful, and I do appreciate it.  Most of all, though, I'm simply delighted that you enjoyed the book; and I'm particularly pleased that I managed to leave you with that "slight flutter" of doubt about demons, after you'd finished.  Thanks again.  With very best wishes, Michelle

brooke writes...

Dear Michelle Paver my name is Brooke Sims and I am a year 6 at Normandale school working on a big project. I am trying to find out what I want to be when I grow up and being an author is one of my interests. I have some questions that I would like to ask you kind of based on your series The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness and I was hoping you would be up to answering some of them??? These are just a few questions to help me get an idea of what it would be like as an author so I can present some of my research with my class.
How often did you write the chronicles of ancient darkness
In spirit walker you said you went on a research trip to kind of get in toraks position so would you tell me what that was like and how often you go on these research trips.
Do you find your job challenging
What are your daily jobs that contribute to being an author
What's your least favorite part of your job
What are 3 or 5 unusual/funny things that your job includes
Thank you for listening to my questions and if you could get back to me by Friday that would be awesome.

Michelle Replies...

Dear Brooke, thanks for your message.  It's good that you're curious about being an author, and you ask some interesting questions. I'm  sure you'll appreciate that I get lots of requests to help readers with their homework, and if I answered them all I'd never get time to write!  But you'll find lots of information on my website www.wolfbrother.com. In particular, the Cave contains all sorts of information; and the Author's Note at the back of each book talks about the research I did for each story.  I hope that helps a bit. Best wishes, Michelle

Stanley writes...

Dear Michelle Paver,
I'm Stanley and I've just recently finished reading Wolfbane. I'm so distraught the Wolf Brother series has come to an end. Thank you so much for publishing this series and they are the best books I've read for a very long, long time. Two quick questions. What happens tO Renn and Torak after Wolfbane and will you write any prequel books that follow on the Ancien Chronicles of Darkness series. Thanks ever so much,
Stanley

Michelle Replies...

Dear Stanley, I'm sorry that you were distraught on finishing Wolfbane - although that does credit to your powers of really getting into a story.  That's a skill which won't leave you, and you're to be congratulated.  Now to your questions: no, I've no plans to write any prequel books.  I've never liked them myself, as I find them slightly depressing, because one knows what's going to happen later.  Also, I prefer to give readers only hints at what went before - for instance, about Fin-Kedinn's earlier life, and Fa's - and if I filled all that in with a prequel, I think it would destroy the mystery.  As to what happens to Renn and Torak, and Wolf and Dark and all the other characters after Wolfbane - I'm afraid I'm going to leave that entirely up to the readers.  It's for you to imagine whatever you like.  I hope that answer isn't too annoying.  And again, I'm glad that you enjoyed the stories!  With very best wishes, Michelle

mikahil writes...

how did torak meet the boar

Michelle Replies...

Dear Mikahil, the title of your message is "Wolf Brother", but from memory, I don't think Torak meets a boar in that book.  Maybe you're referring to his brief sort-of friendship with a large male boar in Spirit Walker?  In that story, the boar just happens by Torak's fire one night in Chapter Eight - as creatures tend to do in the Forest.  Torak tries to get across that he's not hunting him, and after that the boar keeps him company for a while (at least, that's how it feels to Torak) - before things go spectacularly wrong.  I hope this answers your question - and thank you for getting in touch!  With best wishes, Michelle