Reviews

This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson

grumpykitten16's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

hewlettelaine's review against another edition

4.0

Extraordinary story about an exceptional man. Obviously tgis is a fictional novel but it is a must-read for anyone interested in the early Victorian era and in the history of scientific research discovery.

saskiajuliette's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

My feelings about this book are somewhat mixed. I enjoyed the fact that the story is based on true events, allowing me to delve into the lives of Robert FitzRoy and Charles Darwin, their journey together and the important work they have done. They often experienced a clash of their beliefs, leading to intriguing debates on evolution versus religion. Those were my favorite parts of the book. It made the story more than just a historical account but a philosophical exploration of the time.

Unfortunately more often than not, reading the book felt like a serious chore due to certain chapters or scenes that dragged on or were quite boring to me. I believe the book might have been better with around 200 pages less, although this could be a matter of personal taste. At times, I felt the story wandered into directions that didn't interest me as much or seemed irrelevant to the main subjects.

In the end, did I love this book? Yes and no. It differed from my expectations, but I believe it's definitely worth reading because it provides a fascinating glimpse into the voyages of the Beagle and the people involved. The notable character development, especially that of FitzRoy, stands out. However, one must be very committed to see it through to the end, navigating through the occasional tedious stretches to uncover the gems that lie within the many, many, many layers of this book.

cakegeek's review against another edition

5.0

A nearly accurate telling if the life of Fitzroy. Obviously some details, like exact conversations had to be improvised... But the author explains at the end exactly where artistic licence has been exercised. It is a big book, and when I was recommended it by my brother and mother I was slightly worried that it would be a weighty tome. It was surprisingly easy to read. Thompson did a grand job in telling this tale and from the start I enjoyed it. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone!

unbyronically's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

hmax100's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

ginbottle's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Superb and dramatic account of Darwin's voyage in the Beagle. Conveys the relationship between Darwin and the ship's captain, Fitzroy and what drove and interested each of them. Also how each of them dealt with their experience and the enormity of what they found.

cat_uk's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

sembray's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

magpie_666's review against another edition

4.0

Fantastic story!
I admit that I knew nothing of FitzRoy before reading this, but did know a little about Darwin.
The story is very interesting and definitely a page turner. It's a keeper which I'll probably read again some day.
The only negative I have for this book is that it's not possible to read it for a few minutes at a time, it does require a lot of concentration.