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The Last Whaler
THE LAST WHALER is an elegiac meditation on the will to survive under extreme conditions. Tor, a beluga whaler, and his wife, Astrid, a botanist specializing in Arctic flora, are stranded during the dark season of 1937-38 at his remote whaling station when they misjudge ice conditions and fail to rendezvous with the ship meant to carry them back to their home in southern Norway. Beyond enduring the Arctic winter' s twenty-four-hour night, the couple must cope with the dangers of polar bears, violent storms, and bitter cold as well as Astrid' s unexpected pregnancy. THE LAST WHALER concerns the impact of humans on pristine environments, the isolation of mental illness, the sustenance of religious faith, and the solace of storytelling.
334 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 26, 2024
It's 1937, and Astrid has made the decision to accompany her husband, Tor, to Svalbard for the whaling season. It's the sort of decision one makes in haste and repents at leisure: one made out of grief; one leading to a reality that neither Astrid nor Tor, who has spent many a season in Svalbard before, is prepared for.
I didn't understand then the nature of grief, that it doesn't fade away but loops endlessly. (loc. 3763*)
I picked this up because I recently read Christiane Ritter's A Woman in the Polar Night—a memoir about a year spend on Svalbard in the early 1930s—and I was enthralled; I wanted to see what a contemporary novelist would do with a similar setting. And Reeves is clearly inspired by Ritter, who is a minor off-page character in The Last Whaler, though Astrid's experience and her takeaways are rather different than Ritter's.
We get two points of view here: Tor, looking back later on the time he and Astrid spent in that harsh landscape—first with other whalers and then starkly alone—and Astrid, telling her story through letters to her son. I didn't love the letters: they didn't feel realistic as letters someone would write to a young child, even under the circumstances in the novel, and I would have preferred either a journal or just Astrid's non-epistolary point of view.
What sold it for me, though, is how much research and context there is here. Occasionally I think Tor leans a bit contemporary in his views than is realistic, but what intrigues me is the way in which, although cut off from the outside world, they are always aware on some level that that outside world continues: the world encroaches, whether they want it to or not. Maybe Astrid would have fared better had she stayed back in the outside world, or maybe the barren landscape isolation simply hastened what was to come. In any case, it's a fascinating story.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I didn't understand then the nature of grief, that it doesn't fade away but loops endlessly. (loc. 3763*)
I picked this up because I recently read Christiane Ritter's A Woman in the Polar Night—a memoir about a year spend on Svalbard in the early 1930s—and I was enthralled; I wanted to see what a contemporary novelist would do with a similar setting. And Reeves is clearly inspired by Ritter, who is a minor off-page character in The Last Whaler, though Astrid's experience and her takeaways are rather different than Ritter's.
We get two points of view here: Tor, looking back later on the time he and Astrid spent in that harsh landscape—first with other whalers and then starkly alone—and Astrid, telling her story through letters to her son. I didn't love the letters: they didn't feel realistic as letters someone would write to a young child, even under the circumstances in the novel, and I would have preferred either a journal or just Astrid's non-epistolary point of view.
What sold it for me, though, is how much research and context there is here. Occasionally I think Tor leans a bit contemporary in his views than is realistic, but what intrigues me is the way in which, although cut off from the outside world, they are always aware on some level that that outside world continues: the world encroaches, whether they want it to or not. Maybe Astrid would have fared better had she stayed back in the outside world, or maybe the barren landscape isolation simply hastened what was to come. In any case, it's a fascinating story.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
June 14, 2024
Can revisiting the past finally assuage my guilt? from The Last Whaler by Cynthia Reeves
Svalbard lies halfway between Norway and the North Pole. A stark land where the few trees grow inches tall, the land of beluga whale and seals and polar bears and brilliant auroras. In 1937 the beluga whaler Tor brings his wife Astrid on his annual trip to hunt the whales. Their beloved son had died in a tragic accident and they had hoped that Astrid would find solace in applying her botany degree to researching.
Astrid was unprepared for Tor’s life in the Arctic: sharing a house with two of his workers who had little concern for cleanliness, the constant stench of death and from rendering the whale oil, how little privacy they had, how little free time to pursue her research.
Astrid became pregnant on the Summer Solstice. At the end of the hunting season, they stay on after the others have left, to enjoy a bit of private time. Tor misjudged, and they became stranded, facing surviving the dark Arctic winter alone.
Over the year, Astrid wrote letters to her deceased son, giving insight into her innermost thoughts. Ten years later, Tor returns to the hunting camp for the first time since 1938. He reads the letters, searching to understand what had happened.
The story is as stark as the landscape.
Yes, the world is dangerous and sad and beautiful. There is no equilibrium, no careful balance between joy and sorrow. There is now, there is then, there is whatever may come. And no guarantee that You mete out only what we can endure. from The Last Whaler by Cynthia Reeves
Beautifully and sensitively written, the story told by Tor and through Astrid’s letters, the book embraces themes of grief, guilt, and mental health, the early emergence of feminism, our environmental impact, and the impact of war.
I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Svalbard lies halfway between Norway and the North Pole. A stark land where the few trees grow inches tall, the land of beluga whale and seals and polar bears and brilliant auroras. In 1937 the beluga whaler Tor brings his wife Astrid on his annual trip to hunt the whales. Their beloved son had died in a tragic accident and they had hoped that Astrid would find solace in applying her botany degree to researching.
Astrid was unprepared for Tor’s life in the Arctic: sharing a house with two of his workers who had little concern for cleanliness, the constant stench of death and from rendering the whale oil, how little privacy they had, how little free time to pursue her research.
Astrid became pregnant on the Summer Solstice. At the end of the hunting season, they stay on after the others have left, to enjoy a bit of private time. Tor misjudged, and they became stranded, facing surviving the dark Arctic winter alone.
Over the year, Astrid wrote letters to her deceased son, giving insight into her innermost thoughts. Ten years later, Tor returns to the hunting camp for the first time since 1938. He reads the letters, searching to understand what had happened.
The story is as stark as the landscape.
Yes, the world is dangerous and sad and beautiful. There is no equilibrium, no careful balance between joy and sorrow. There is now, there is then, there is whatever may come. And no guarantee that You mete out only what we can endure. from The Last Whaler by Cynthia Reeves
Beautifully and sensitively written, the story told by Tor and through Astrid’s letters, the book embraces themes of grief, guilt, and mental health, the early emergence of feminism, our environmental impact, and the impact of war.
I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
October 4, 2024
TITLE: THE LAST WHALER
AUTHOR: Cynthia Reeves
PUB DATE: 09.03.2024
THE LAST WHALER is an elegiac meditation on the will to survive under extreme conditions. Tor, a beluga whaler, and his wife, Astrid, a botanist specializing in Arctic flora, are stranded during the dark season of 1937-38 at his remote whaling station when they misjudge ice conditions and fail to rendezvous with the ship meant to carry them back to their home in southern Norway. Beyond enduring the Arctic winter’ s twenty-four-hour night, the couple must cope with the dangers of polar bears, violent storms, and bitter cold as well as Astrid’ s unexpected pregnancy. THE LAST WHALER concerns the impact of humans on pristine environments, the isolation of mental illness, the sustenance of religious faith, and the solace of storytelling.
THOUGHTS:
Once in a while, you come across a hidden gem - and that was THE LAST WHALER for me. I love a good survival story in extreme conditions. Reeves captured the essence of these characters trapped in the harsh Arctic winter in 1937. The research for this novel was so well done and beautifully incorporated into the story with its details, and character study. I learned a lot about the Arctic region of Svalbard, the Arctic flora, and many other details. But most of all, the writing was beautiful, that I really felt the emotions of being alone, the sadness, the feeling of isolation, the clostrophobia, and the freezing cold. It’s about grief but also renewal.
It’s a fascinating story I just could not stop reading.
AUTHOR: Cynthia Reeves
PUB DATE: 09.03.2024
THE LAST WHALER is an elegiac meditation on the will to survive under extreme conditions. Tor, a beluga whaler, and his wife, Astrid, a botanist specializing in Arctic flora, are stranded during the dark season of 1937-38 at his remote whaling station when they misjudge ice conditions and fail to rendezvous with the ship meant to carry them back to their home in southern Norway. Beyond enduring the Arctic winter’ s twenty-four-hour night, the couple must cope with the dangers of polar bears, violent storms, and bitter cold as well as Astrid’ s unexpected pregnancy. THE LAST WHALER concerns the impact of humans on pristine environments, the isolation of mental illness, the sustenance of religious faith, and the solace of storytelling.
THOUGHTS:
Once in a while, you come across a hidden gem - and that was THE LAST WHALER for me. I love a good survival story in extreme conditions. Reeves captured the essence of these characters trapped in the harsh Arctic winter in 1937. The research for this novel was so well done and beautifully incorporated into the story with its details, and character study. I learned a lot about the Arctic region of Svalbard, the Arctic flora, and many other details. But most of all, the writing was beautiful, that I really felt the emotions of being alone, the sadness, the feeling of isolation, the clostrophobia, and the freezing cold. It’s about grief but also renewal.
It’s a fascinating story I just could not stop reading.
December 9, 2024
Raw and deep. Hard to read but so worth it.
February 18, 2025
4.5. Beautifully written and impressively researched. A few moments of slowness (which admitedly do add to the elegiac quality) keep it from being a 5.
July 27, 2024
Wow did I get lucky with this one! The cover and title piqued my interest, and I’m so grateful to NetGalley for advancing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. So here goes.
I knew from the first few pages of this book that this was a special one. One in which I would cherish every word and every page would not skim or skip. This book is about a father and husband, who has made a living in the whaling industry in the Arctic region of Svalbard, and has come back to the area from his home in Norway to confront the ghosts of his past. The theme of this book is grief and ultimately renewal, and I would have to say if you cannot handle heavy grief at this moment, I would steer clear of this one. However, as someone who has experienced grief and loss a little more distantly, I found it cathartic. I cried, I grinned, I closed my eyes and imagined the scenes before me. The absolute beauty of this book is not only the excellent writing, but in the books ability to transport you to this frozen landscape of which I previously did not know much about. The amount of research the author must’ve put into this book is incredible. From whaling, to artic flora, to the history of WW2 in the Arctic, and to what life is like living in the farthest reaches of our Earth, the author fascinated and captivated me.
I cannot say enough good things about this book, and I feel so privileged that it crossed my path. As an avid reader, especially of historical fiction, I am extremely picky and this was unlike any book I’ve ever read. It feels like a beautiful, haunting dream that I don’t want to leave. The story was compelling throughout and really did keep me going until the very last page. I cannot wait to see what this author does next.
Five giant stars from me. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I knew from the first few pages of this book that this was a special one. One in which I would cherish every word and every page would not skim or skip. This book is about a father and husband, who has made a living in the whaling industry in the Arctic region of Svalbard, and has come back to the area from his home in Norway to confront the ghosts of his past. The theme of this book is grief and ultimately renewal, and I would have to say if you cannot handle heavy grief at this moment, I would steer clear of this one. However, as someone who has experienced grief and loss a little more distantly, I found it cathartic. I cried, I grinned, I closed my eyes and imagined the scenes before me. The absolute beauty of this book is not only the excellent writing, but in the books ability to transport you to this frozen landscape of which I previously did not know much about. The amount of research the author must’ve put into this book is incredible. From whaling, to artic flora, to the history of WW2 in the Arctic, and to what life is like living in the farthest reaches of our Earth, the author fascinated and captivated me.
I cannot say enough good things about this book, and I feel so privileged that it crossed my path. As an avid reader, especially of historical fiction, I am extremely picky and this was unlike any book I’ve ever read. It feels like a beautiful, haunting dream that I don’t want to leave. The story was compelling throughout and really did keep me going until the very last page. I cannot wait to see what this author does next.
Five giant stars from me. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
October 23, 2024
Oh my gosh this novel was wonderful and sad. It is incredibly well-researched (can not emphasize this enough— this was educational as well as a good read) and well-written to illustrate the experiences of a husband and wife who are stranded in the Arctic during winter. This book, which is styled as the husband writing his own reflection 10 years later to his wife’s initial journal entries, goes deep into grief, postpartum psychosis, the madness of isolation and polar darkness, botany and other sciences, survival, cultural and religious rituals, the aftermaths of WWI and II in Norway, and whalers’ ethics and daily lives. I was completely hooked and thoroughly gut-punched. Would recommend 1000000%.
November 23, 2025
a sad but beautiful book, I really enjoyed it
January 1, 2025
Probably a 3.5. Fascinating, beautifully written, incredibly sad, set in a stark yet beautiful landscape, but also a slow read and a bit of a slog at times.
February 12, 2025
A good story about survival in Arctic conditions, but a little tedious toward the end. Set in a remote Norwegian whaling station before the German invasion.
November 30, 2024
Interesting setting and time period, but I wasn't totally sold by the story or writing style.
April 13, 2025
A story of grief and marriage taking place in the far northern islands of Norway just before WW 2. Propelled by grief related to the accidental death of a child a couple try to return to some new normalcy with tragic results. Absorbing read
September 18, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎵"...One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
Yes you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky
But 'til that morning,
There's nothin' can harm you
With daddy and mammy standin' by..."🎵
~Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald
What an incredible story from a very talented writer/storyteller – The Last Whaler is one of my favorite reads of the year!
From the very first pages, Reeves immerses you in a ‘hallowed’ journey to a place vastly unknown to time, history, and the world at large. Her meticulous research into the Artic, its landscape and flora, its whaling and WWII history are seamlessly intertwined into one couple’s story of love, life, and survival in 1930’s-40’s Svalbard (halfway between The North Pole and Norway.
Their story, told through botanist Astrid’s letters to the son she’d lost, and her whaler husband Tor’s later thoughts and remembrances on said letters, grapples with so much of life’s emotional experiences and the forces of and to nature. Amidst the back and forth of their POV’s, Reeves weaves into her words the ache for understanding nature, self-discovery, love, loneliness, survival, and even more so, grief and depression. I believe Hemingway would have agreed with me – The Last Whaler is like an iceberg itself, so much unseen to the naked eye yet so much depth in just 312 pages.
🗺“Yes, the world is dangerous and sad and beautiful. There is no equilibrium, no careful balance between joy and sorrow. There is now, there is then, there is whatever may come. And no guarantee that You mete out only what we can endure.” ~ Tor Handerland
I do feel it necessary to provide the content/trigger warnings: animal death, postpartum depression, child loss, and suicide. In lieu of a QoTD, I think it is so important to say that it IS OK not to feel ok. You are not alone, and help is always available – it is just a text away.
Thank you to @cynthia_p_reeves and @suzyapprovedbooktours for my gifted physical copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🎵"...One of these mornings
You're gonna rise up singing
Yes you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky
But 'til that morning,
There's nothin' can harm you
With daddy and mammy standin' by..."🎵
~Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald
What an incredible story from a very talented writer/storyteller – The Last Whaler is one of my favorite reads of the year!
From the very first pages, Reeves immerses you in a ‘hallowed’ journey to a place vastly unknown to time, history, and the world at large. Her meticulous research into the Artic, its landscape and flora, its whaling and WWII history are seamlessly intertwined into one couple’s story of love, life, and survival in 1930’s-40’s Svalbard (halfway between The North Pole and Norway.
Their story, told through botanist Astrid’s letters to the son she’d lost, and her whaler husband Tor’s later thoughts and remembrances on said letters, grapples with so much of life’s emotional experiences and the forces of and to nature. Amidst the back and forth of their POV’s, Reeves weaves into her words the ache for understanding nature, self-discovery, love, loneliness, survival, and even more so, grief and depression. I believe Hemingway would have agreed with me – The Last Whaler is like an iceberg itself, so much unseen to the naked eye yet so much depth in just 312 pages.
🗺“Yes, the world is dangerous and sad and beautiful. There is no equilibrium, no careful balance between joy and sorrow. There is now, there is then, there is whatever may come. And no guarantee that You mete out only what we can endure.” ~ Tor Handerland
I do feel it necessary to provide the content/trigger warnings: animal death, postpartum depression, child loss, and suicide. In lieu of a QoTD, I think it is so important to say that it IS OK not to feel ok. You are not alone, and help is always available – it is just a text away.
Thank you to @cynthia_p_reeves and @suzyapprovedbooktours for my gifted physical copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 16, 2024
Cynthia Reeves, the Author of “The Last Whaler” has an intriguing and heartbreaking Historical Novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, World War Two Historical Fiction, and Historical Fantasy. The timeline for this story is set in 1937, and goes to the past and future when it pertains to the characters and events. The story is set in Norway, and in the Arctic by a whaling station. In this well-researched book, the author describes the tragedy of World War Two, and the devastating effects. The author vividly describes the landscapes and the dark ,complex and complicated characters, and the life of a whaler and his wife in the Arctic in the winter.
Astrid’s career was in botany and flora, and it became a hobby when she had children in Norway Her husband Tor, is a beluga whaler, and leaves for long periods of time to do his livelihood. After losing their son, Astrid decides to accompany Tor on one of his trips. Unfortunately they miss the opportunity to go back home, and struggle to survive the cold wilderness of the Arctic, as well as the fear of Polar Bears and other wildlife. Their daughter is left with parents, and Astrid religiously writes to her. Astrid discovers that she is pregnant, and this isolation is problematic.
After Astrid’s death, Tor discovers letters that she wrote to their deceased son. He revisits the whaling station for closure. I appreciate that the author discusses Postpartum depression, and mental instability. The author mentions the importance of family, friends, neighbors, survival skills, courage, and hope. I recommend this intriguing book to others. I do have a warning, those sensitive to topics such as suicide, and animal lovers, should know that these are some of the topics in the book.
Astrid’s career was in botany and flora, and it became a hobby when she had children in Norway Her husband Tor, is a beluga whaler, and leaves for long periods of time to do his livelihood. After losing their son, Astrid decides to accompany Tor on one of his trips. Unfortunately they miss the opportunity to go back home, and struggle to survive the cold wilderness of the Arctic, as well as the fear of Polar Bears and other wildlife. Their daughter is left with parents, and Astrid religiously writes to her. Astrid discovers that she is pregnant, and this isolation is problematic.
After Astrid’s death, Tor discovers letters that she wrote to their deceased son. He revisits the whaling station for closure. I appreciate that the author discusses Postpartum depression, and mental instability. The author mentions the importance of family, friends, neighbors, survival skills, courage, and hope. I recommend this intriguing book to others. I do have a warning, those sensitive to topics such as suicide, and animal lovers, should know that these are some of the topics in the book.
September 22, 2024
I loved how differently this story was written. Tor is a beluga whaler and every whaling season heads north with a crew, but this time his wife Astrid wants to go. She is aware of other women who have gone before and has heard the warnings of what life is like up there, but she needs this. After the death of their son, neither has been the same. Reluctantly Tor agrees and if he had any inkling of what was to come, he would have done everything to keep Astrid home. After the season is over, the two decide to stay up there for just a little longer, to try and reconnect again. Sort of a second honeymoon, but instead it becomes a testament to survival in the most of harsh conditions over the winter months. The truth of everything that happened as well as Astrids most inner thoughts are unfolded a decade later as Tor reads the letters Astrid had been writing before and during that time. They are raw, deep, emotional and heartfelt. Often you feel you are reading those letters with Tor and feeling everything he is, as he learns really who his wife was and her most inner thoughts and feelings.
"I can understand that such moments of pure joy are joyful because we have the sorrows to compare them to, just as, without darkness, we wouldn't understand the light." is a line in the novel that really resonates with everything this novel is about. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord. I am looking forward to seeing what other stories the author writes.
"I can understand that such moments of pure joy are joyful because we have the sorrows to compare them to, just as, without darkness, we wouldn't understand the light." is a line in the novel that really resonates with everything this novel is about. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord. I am looking forward to seeing what other stories the author writes.
August 5, 2024
Set in a 1930s Arctic whaling station, Reeves’s meticulously researched tale follows a grieving couple as they search for solace in the harsh environment. Tor, a seasoned beluga whaler, and his wife Astrid, an expert in Arctic vegetation, are marooned at their isolated whaling outpost when their plans to rendezvous with a ship back to Norway go awry. Trapped in the unrelenting grip of winter darkness and besieged by treacherous polar bears, savage storms, and bone-chilling temperatures, the couple faces an additional challenge: Astrid’s sudden pregnancy.
The narrative unfolds with a dual perspective, alternating between Astrid’s poignant letters to Birk and Tor’s reflections on those letters, discovered years later. This structure delves deeply into the couple’s struggles as they cope with grief. At the same time, Reeves skillfully bridges the physical and spiritual aspects of the story, drawing readers into the space where reality and inner experiences overlap.
Her prose is excellent when it comes to depicting the harsh Arctic environment—the biting cold, endless darkness, and strong smells—while also delving into the characters’ inner emotions and beliefs. This interplay between the concrete and abstract aspects of life adds depth to the story, inviting readers to ponder the delicate harmony between physical experiences and spiritual ponderings during times of hardship and perseverance. Raw, poignant, and taut; a stunner.
The narrative unfolds with a dual perspective, alternating between Astrid’s poignant letters to Birk and Tor’s reflections on those letters, discovered years later. This structure delves deeply into the couple’s struggles as they cope with grief. At the same time, Reeves skillfully bridges the physical and spiritual aspects of the story, drawing readers into the space where reality and inner experiences overlap.
Her prose is excellent when it comes to depicting the harsh Arctic environment—the biting cold, endless darkness, and strong smells—while also delving into the characters’ inner emotions and beliefs. This interplay between the concrete and abstract aspects of life adds depth to the story, inviting readers to ponder the delicate harmony between physical experiences and spiritual ponderings during times of hardship and perseverance. Raw, poignant, and taut; a stunner.
July 29, 2025
This book was too full of heartache and sadness, beginning with the hint of one tragedy and the continuing distress over the first. Astrid is the daughter of Norwegian farmers and along with her parents and her husband manages the farm. Her husband, Tor, makes a living by capturing, killing and readying for use beluga whales on the isolated Svalbard archipelago. The horror of this business isn't fully known till Astrid decides to spend the summer with her husband and his crew during the whaling season while she also searches for flora to study and add to her botanical collection. Grief over the loss of their son and the resulting guilt and awkwardness transform but do not disappear during this summer, where the difficulty of living in close quarters with Tor's crew and tragedies involving wildlife do not ameliorate their problems. Because the underlying problems of miscommunications between husband and wife and the nature of grief remain unsolved, the situation deteriorates during their stay after the whaling season. Tor relates the events both from his own memory and the unexpected discovery of Astrid's letters to their son. Although we know of the tragedies from the beginning, the sense of doom and the unrelenting path of fate pervade the novel as we learn how and why these occur. Norway's capitulation during the Second World War and true and legendary stories of tragic lives add to this sense of loss.
October 21, 2024
The Last Whaler by Cynthia Reeves is a masterful exploration of survival, both physical and emotional, set against the harsh backdrop of the Arctic winter. Reeves' attention to vivid detail is nothing short of extraordinary—each description of the frozen wilderness, the dangerous isolation, and the couple’s daily struggles is so specific that you feel as though you are living alongside Tor and Astrid, battling the relentless forces of nature.
Reeves balances weighty themes with grace, offering moments of unexpected joy and hope amidst the struggles. The result is a moving and unforgettable novel. The Last Whaler will linger with you long after the final page, a testament to human resilience in the face of overwhelming hardship.
What makes this novel truly remarkable is its ability to weave together personal and environmental crises. Through Tor’s resolve and Astrid’s resilience, Reeves brings the Arctic to life not just as a setting, but as a character itself. The stark beauty of the environment mirrors the couple’s internal conflicts—their unspoken grief over a lost child, their strained but deep bond, and the weight of regret and guilt. Well done!
February 11, 2026
This was a lovely, slow read. Historical fiction set in 1937 and 1947, told in two voices. In 1947, Tor, a Norwegian man who spent his summers whaling in the arctic north, has found a cache of letters written by his wife Astrid in 1937, telling the story of that summer, when she left her family’s dairy farm to join her husband in the arctic on his summer whaling expedition. The novel alternates between Tor’s reflections on the events of the summer from his perspective, which is challenged by his wife’s letters telling the same story, but from her perspective. Tor was hoping the summer would help him and his wife reconnect after a family tragedy, and would heal their grief. As the novel progresses, the couple face challenges in dealing with the harsh environmental conditions, his wife’s role in a world where men dominate the whaling crew and even the few towns they visit have few women, the brutality of Tor’s profession, which involves slaughtering the majestic beluga whales. All of this happens in a community mostly isolated from the world’s events of the growing threat posed by Nazi Germany. Ultimately, though, this is the story of a marriage, of how individuals handle grief, and the difficulties of communication, even in a couple who clearly love each other, but cannot quite connect.
December 29, 2024
The Last Whaler takes us on a gripping, emotional account of the unbearable pain of losing a child, a marriage, personal and shared dreams, and pulls us through Tor and Astrid’s breathtaking survival on one of the most challenging landscapes on earth, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Astrid writes early on to their lost son: ‘The very space in which I live has been altered…It provokes a sense of wonder, yes, wonder. Yet simmering underneath is the feeling that dangers lurk everywhere.’ Ghosts, grief and guilt linger around them like a dank, impenetrable fog. Unspeakable anger and indescribable cold pierce them, bears attack them, memories haunt them. But with all the dangers and unfathomable isolation come discoveries and rediscoveries, beauty and awe. With her rich, passionate writing and vast research, Cynthia Reeves will be hailed as one of the grand storymasters of our time.
October 19, 2024
In 1937-1938, a whale hunter and his botanist wife find themselves stranded in the Svalbard archipelago, which is surrounded by the Norwegian and Barents Seas. Trapped by the Arctic ice, the dark season falls upon them.
The writing and language reminded me of classics from an era long gone. With poetic descriptions of the weather, the landscape, and the arctic flora and fauna, the narrative is beautiful yet, at times, harsh and brutal.
This story is about survival, isolation, grief, and human impact on the environment. It is the story of a grieving couple and a woman suffering.
Be prepared to be immersed in this dark, frigid climate and into this couple’s grief, love, and sorrow.
This has some weighty and raw themes. Please feel free to DM me if you have any questions.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @cynthia_p_reeves for a spot on tour and gifted book.
February 1, 2025
3.5 In 1937 A wife accompanies her husband, the captain of a small whaling crew, to Svalbard, well north of Norway proper. She is trying to regain herself after the death of her young child the year before. She plans to devote her time to collecting botanical specimens, as she is a trained botanist (this is not very realistic given there is a team of men to feed!). A miscalculation means she and her husband have to overwinter in the far-north, completely isolated, and with little food and fuel. And worse, she is pregnant. Two stories alternate. Her story is made of letters to her dead son Birk. His story is about his return to to Svalbard 10 years later where he relives those days that showed how two married people can at times not know each other at all. This is a story of grief and loss, accentuated by the cruelty of the far north. Well written but pretty darn sad.
September 20, 2024
A historical fiction novel taking place in the 1930s about a whaler named Tor, and his wife Astrid who decides to accompany him to his whailing station in the Arctic. Astrid is grieving the loss of their son. When they miss the boat to return to Norway they find themselves stranded in the Arctic darkness, the dangers of the polar bears and the extreme cold. Astrid is also pregnant. She starts writing letters to the son they lost. After Astrid's death, Tor returns years later and reads these letters. This story was full of emotions and grief and I felt every bit of it as well as the vivid landscape. This was a beautiful story that was well written and so much more than I ever expected. What a great read.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
October 18, 2025
The writing is beautiful and the story is devastating.
I found this on the new fiction shelf at our library, and the description intrigued me. I was somewhat hesitant when I saw that there were only 67 reviews on Goodreads, making me wonder why so few people have read it. I cannot answer that question, but I can say that I hope many more people do read it.
I loved that one of the characters, Astrid, is a specialist in Arctic flora. Also of interest to me was Astrid and Tor’s reckoning with the impact we have on our world, and whether animals are here to serve us or not. Astrid was raised on a farm, and Tor is one of the last whalers, so their doubts and reckonings are very interesting, coming from a practical background.
I found this on the new fiction shelf at our library, and the description intrigued me. I was somewhat hesitant when I saw that there were only 67 reviews on Goodreads, making me wonder why so few people have read it. I cannot answer that question, but I can say that I hope many more people do read it.
I loved that one of the characters, Astrid, is a specialist in Arctic flora. Also of interest to me was Astrid and Tor’s reckoning with the impact we have on our world, and whether animals are here to serve us or not. Astrid was raised on a farm, and Tor is one of the last whalers, so their doubts and reckonings are very interesting, coming from a practical background.
July 27, 2024
Cynthia Reeves wrote "The Last Whaler" as far as she could with a dramatic ending. A husband and wife go to the arctic and end up spending more time than they could. Astrid, the wife, ended up getting pregnant during the time her husband, Tor, was with her. But what had happened was that their previous son had fallen off the pier and drown. Astrid never felt this go away, and wrote him letters. What had happened was that they missed the last boat back to Oslo and had to stay the winter. I'll let you read the rest because it's interesting and will satisfy your curiosity. I'll say this Cynthia Reeves has pages of what she took the story from.
August 20, 2024
Through her deep research, which included a trip to the Arctic, and her luminous prose, Reeves meticulously recreates life in a distinctive moment and place, and she offers a richly drawn portrait of resilience in the face of stunning hardship.
Although there is tragedy and sadness at the heart of the story, this is not a depressing read. There is great joy and happiness and adventure throughout. Part of the pleasure of reading this novel is seeing this remote land–one that I had never before heard of–portrayed with such richness.
To read my full review, visit https://smallpresspicks.com/the-last-....
Although there is tragedy and sadness at the heart of the story, this is not a depressing read. There is great joy and happiness and adventure throughout. Part of the pleasure of reading this novel is seeing this remote land–one that I had never before heard of–portrayed with such richness.
To read my full review, visit https://smallpresspicks.com/the-last-....
October 1, 2024
This is one beautifully descriptive book about the formidableness of nature and the power of the human psyche.
The book is told through letters written to a son by his mother as well as a narrative of a husband returning to a personally powerful location a decade later.
This book is filled with emotion and action. It’s 1937. Astrid has decided to accompany her husband, Tor, during his whale hunting season in the Arctic. Once summer season ends and the couple decide to stay longer into September, they become stranded during the dark season.
Astrid’s letter share her mindset and their quest for survival in one of the harshest environments in the world.
The book is told through letters written to a son by his mother as well as a narrative of a husband returning to a personally powerful location a decade later.
This book is filled with emotion and action. It’s 1937. Astrid has decided to accompany her husband, Tor, during his whale hunting season in the Arctic. Once summer season ends and the couple decide to stay longer into September, they become stranded during the dark season.
Astrid’s letter share her mindset and their quest for survival in one of the harshest environments in the world.
September 26, 2024
This historical fiction is set in 1937 with some time travel for events. From a different perspective, we learn about World War II and its catastrophic results. The author does a fabulous job of taking the reader on a journey of Norway and the Arctic. New bucket list item! I fell in love with the characters and had a love/hate relationship with the emotions I felt throughout the story. A devastating event changes the course of this family’s life. You won’t forget this story anytime soon.
Triggers include: mental health, postpartum depression, suicide, and animal cruelty.
Triggers include: mental health, postpartum depression, suicide, and animal cruelty.
October 15, 2024
After the summer of 1937, Tor, who hunts Beluga whales, and Astrid, who studies arctic botany, miss their boat back to Norway, and get stranded for an entire Arctic winter of complete darkness, bitter cold, violent storms, polar bears stealing their food, and an unexpected pregnancy. The Last Whaler is a strikingly beautiful novel about nature, the environment, marriage, parenthood, war, isolation, mental illness, and survival.
I was honored to interview author Cynthia Reeves: https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-last-...
I was honored to interview author Cynthia Reeves: https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-last-...
February 10, 2025
Very interesting and unique book which I totally appreciate. The two-letter style worked though I was skeptical at first (as long as you suspend disbelief that near the end she actually had the energy, time, and materials to keep writing in complete coherent sentences). I also struggled with their complete stupidity to stay longer into the fall - that was also not believable. My complaints make me think 4 stars is too much but I did enjoy the writing and the detail of such a foreign environment.
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