Dark Matter by Michelle Paver– A Ghost Story

I recently remembered my love for ghost stories, and have been reading several books featuring happenings that can’t be explained by a rational mind. One of them was Dark Matter by Michelle Paver, a story about a man who goes out on an expedition in the Arctic.

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver

It’s January 1937 and Jack (28) hates his life and feels like he has missed his chance to make something of it. Then he’s offered an opportunity to join an Arctic expedition with three other men. They decided they will set up camp at Gruhuken, something the captain who’s taking them there frowns upon. He tries to dissuade them from going there and is obviously uneasy about going there, as are the rest of the crew of the ship. But Jack, Gus and Archie are convinced Gruhuken is the best place for their research. As I was reading I figured there must be something very wrong with Gruhuken. This made the journey and their arrival at Gruhuken even more interesting! I wondered what the trouble and problem would be at Gruhuken.

Upon their first arrival, the men are excited and impressed by the island’s rugged beauty. They start working enthusiastically and decide to demolish an old hut to make space for their own building, which worries the captain and crew. Jack and his friends, however, dismiss notions of ghosts as nonsense. Then, Gus falls ill and must return to civilization, accompanied by Archie, leaving Jack alone on the island.

And it does not feel good!

Sometimes he thinks he sees someone, even though he is the only person on the island. At other times, he senses an air thick with animosity and malice. Jack becomes frightened and gradually starts to believe that Gruhuken is indeed haunted, though he tells himself that a ghost cannot harm him. When the sun disappears for long stretches and all of Jack’s days are spent in darkness, maintaining his sanity becomes increasingly difficult. Slowly, both Jack and, probably, the reader realize that a ghost can indeed hurt him.

Summing up

Dark Matter is a story about solitude. It explores how routines, schedules, and small rituals can help one maintain a sense of control when everything else seems meaningless. I found this aspect particularly compelling, as I too rely on routines to navigate the challenges of daily life. Surrounded by nothing, Jack clings to himself as the only source of meaning, which he does remarkably well. Even when night and day blur into one endless darkness, he preserves a semblance of normality by following his daily routines and exercises to stay sane.

Of course, Dark Matter is also a ghost story.

I enjoyed it, though I found the ending slightly underwhelming. Still, Paver’s evocative writing and her portrayal of Arctic isolation make this a memorable and (literally) chilling read.

It gets a rating of 3,95 on GoodReads. I agree with that!

De Nederlandse versie heet De geest van Gruhuken:

Other ghost story

• Winter People

I’m participating with The Sunday Post of Caffeinated Reviewer!