Part 1 of the Expedition

From the very first chapter, I was intrigued. As Shackleton and his men were preparing for this expedition, you were really able to feel the anticipation. The years of funding, gathering a crew, and preparation had made this such a big event not only for the men, but for England as a country. The expectations for this expedition were at a high. As I was reading the beginning chapters, it almost had a Titanic vibe about the whole story. The great expedition who carried men who were expected to survive on the great Endurance. The resemblance was there and I felt the comparison while reading. When the ship got trapped in the northeast gale, the motivation to survive was put to the test for months.  I was impressed with the attitudes of the crew once the Antarctic night came. To be trapped in freezing cold temperatures, in an enclosed ship, and in darkness takes real will-power. Think about two years ago when Hurricane Sandy hit us in New Jersey. My house was out of power for 1 1/2 weeks and I felt like I was going crazy. My house was a little colder and my family was getting on each other's nerves. This is not even a fraction of the suffering that these men had to go through. The courage was astounding from the men in the book, and I am very interested to see if it lasts!