Rating: 
Summary: Terrible, Terrible, Terrible!
Review: This book was so bad it was the biggest waste of time in my entire life. The story line had great potential but the actual story itself was very, very weak and unfulfilling. The characters were worthless and it was without a doubt the worst ending on all time. I wouldn't recommend this book to my worst enemies. The only reason I would ever buy this book would be so I can use it as fuel for my fireplace. I would have given this book a lower rating, but there wasn't an option for a half-star. You would get more enjoyment out of reading the dictionary than you would from reading this book. Absolutely Terrible!! p.s. They never find any gold!
Rating: 
Summary: a great read!!
Review: This is a book for those who love the frozen north. The book made me want to build my own raft and head up the Makenzie river. If you've read any kind of exploration books like tales of Shakletons journey or Scotts trials then this will hit home.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Story!
Review: This was my first Michener novel and I found it to be extremely entertaining. I too was disappinted that almost everyone dies off, but this isn't supposed to be a warm & fuzzy book, it's about a difficult journey made more difficult by the person in charge. Michener originally wanted to include this story in ALASKA, but that novel was already quite long. This is a perfect lead-in for Alaska and a great Michener book for the beginner or someone looking for something a bit shorter while between Michener classics.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story!
Review: This was my first Michener novel and I found it to be extremely entertaining. I too was disappinted that almost everyone dies off, but this isn't supposed to be a warm & fuzzy book, it's about a difficult journey made more difficult by the person in charge. Michener originally wanted to include this story in ALASKA, but that novel was already quite long. This is a perfect lead-in for Alaska and a great Michener book for the beginner or someone looking for something a bit shorter while between Michener classics.
Rating: 
Summary: Foreshadowing Gone Amuck
Review: You can tell James Michener does his research. His knowledge about the peoples, wildlife, climates about Europe, Canada and the USA during this time is top notch and I certainly learned many things.
However, the story itself leaves much to be desired. Five guys go for the gold and find much trouble along the way. That's it in a nutshell. Now to my main problem.
Michener tells us over and over again that the lead character was going to make a decision that would be tragic for the members. He tells you this almost every other page, so that when it does happen, you aren't moved or anything. You're waiting the whole book for things to fall apart and you know they will. So the book is a test of patience, with little to make the wait worthwhile. The characters themselves are not all unlikable (particularly Harry Carpenter) but they are unbelievable.
Lord Luton is too stubborn in his decisions without reason. He obviously really wants to get to the Klondike his way. Everyone tells him it's the worst plan and would likely kill them all. Yet he refuses alternate plans. Why?? Michener never tells us why he is so stuck on this one route. Luton doesn't want to cross through American territory for some reason, but even when presented with options that would be easier and meet this criteria he refuses. Simply unbelievable. And Harry Carpenter, knowing that death may be in store for all of them, goes along with it out of some sense of loyalty. Maybe that's how people were. If so, then these characters that you are going to be spending the whole book with are either incredibly fake or incredibly irresponsible. Either option is incredibly unenjoyable.
I finished it, and while his command of the English language is stellar, the book is not. Pass on this one and read his others (Alaska, Chesapeake).
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