Helm, by Sarah Hall. Plot/spoilers etc possible.

[MaterMoribund]

Has anyone else read this? I’ve been a big fan of Sarah Hall since Haweswater, The Carhullan Army etc and although I do find her work variable, Helm was a superb read and one I will return to in future.
Some random thoughts:
The device of the Helm Wind personified could have been very twee, but somehow wasn’t.
Plenty of “show not tell”.
An understated, wry humour, particularly in Helm’s musings on those funny little Human things Helm observes and the warrior priest’s icy disdain overindulged monks.
Each time period could have been a novel in its own right, but Hall has distilled it down rather than over embellish and stick a swirly cover on it.

Thanks for the thread! This was my first Sarah Hall and I am really impressed. I felt invested in nearly all of the characters in the different timelines. It reminded me of Cloud Atlas but less showing off 😅 (sorry I wasn't fully a fan of CA).

The thing I enjoyed most was the ambiguous endings. Eg we never know whether Selima makes it down and I grimly quite like to assume she doesn't. She pictures a happy ending in her head but I read it a few times and it's just her imagining to keep herself going. I think the lost phone earlier in the book leaves an ominous foreshadowing (even though she could have dropped it and still been rescued).

I also like the way we didn't directly see Michael's end but can surmise it, although again it's a bit oblique. Janni too. At one point I thought with horror that every single character was going to die up there! And part of me would have found this horribly satisfying.

I'm not usually like this but do definitely enjoy a gritty ending sometimes. I was a bit disappointed when Jude made it down from his flight! Although what writing in that section about his ascent. I got whole body frisson. I love that he didn't tell anyone about the altitude record. Just beautiful to read.

I'll come back with more thoughts as they come to me if that's ok! A wonderful book to discuss.

I suppose to Helm the ultimate fates of the humans isn’t that important, because Helm is so big and ancient it sees the circle of life rather than individuals. I liked to think Helm helped Janni survive, though, but again, that’s my puny human emotions talking .
Helm is like a terrifying local God, but tempering the fierceness there is sometimes a temptation to lend a spiritual hand. As Hall is a resolute humanist (President of Humanists Uk) I wouldn’t want to insist she’s written about any sort of god! Rather the perceptions of natural phenomena through the ages and a respect (or otherwise) for them. Michael, for instance, wearing that skullcap, making a slave of the child whose parents he killed, judging everybody else as soft and unworthy, carrying the cross up Cross Fell (I can barely manage a rucksack on the fells round there!)………but nature is ultimately stronger than him and he’s reduced to one of Helm’s gathered trinkets.
I did think Selima made it down, but on a reread, maybe I’d change my mind Helm doesn’t care, because in the blink of an eye to Helm she’ll be dead anyway. I think there’s a lesson in there about caring for the individuals rather than what humans are doing to nature.

Oh I agree, the fate of one or two (or half a dozen) puny humans is nothing to Helm! I like that explanation for why there are a few unresolved endings. I'm afraid I think Janni jumps to her death trying to fly, and I interpreted it as Isa murdering Michael at the peak... Revenge at last, but so bleak.

It's interesting those were the 3 characters (Janni, Michael and Selima) that I was most invested in.

It's also interesting how very spiritual the book seemed to me; I didn't know Hall was a Humanist. I don't know too much about Humanism but the book certainly delves very effectively into religion, belief, spiritual / transformative experiences, karma, fate, and the concept of a higher power.

Humanism has informed my life, my beliefs, and the spirit of my writing. I believe the power to improve our lives, our environments, and our collective futures, lies within us. It is human grace, accountability, wisdom, and positivity that inspires me; the understanding that this existence is our only chance.’

^^
That’s a quote from her about being Patron of Humanists UK. I don’t want to derail my own thread but I don’t have a lot of time for the more militant humanist wing (especially after a fairly recent bad experience with an absolute twat of a celebrant operating under the Humanist UK banner). I think Hall is an inspiring example of a humanist, however and ‘human grace’, or the lack of it, shines through all her writing. I think you are very lucky to have her other books to look forward to!
I recently visited the memorial to the railway workers and their families in the churchyard of St Mary’s Outhgill. I found the sections about the Victorian inventor attempting to harness the power of Helm as a new source of energy really fascinating and the real life itinerant workers’ hard, short lives were deftly woven into that section. A perfect contrast to modern day humans poisoning the atmosphere with microplastics.

Btw, for a truly grim novel set in the same area, try The Lamb, by Lucy Rose. You’ll need a strong stomach and be in the mood for ‘gritty’ with bobs on

Oh derail away in my opinion.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience with a humanist celebrant. That sounds very upsetting.

I am lucky, aren't I! My tbr pile is scary though so other Halls will just have to wait!

That memorial sounds excellent.

I was recommended The Lamb before but I am squeamish and only occasionally manage horror type things, so I gave it a pass. But thanks for mentioning.

I've just finished this. I enjoyed the modern threads more. I think Janni dies too.