172 Hours On The Moon Johan Harstad Book Review

When I was a kid, during Nickelodeon’s golden age, they used to always air these commercials for space camp. Like any reasonable 9-year-old, I desperately wanted to go. Alas, it was not meant to be. Cuz, you guys, after reading 172 Hours On The Moon by Johan Harstad translated by Tara F. Chace, I am convinced that space is sinister, so maybe not going to space camp is a blessing.

172 Hours On The Moon Johan Harstad Book Cover

Okay, so like in the beginning of 172 Hours On The Moon, NASA has 0 dollars and 0 views during their space launches. Then they are like, hmmmm, how do we get more monies? OH! Let’s hold a massive lottery for an all expenses paid trip to THE MOON HOLLA! The catch? Only teens can enter. The three winners consisting of Mia- Norwegian, Midori-Japanese, and Antoine – French, have different reasons for accepting the ‘prize’: notoriety, a bad break up, and an escape from tradition.

172 Hours On The Moon by Johan Harstad starts off sort of slow, but it’s like that super slow build up to the massive crescendo, where by the time it happens, you are like whoa, that was intense bro. I mean, it took me awhile to warm up to and really get into 172 Hours On The Moon. But, like the whole time you get the sense that something isn’t quite right and there are CHILLS and GOOSEBUMPS, yo. Plus, it feels like it takes FOREVA to get to the moon.

BUT ONCE THERE OMG I CANNOT. Dudes, the moon is like SO scary. There are legit bad, bad things there. This is when shit gets real. And let me tell you, it is awesome. I was all wait, what? after certain scenes and also really nervous. I wish that there had been a little less build up and a little more moon, since the moon bits were awesome, but not quite enough for me to get over the slow start.

In all, I would definitely recommend 172 Hours by Johan Harstad translated by Tara F. Chace to people who just want a thrill set against the back drop of the moon. Seriously, I will NEVER look at space the same way again. Actually, scratch that. After Independence Day, I was scared of aliens, like phobia scared, and now – well, moon, I’ve got my eye on you.

Disclosure: Received for review via Netgalley.

Other reviews of 172 Hours On The Moon by Johan Harstad:

Stacked
The Book Smugglers
Forever Young Adult

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April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.
About April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Comments

  1. For me this one was ALL about the build up (which is why I though so many of the scary thoughts were actually really funny!). And I am right there with you on never looking at the moon the same way again.

  2. While the beginning was a little slow, I kind of liked the slow build up to the creepiness that was the moon. I think the ‘scariest’ part of the book (by far) was the end. =)

  3. oh snap. I’m reading this one right now and giving it the side eye. I’ve not that far into it, maybe 30 pages, but I can’t WAIT to get to the real scary shit. I heart scary. but… *side eyes 172 hours*

    great review. 😀

  4. I’m from Norway and read that book afew years ago and I loved it 🙂 Makes me proud to be norwegian 😉 And it is scary! I was so afraid in the end i barly dared to turn the pages! :S Yeah the begining was a bit slow but deff worth it 🙂 Thinking about spreading the word out there too 🙂
    Happy reading! 😀

  5. I love your review! I wanted to go to space camp sooo bad! I really need to get this book.

  6. I wanted to go to space camp too! I haven’t heard of this one, but you’ve got me intrigued!

  7. Space completely freaks me out anyway! The premise of the book is pretty cool, a free trip to space?? Neat! You have me interested though, I hadn’t really looked twice at this one before.

  8. That cover is terrifying.

  9. EVIL MOON? Yes, please. This reminds me of the moon that is totally descending upon earth in three days in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask and it has a face and is SCARY AS FFFUUU. I have this book and will DEFINITELY be reading it. I love being scared, but I’ll probably have to read it during the day.

    Definitely not when the moon is visible.

  10. I was wondering what you were gonna say about this one after reading all of your updates about STILL NO MOON YO or something like that. The cover is creepy creepy creepy with that weird eyeball. But I’m intrigued. Dangit April! I have too many books to read already – I don’t need to add more books to my TBR!

    Man I really like space stuff tho. Dangit!

    • LOL Asheley. Those updates were so much fun to write, ha ha.

      Yeah, the cover creeps me out and I’m glad I read it on my kindle so I didn’t have to look at it.

      BOO LARGE TBRS, but also, YAY large TBRs, isn’t exciting to have the possibility of so many awesome books?

  11. I had heard this one was pretty slow going. A friend of mine quit reading it because he couldn’t get into it. HOWEVER, I’m super curious now because I like suspense, and goosebumps, and action, and awesome.

    And the last line of your review = priceless.

    • I could see that, like it took me a long time to really GET INTO this one, but I liked the ending and everything once we got to the moon.

      Lol, I spent forever coming up with that last line.

  12. You ALMOST sold this one for me. I’m just not sure. I mean, the fact that you recommend makes me want to run out and get it RIGHT NOW. But I’m not always a big fan of horror, although it can be good in books (in movies, I will die of a heart attack because I am the wimpiest wimp that ever wimped). Also, the slow start isn’t really moving me. I don’t know.

    Guess I’ll read MORE reviews. CONSENSUS shall decide.

    • That’s why I love book blogging, because you can search out and find lots more reviews to find a consensus.

      I am okay with horror, but I cannot handle zombie movies. They scare me too much.

  13. This sounds really exciting, and I love sci-fi. Thanks for sharing.

  14. And the scary giant eyeball on that cover definitely HAS ITS EYE ON YOU, APRIL.

  15. I just finished reading this book and I was scared shitless. I couldn’t even go upstairs along. It was like a horror movie set in space, how one by one they all died…and the ending. Ugh, great book but yeah, scary!

    Great review 🙂

  16. Liesel Hill says

    I’ll read it for the scariness, despite the slow build. As a writer I’m never sure if my scary stuff is scary stuff is scary enough so I’m always interested to see what others who are awesomer than me have come up with. Thanx for the review!

  17. This sounds like fun, but part of that might be because I recently started watching Battlestar Galactica and I’m on a bit of a space kick now. Lol.

  18. Ooh, I really want to read this. Been looking for some good, scary, sci-fi.

  19. So at first I had no interest in this book, but the more I hear about it, the more I’m like MUST HAVE. It sounds chilling and awesome, and like I’ll totally be afraid of the moon for a reason other than werewolves, which excites me. I also like none of the kids are American. I know this makes sense since it’s a Norwegian book and all, but yo, the rest of the world represent!

  20. I soo want to read this. What was that movie that came out like summer last year that was supposed to be a “found footage” documentary about space and then it got all like, infections and scary, scary tingz? This totally reminds me of that.

    • Ummm? Was it Paranormal Activity? I don’t know, I don’t really, lol watch scary movies or new movies unless they are out on netflix. That movie does sound good though.

  21. Oh man, now I really, REALLY want to read this. I love a good creepy book every now and then. Thanks for the review :]

  22. whoever made the cover, you’re good at it because yes, i’m intrigued. the eye(?) is creepy which reminds me supernatural creatures. great! but this received mixed reviews, i’m not sure whether i’d like/love it or worse, hate it. i do read sci-fi and horror books, so this should be fine?

  23. I really need to read this book. I have only heard good things about it.