Rating: 
Summary: Like life on another planet
Review: This amazing story of a winter at the South Pole entertains on several levels. Jerri Nielsen was obviously looking for an escape from the real world of a nasty divorce and loss of her children when she accepted the job of physician at a U.S. South Pole station. Her story of discovering cancer and treating herself until she could be lifted out is well-known and interesting, but I found far more compelling the story of how any group of human beings survives a winter of total darkness and outer-space-like cold. Jerri arrives during the "summer," when it's still safe to go outside with face uncovered and the station is crowded with seasonal visitors. She quickly becomes immersed in the "polie" culture and like the others begins to long for the quiet and solitude of the dark months. Practicing medicine under these conditions was certainly a challenge--adhesive doesn't stick, wounds are covered with crazy glue, a doctor must burrow through 10 layers of clothing to examine the patient. Patients suffer from the effects of high altitude--I never knew that the polar ice is so thick the pole stands at 10,000 feet. As darkness smothers the station, life becomes precarious, hanging by the thread of 4 generators which provide heat and light. The strain of spending long months coccooned with 40 other people takes its toll--some people become "toast"--withdrawing into music or the internet or staring into nothingness for long periods. The polies engage in what seems like an endless round of parties and hijinks to relieve the tedium. Some are rather dangerous, like the century challenge, involving running outside naked in 100 degree below zero weather and returning to run into a 100 degree sauna. Birthdays and holidays become a very big deal. It's hard to imagine how people survived in the station before the internet--although only available for a few hours a day polies stay in constant touch with families and friends. And medical advice dispensed over the internet and eventually through a live hook-up saves Jerri's life. One wonders what kind of person chooses this life--the same people who sail across the ocean solo, or spend months on submarines, or withdraw to live in a hut on a mountaintop--or who will someday sign on for the first manned flight into deep space. This book gives a hint of what that might be like! I listened to the audio version read by the author. Not a professional reader, the author mangles words occasionally and can get a bit whiny in parts. But she did an adequate job, and the story is interesting enough to hold one's interest on a long drive.
Rating: 
Summary: An incredible story evryone will like
Review: When I was assigned this book for summer reading I didn't think anything more about it than any other book on the list, but once I found out what it was about I was hooked. the story is truly inspirational and intriguing. I was surprised to find my own grandfather had worked at the south pole station, though not the same one and knew a bit about what the boook described. It is struly a book that will grab your attention and make you desire to know how Jerrie is doing today.
~ an enthusiastic fan~
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