Rating: 
Summary: This book proves Horace's adage
Review: "Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt"--you can't change your soul by traveling across the ocean. Wheeler quotes this adage and provides some fascinating insights into it from her own perspective, noting that her wanderlust comes from her fear of losing her faith if she lives too long and home and is forced to confront the sad realities of daily life. I feel the same way and had never heard it expressed so beautifully. This is a fine travel book that provides an interesting contrast to recent works on the physical conquest of Antarctica, for this is about the mental conquest of this strange continent. I have read many books about Antarctic exploration but this is the first one that made me want to go myself. I especially appreciated her comments on the disjointed feeling the traveler has when leaving the country she's just visited. Travel literature isn't supposed to be about the country you're visiting (that's what guidbooks are for)--this kind of writing is much more interesting and lasting.
Rating:
Summary: This book proves Horace's adage
Review: "Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt"--you can't change your soul by traveling across the ocean. Wheeler quotes this adage and provides some fascinating insights into it from her own perspective, noting that her wanderlust comes from her fear of losing her faith if she lives too long and home and is forced to confront the sad realities of daily life. I feel the same way and had never heard it expressed so beautifully. This is a fine travel book that provides an interesting contrast to recent works on the physical conquest of Antarctica, for this is about the mental conquest of this strange continent. I have read many books about Antarctic exploration but this is the first one that made me want to go myself. I especially appreciated her comments on the disjointed feeling the traveler has when leaving the country she's just visited. Travel literature isn't supposed to be about the country you're visiting (that's what guidbooks are for)--this kind of writing is much more interesting and lasting.
Rating:
Summary: This book proves Horace's adage
Review: "Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt"--you can't change your soul by traveling across the ocean. Wheeler quotes this adage and provides some fascinating insights into it from her own perspective, noting that her wanderlust comes from her fear of losing her faith if she lives too long and home and is forced to confront the sad realities of daily life. I feel the same way and had never heard it expressed so beautifully. This is a fine travel book that provides an interesting contrast to recent works on the physical conquest of Antarctica, for this is about the mental conquest of this strange continent. I have read many books about Antarctic exploration but this is the first one that made me want to go myself. I especially appreciated her comments on the disjointed feeling the traveler has when leaving the country she's just visited. Travel literature isn't supposed to be about the country you're visiting (that's what guidbooks are for)--this kind of writing is much more interesting and lasting.
Rating:
Summary: Combines modern and historic perspectives with humour
Review: A complete guide to the Antarctic experience, Sara interweaves anecdotes, history, humour and impressions until you feel as if you have been there with her. She loved her first visit so much that she returned to winter over on the Ice.
Rating: 
Summary: A fascinating, though flawed, view of Antarctica
Review: A very good, but not great view. I'll admit right up front that I've always wanted to go to Antarctica and this book helped get me a chance to vicariously see it. And it's certainly unique to see it from a woman's perspective. As others have pointed out, it is the fantasy vacation - very few of us could just hop around and freely wander the continent as one would do in Europe. But maybe that's what makes it all the more fun. She obviously did her research before going and that pays off handsomely in her accounts. I felt that I learned about the history of the continent as well as a view of trekking there. So often the books about places like Antarctica have to be adventures stories full of hardship and danger, so it's refreshing to be able to have someone look at it from a different eye. Some of her work is offputting though. She often seemed to be upset that she was treated like an outsider, but then she flits into a camp, goes and does her thing and often sounds like she didn't really kill herself to integrate too. My biggest complaint however is the lack of maps. She talks far too much about places which we as the reader have no idea where they are. So often when reading I would flip to the small maps provided and try to imagine where she is now. Since most of us are newbies when it comes to the area, more points of reference were necessary. Well not necessary but would have improved enjoyment of the adventure. That said, however, the book is a refreshing journey into an unknown area, where you can learn as much about yourself as you do the continent. Sit back in front of a warm fire and dream of the south. It's a fascinating journey.
Rating:
Summary: The Arts and Sciences Alive in Antarctica
Review: A young and adventureous female writer describes scientists and technicians in Antarctica. Ms. Wheeler transforms 7-month in science camps into a refreshing exposition of people and places. Ms. Wheeler is not of the touchy-feely kind. At a fast clip she instead surprises with delightful stories of encounters with a different breed of people in a different land. "Terra Incognita" is not all ice but also mountains and deserts and abundant life. As a scientist I felt at times described like a caged animal on display. She pokes fun of subjects and self that the feeble may not always like. Her book made me laugh and smile often. It still does. The people in Ms. Wheeler's book reminded me of companions that I lived with in close quarters working on Arctic research vessels. She succeeds very well to reveal the essence of men and women who live science. With humor and gripping commentary she depicts the human side of science. This is also new travel writing at its very best since Bruce Chatwin stopped writing. As Ms. Wheeler's first book on travels in Chile, "Terra Incognita" reflects a healthy thirst for life and wanderlust.
Rating:
Summary: Picture of Antarctica as it is today
Review: Antarctica from the perspective of a woman is a unique find. While the book includes excerpts from explorers past, it gives a good picture of what living down there is really like now. A worthy read.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely magical and real at once
Review: Extraordinary. Made me laugh and cry at once. Deadpan British humour and intriguing detail coexists along soaringly touching, even mystical, reverie. There is nothing sentimental about Wheeler's love for the Antarctic. This is a real journey told with incredible candour. It's a privilege to have read it. One of Wheeler's cleverest adjectives to describe detailed, jewel-like writing that she admires is "lapidary." She uses it twice in the book to describe the Antarctic writing of other authors. But HER OWN writing is as jewel-like and detailed in the extreme. What an extraordinary book. It's not like a book at all - it's like a world.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely magical and real at once
Review: Extraordinary. Made me laugh and cry at once. Deadpan British humour and intriguing detail coexists along soaringly touching, even mystical, reverie. There is nothing sentimental about Wheeler's love for the Antarctic. This is a real journey told with incredible candour. It's a privilege to have read it. One of Wheeler's cleverest adjectives to describe detailed, jewel-like writing that she admires is "lapidary." She uses it twice in the book to describe the Antarctic writing of other authors. But HER OWN writing is as jewel-like and detailed in the extreme. What an extraordinary book. It's not like a book at all - it's like a world.
Rating: 
Summary: Good read, but ......
Review: Fittingly, Ms. Wheeler seems enraptured by the splendour of great white south. Most who have been to the Arctic or Antarctic has suffered the same fate. However she seems a bit full of herself at times, and this distracts noticably from the book. There were times when I thought to myself that she was in Antarctica for social reasons (to "party"!) rather than to discover the essence of the place.
Still, if you can ignore the aren't-I-great parts, it makes for a good read.
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