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Geography & Travel Legler, Gretchen. On the Ice: An Intimate Portrait of Life at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Nov. 2005. 207p. Milkweed, paper, $15.95 (1-57131-282-X). 919.
Geography & Travel Legler, Gretchen. On the Ice: An Intimate Portrait of Life at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Nov. 2005. 207p. Milkweed, paper, $15.95 (1-57131-282-X). 919.
Legler traveled to Antarctica under the National Science Foundation's Artists and Writers Program, intending to "bring back visions, to translate that which could not be communicated in the language of numbers." Legler ventured far beyond McMurdo Station, from Scott and Shackleton's original huts to Siple Dome, where scientists collect ice cores to study climate change. Her attention to detail serves her well, and her ability to explain the history and science of Antarctica in a personable and poetic style truly makes her book sing. Legler's descriptions of the past are fascinating as she explores Scott's Cape Evans hut and recreates photographs taken during his 1911-12 expedition. Equally impressive is her analysis of the region's current residents, people employed in all facets of the station's operation and coping with isolation in their own ways. Legler begins a relationship with Ruth, an electrician, and her thoughts on their romance provide insight into the motivations for her journey. Ultimately, her personal revelations illuminate her Antarctic discoveries, resulting in a perfect combination of nature writing and memoir. -Colleen Mondor
YA/S: For teem interested in polar exploration or in same-sex relationships. CM.
Copyright Booklist Publications Nov 1, 2005