An interesting book on the life of a member of the small group of people who live on the Antarctic continent for a season in order to provide a service for those who are there for scientific or adventurous purposes. In that sense it is not about the adventure of crossing the continent on a unicycle but how to cope with what would be an ordinary job (cooking) on any other continent on the planet. It is a light read and the pages are turned quickly but the author can really bring alive the reality of being trapped in a howling blizzard or wearing the same clothes for months on end. ( )

Acquired via BookCrossing 31 Jul 2010 - from donation by the Moseley Lions

I do like a polar book, and I like biography, so this book was naturally picked up. And it was, indeed, both informative and enjoyable. Alexa decides to give up her career in Australia and, on the strength of having been camp cook at a summer camp a few years previously, applies for a job as cook to a commercial operation handling air freight and passenger services to part of the Antarctic. She's really good on the emotional and practical issues of living on the ice - from pure terror in an ice storm through the minutiae of the core team's reactions to one another, to the joy of running across the snow or visiting other camps. It was good to have an epilogue to update us on what happened next. Very interesting read - could have done with more photos apart from the ones on the cover. ( )

Amusing travelogue by an Australian who somehow manages to convince an Antartica expedition that she is the ideal choice for their new chef... ( )

5.5