(21 January 2012 – from Matthew, bought at a book sale in Worcester)

Subtitled “Romance in the Arctic”, the romantic aspect is subtly done and careful. Marie is already living a slightly insecure life in Spitzbergen when she takes up a stranger’s offer of a year in the far North, living with him in a small hut, polar bears and all. As with most books by this publisher (Summerscale), honest and personal, but where the writing quality in the books can be a bit uneven, this one is well-written and lyrical as well as down to earth and satisfying on the details and minutiae of packing for and living in such an extreme situation. While she says that she has trouble talking about her emotions, the author certainly expresses herself well and this is a good read, sad dog bits notwithstanding and in need of some maps and photographs. There is a useful Epilogue that answers some questions, and all in all a good read that gives one a flavour of what it would be like to live in a hut in the land of eternal midnight for half of the year, with one person who you don’t really know. Which is quite a tricky thing to get across! ( )

Champagne and Polar Bears: Romance in the High Arctic

This is a non-fiction book about the adventures of a woman named Marie who spent a year ‘overwintering’ in the high artic. Recently divorced and making a living running odd errands and sewing in a small northern town (In Norway? Sweden?) she is approached by a handsome researcher who has received permission to overwinter in a northern research station to do research on life in sea ice. The catch is that he will not be allowed to overwinter alone. On the spur of the moment she decides to join him, and winds up being the only woman (in written history) to overwinter that far north. They spend one year alone in a norther research facility.

The story is written in a sort of diary format starting shortly before she met Sven, chronicling their preparations (how much food to bring? Apparently a lot of wine, bacon and tea was very necessary). How will she pass the winter aside from assisting him? (she packs books, sewing, needlework that she has never had time to start before).

It took me a little while to get used to the writing style of the book. As far as I can tell this is her first and only book. The writing style is informal a bit more detailed than necessary. However, being a detail oriented person, I very much enjoyed it. The descriptions of the town she was working in, her trip up north, the long very dark winters, the sunrises, early spring flowers, the sounds the ice makes etc were quite fun to read. The stories of their adventures with polar bears and the joy of getting mail three times a year were also hilarious. If your library has a copy of this book I recommend it. ( )