Rating: 
Summary: Good in surprising ways
Review: This book slowly drew me in. By the end, it fell into the can't-put-it-down category. I really liked the descriptions of life at the South Pole (the difficulties of living there were far beyond what I imagined), and became caught up in her battle over cancer.There were a few things I might quibble about: Her relationship (or lack of relationship) with her ex-husband and children hangs mysteriously in the background without resolution. Clearly, there's more going on there than she explains. Also, in describing life at the station, she seems to overemphasize the parties. At times you wonder: Aren't these people there to do some work? Still, it's a compelling story driven by colorful characters, day-to-day dramas, and the cancer and eventual rescue that you know is coming at the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Thrilling story
Review: She was the physician in Antarctica who
discovered a lump on her breast . . . since she could not be
rescued, she performed a biopsy on herself and then began
chemotherapy treatments to ensure her survival until
conditions permitted her rescue . . . it is a thrilling story
that will make you appreciate what many of the things
that you take for granted . . . you'll enjoy it--even if you
followed the initial story in the news. Among the many memorable passages:
I know the experience [of recovering from an accident] made
me a much more compassionate physician, because I was in
the same position as many patients with undiagnosed
conditions. I dropped things, I had terrible pains shooting
down my arm, I developed urinary problems. I knew I wasn't
making up these conditions, yet my doctors couldn't find
anything wrong, and some of them implied that I was
imagining symptoms. The doctors' assumptions changed
my whole way of looking at people and their complaints. Just
because I couldn't help them didn't mean they didn't need
help. As one of my professors told me, there is no such thing
as a crazy patient, just a dumb doctor. A lovely woman whom I visited daily, as her family doctor, at the
end of her life, had once told me how to pack for a trip. "Pack
what you think you will need," she said. "then a week later
take out half your clothing and put in twice as much money."
I thought of her before every trip thereafter. Her words had
become my packing memo, but clearly, they would not
work for the South Pole. [from an e-mail that nielsen wrote to her mother] All that
matters here are things that really matter. I have
received such wonderful gifts: an old dripped apple, a jar of
Skippy, a handmade corkscrew for my parties, a friend
who surprised me by bolting down my reading lamp that
constantly fell over. Time spent in listening or helping is
so important and so appreciated, as it should be. And
people are loved for what they give and contribute, their
honor, their love and sacrifice. Not, as in the world where
I was, for how skinny they can force themselves to be
and such nonsense.
Rating:
Summary: You Go girl!!!!
Review: This is an absolutely inspiring story of one women's struggle with the challenging nature of life. Dr. Jerri is a wonderful example of strength and endurance for all women in difficult situations. She was tested and survives to live with her strengths and weaknesses as her battalion colors. Thank goodness she chose to share her intimate thoughts and experiences with readers: this first hand account brings a reality-check to all of us. How much do we need? What is important? How do we survive what destroys us?
I wish she could know what her story meant to me: may she live long and well.
Rating: 
Summary: I threw this book in the garbage
Review: I have enjoyed reading biographies of courageous, intelligent, real women, books that present the reader with detailed chronicles of their lives, and how they succeed, or at least survive. This is just not one of those books. I am shocked at the professional reviews I have read that led me to think this was a good, informative book, and bought it to learn about life at the South Pole, and how a person, as well as what kind of person, can bravely perform an operation on herself. Well, so much for that! The entire point of the book was completely glossed over - in fact too many events in this book are glossed over to the point where I had to stop reading and just go "HUH??" out of disgust and incredulity. I had to wonder why the author's life prior to going to the Pole was even thrown into the beginning of this book, especially when that life was written as a series of unconnected anecdotes that gave me no clear picture of the circumstances leading to her decision to go to the South Pole. In fact, I was left with too many disturbing questions. One typically dispassionate passage lets the reader know that the author's husband strangled the family dog in front of his wife and daughter for the experience, and even bragged about the act to his in-laws. But life went on as usual. HUH?? The only way the author could obtain a divorce was by having an affair. HUH?? The author was advised by her lawyer to give up custody of her children to her abusive husband, so she did. HUH?? The author's father was dying in the hospital at the end of one chapter, but at the beginning of the next, the author is happily anticipating her trip to the Pole. HUH?? And it just goes on from there. Bad writing, going from the author as emotionless automaton to gleeful child. What did I get out of this book? Not much. No real in-depth understanding of the day to day life at the Pole, or of a woman who could perform surgery on herself, much less an understanding of what is involved in the operation, beyond countless emails that say nothing and a few fuzzy photographs. All I learned about was a woman with a need to escape, even from the things she has done to survive.
Rating:
Summary: Poignant
Review: Ice Bound is a touching book. Full of adventure, sadness, fun, heartbreak and humor. Dr. Nielsen writes in a very interesting fashion. I felt as much a part of her experience as was possible. Her poise in the difficult situations she found herself is exemplary. I absolutely agree with her beliefs about what is important in life (family/friends). I hope not too many people need to go to the South Pole to learn this! I sincerely hope that her children read their Mom's extraordinary book and that they will contact her - realizing how wrong their dad is on this. It is only fair to give their mom a chance. This is a unique book as it combines a struggle with cancer, a struggle with self, a struggle with other humans and a struggle with the earth. Fascinating read. I recommend reading it... you will be affected! I sure was ... and it was positive!
Rating:
Summary: Uplifting
Review: I heard about this book after Jerri made all the talk shows describing her ordeal. I finally got around to reading it, and didn't expect too much. What a surprise. In spite of knowing the gist of the story there was so much more to grab your attention. Dr. Jerri was inspiring. If she can not give up on life after all she went through, then I think we all can endure our smaller problems.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: A beautifully written book. I read it in one day - I couldn't put it down! This was an intelligent, courageous woman's account of life at the South Pole and her battle of survival in the face of extreme adversities. Nielsen's strength is an inspiration to women and people everywhere.
Rating:
Summary: If you think your life needs renovation....
Review: Jerri Nielsen gives new meaning to the command, "Physician heal thyself." She does (heal), but that ultimately doesn't seem to be the point. What Nielsen manages to convey -- without arrogance or smugness -- is that mental and physical health are achieved through coming to understand how self is perceived and tolerated. Becoming a member of a group and yet reamaining solitary is the delicate balancing act that the writer explores. She doesn't always get it right, but again, that doesn't seem to be the point. It's the journey and not the destination that Nielsen finds so interesting and inspiring. The book can be read in an afternoon, but it will take much longer to digest. Its meaning is haunting. In the end, I both admired and envied this physician for her experience and her strength.
Rating: 
Summary: Should have been much better
Review: This book bears the marks of being rushed to print. Even the line spacing has been spread out -- only 34 text lines per page.
As previous reviews note, the book is overwhelmed by e-mails being quoted verbatim, often at length. There are *OVER 110* e-mails dropped into the narrative in this book!! The authors should have used the e-mails as a wonderful reference for dates, events, and as a reminder to the authors of what Dr. Nielsen's and others' thoughts were at each point in time, as they crafted their narrative, instead of dumping the e-mails verbatim en masse in the readers' laps. Instead of reading an e-mail from Nielsen to her parents about why she "loves the ice," why does Nielsen not tell us herself -- or AT LEAST put in narrative why explaining herself to her parents was important? Apparently it's easier and quicker to insert a lengthy e-mail than to write about the facts and feelings from a personal perspective.
Previous reviews are accurate that a lot of the book is told from a girlish everyone-and-everything (except my ex-husband) is oh-so-wonderful viewpoint.
There's interesting information about how the US South Pole station is set up, but often a lack of analysis or reflection. She spends a paragraph on urine disposal, but then is silent (for the sake of 'sparing us the details') on how solid human waste was collected. There were four different bathrooms in the dome; why were they ALL coed, and remain so, when as Nielsen notes, "It took quite a long time for me to get used to sitting on the toilet while watching a man in the urinal beside me" ?? Wasn't it Nielsen, herself (as liner notes claim), who was "solely responsible for the mental ... fitness" of the Pole residents?
There are a number of insights in the book, though; it's not all dark for 180 days. They can write movingly about the beauty and stark isolation of the Pole, the closeness of friends, and little events like exploring the original (ice-buried) Pole camp. Nielsen's initial thoughts on realizing she was in an abusive marriage are well-done. Yet, you have to plow through the e-mails to find Nielsen explaining to her mom that the Polies "came to see how much we could count on ourselves.... We have found and conquered demons, thoughts, weaknesses.... Here, you can let go of these thoughts, and embrace the newly discovered strengths that only this place can illuminate." Why "ONLY this place," instead of ANY place of isolation and reflection?
Earlier, Nielsen included an e-mail from her mom warning, "I don't want you to come home sorry for cutting all ties to this world only to find that ... the Ice was a temporary experience.... People and things look different once one is away from such a close group. The dynamics are similar to being in an army unit or a cult compound." Nielsen, characteristically, has no comment about her mom's e-mail observations.
The book also comes across as a bit too self-centered. The title itself (not the liner notes!!) describes the book as "A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival." The complete story, I submit, would focus on the "battle" of fellow Pole residents who dedicated themselves to administering her treatments, and those who coordinated her treatment from outside, not to mention those who performed the risky winter supply drop and later early pick-up from the Pole.
The narrative, except for the 100+ e-mail intrusions, and repeated reminders of how terrible her ex-husband is, is readable. Yet it is missing something. Nielsen tells you what the temperature is, and describes frost-bite. A very well-written book, like _Into Thin Air_ by Jon Krakauer, makes you FEEL cold and oxygen-deprived. In sum, you might pick this up from the library and read it (it's a fairly quick read); it's not worth the purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, Funny & Inspiring!
Review: I bought this book on tape (read by the author herself) for my Dad. Along with it went a request to borrow it when he was done. I enjoyed the book so much that I've bought it for my husband & myself. While reading it, you really feel like you can see Antarctica through Jerri's eyes. It's almost sad when you get to the end because you feel like you've become friends with Jerri & all the "Polies." It's a great book I would recommend to anyone and I normally don't like autobiographies.
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