Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World Response

This book left me with a sort of a mixed response. It was a little strange to jump into the non-fiction genre right after reading The Hunger Games. It was difficult for me to get into the mindset that not only did this actually happen, but now it has to fit into this physical world. It has to work with scientific laws now; it cannot just be explained away by the technology or magic.

Throughout the entire book though, I had to keep reminding myself that this story was real. It seemed too contrived; I always have trouble with stories that turn out well simply due to fate. When reading, if I see too many times where the story could go terribly wrong, but fate intervenes, I stop taking the story seriously. I want stories with characters who work their way out of situations, only to be helped by fate every once in awhile. But, this isn’t a fictional tale, is it?

I related this book to my semi-interest in going winter camping one day. I’ve never gone, but I know many people who, in December, hike and camp in the middle of nowhere. I want to do it one day, but I question why. It sounds cold, wet and miserable. I think this experience adds to my disbelief of this story - they spent a year and a half out there while I am questioning one night in a tent with a floor and synthetic sleeping back. It’s so hard for me to image the entire crew surviving with most of their limbs. Though, I suppose if there is any place to be stranded, a place with water and food is a good place to start. I just don’t understand how none of them froze to death.

I will move on past my disbelief, because it means little as this is a piece of non-fiction. It may have been sensationalized, but no matter what, all the men survived a 16 month stand in Antarctica. Their ship wrecked and they saved themselves. There are documents and pictures to prove this, both of which are provided in the book. The story is real and no matter how much I believe in its possibility, it happened.

Despite being non-fiction, the story really did read like a fiction book; maybe that’s why I had such a hard time believing it. Jennifer Armstrong built up the narrative, inserted scientific background that would help the reader understand the situation better, and tried to develop the characters. There was enough depth to some of the characters (like McNeish, Worsley and the photographer, Frank Hurley) to understand some of their actions and to predict further actions (such as Worsley’s optimism and McNeish’s depression). However, there wasn’t much about the men.

Armstrong took her time developing Shackleton. He, like the others, is a sort of two-dimensional character; we don’t really see his motives or arcs. She does, however, point out the importance and characteristics of his leadership. She shows he worked his way up to his position, learning about leadership and the Antarctic along the way; he was not born to do his job. She shows his care with his crew, making sure to feed them and keep the group’s spirits high. We see why his crew survived; it’s because his leadership kept the team together and kept the men continuing on his journey.

It was a good book; it wasn’t my favorite, but I enjoyed the story and the pictures. It was a story I was surprised I had never heard before. I didn’t know explorers were in Antarctica at the turn of the century, nor did I ever think an entire team could survive a year and a half in such brutal conditions. What I found the most incredible out of the entire story was the fact that several of the crew members continued on to other Antarctica missions. I cannot image why anyone would want to look at ice ever again after being on it for so long.