Mississippi on Ice
Year: 2024
Author: Joseph D. Slater
Length: 268 pages
Did you know Antarctica used to have bartenders? Before I read Mississippi on Ice, I hadn’t considered that the research stations on the bottom of the world would need more than just scientists to keep these outposts running. This blue-collar take on one of the harshest environments on Earth is one of the most interesting stories I have read lately. And while some of the trauma the main character must put up with is a bit intense at times (and takes a long time to recover from), seeing that there are common people who can make Antarctica work for them is an inspiration.
The undercurrent in Mississippi on Ice definitely leans into the toxic traits men can have and how hard it is to escape them even at the end of the world. Most guys just want to live their lives, but when the patriarch of a family is abusive, it’s all the more reason to leave town. But even in the places where we find ourselves with no escape (like Antarctica), there’s the chance we’ll come across men who resort to extreme violence that is far disproportionate to the actions performed against them. These moments felt a little too dark for a story that was mostly about running away from a terrible life.
Despite the dark spots, Mississippi on Ice is incredibly well researched and a fun look into daily life on the icy southern continent. Certain logistical challenges and other environmental factors felt realistic and key to the plot. I enjoyed the fun camaraderie of the workers in Antarctica, even though it made me feel sad for the main character, who still had to work through his previous trauma. If ever there was a main character in the history of literature who needed therapy, it was this guy.
An interesting look into the blue-collar world of Antarctica, I give Mississippi on Ice 4.5 stars out of 5.
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