Sun at Midnight

Thomas brings the Antarctic to life in this novel, in which one woman’s exploration of the snow-covered landscape is as much a scientific expedition as it is a time of self-discovery. Alice Peel is a geologist and professor at Oxford University who enjoys the predictable, if not exciting, life she shares with her boyfriend. But when she discovers he is cheating on her, she ends the relationship. Though she has already turned down a request to join an expedition to Antarctica and follow in her explorer mother’s footsteps, Alice changes her mind and decides to join it. Thomas lovingly depicts Alice’s journey and the peace and beauty at Kandahar Station, where, nevertheless, the allure of the frozen tundra is complicated by the knowledge that a simple misstep could result in death. Alice’s attraction to Rooker, a secretive member of their expedition, provides another layer of intrigue, especially when disaster looms and he may be the only person who can save her. Illuminating yet quietly revealing, Thomas’s latest is elevated by its unique setting and its strong characterization. [em](July) [/em]