POLAR OPPOSITE OF SAFE; ARCTIC ADVENTURE LONELY, DARK, COLD.Byline: Rich Martin Special to the Daily NewsSome adventures are almost off the scale in daring. Magellan's and Lewis and Clark's voyages come to mind. Alvah Simon's year in the Arctic, much of it alone, might not be in that class, but it's close. His experiences are chronicled in the well-written ``North to the Night'' (International Marine; $24.95). The reader is not sure whether to label him crazy or admire him for his resourcefulness and courage. Simon and his wife sailed from South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. to a spot near the North Pole North Pole, northern end of the earth's axis, lat. 90°N. It is distinguished from the north magnetic pole. U.S. explorer Robert E. Peary is traditionally credited as being the first to reach (1909) the North Pole. In 1926, Richard E. , where the anchor was dropped while the sea wasn't frozen. There they spent months in the icy, dark wastes. Later, Simon's wife flew to her parents' home in New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. to be with her terminally ill Terminally Ill When a person is not expected to live more than 12 months. Notes: Any gifts given out by the afflicted person at this time may be considered as a dispersion of the estate rather than a gift. father. Determined to stay in the Arctic a full year, through a long period without daylight, Simon saw his adventure take a major turn. He suffered from recurrent debilitating de·bil·i·tat·ing adj. Causing a loss of strength or energy. Debilitating Weakening, or reducing the strength of. Mentioned in: Stress Reduction back aches and temporary blindness, an affect of the continual darkness that made daily chores oppressive. Once he awakened in horror to find his legs frozen in ice from melted water. Depression and acute anxiety attacks - common maladies on such solo adventures - plagued him. Long hikes relieved his dark moods; he was saved by his imagination, a special place to which his inner compass constantly pointed him. In the narrative, Simon's experiences, inward and outward, are often dramatic. His reckless encounter with a polar bear polar bear, large white bear, Ursus maritimus, formerly Thalarctos maritimus, of the coasts of arctic North America. Polar bears usually live on drifting pack ice, but sometimes wander long distances inland. is particularly telling. Apparently offering himself to fate, Simon decides his experience would not be complete without facing the largest land predator alone and unarmed. He lucks out and the bear goes his own way. But the author looks upon his fortune not as coincidence but a reflection of his basic harmony with the land . . . or something like that. The descriptions of the long winter and the native Inuits in the 328 pages are compelling; the tale flags when Simon writes about some sort of spiritual awakening. One can't help but wonder about individuals compelled to defy death. Should you pat someone like Simon on the back or recommend a good psychiatrist? What does the tendency toward extreme outdoor activities say about life in the modern world? Our rating: Two and One-Half Stars. Fly-fishing is often seen as a mysterious activity, as difficult to master as nuclear physics. Peter Kaminsky succeeds in untangling its complexity in ``Fly Fishing for Dummies'' (IDG IDG International Data Group IDG Integrated Drive Generator IDG Installation Design Guide IDG Internet Discussion Group IDG Inset Dielectric Guide IDG International Dangerous Goods (mail, shipping) Books Worldwide; $19.95). The 358-page book hooks the reader by taking a simple, step-by-step approach. Kaminsky, outdoor columnist for the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times, deals with each subject by offering tips that, yes, even fishing dummies can understand. Men, for example, should not try to teach their girlfriends or wives how to fish. Sage advice. Also, not only sounds but shadows can warn fish of the angler's approach. Along with recommendations for tackle, technique, safety and etiquette, the author includes an extensive glossary, most notably an additional-reading section of the best books and magazines on the subject. Our rating: Two and One-Half Stars. Society typically frowns upon people owning bears, lions and other exotic animals as pets. Consequently, one of the best opportunities we might get to watch predators in action in a domestic setting is to have carnivorous plants This list of carnivorous plants is a comprehensive listing of all known carnivorous plant species. It is based on Jan Schlauer's Carnivorous Plant Database. Extinct taxa are denoted with a dagger (†). . Common belief suggest that such flora thrive mostly in faraway tropical climates and are difficult to care for. Not so, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. author Peter D'Amato Peter D'Amato is a well-known carnivorous plant grower who has over thirty years experience in the field. His nursery, California Carnivores, houses the world's largest collection of carnivorous plants. in ``The Savage Garden'' (Ten Speed Press; $19.95). D'Amato's interest in carnivorous plants, or CPs as he calls them, blossomed in childhood when he discovered some grew near his New Jersey home. Today he has more than 500 species, most of which can grow in temperate climates and are low-maintenance. D'Amato details such factors as soil, light, containers and feeding. What will CPs eat? Mostly insects, but they have been known to devour de·vour tr.v. de·voured, de·vour·ing, de·vours 1. To eat up greedily. See Synonyms at eat. 2. To destroy, consume, or waste: Flames devoured the structure in minutes. frogs, lizards and even small rodents. D'Amato - who runs California Carnivores, a Forestville nursery billed as the home of the world's largest CP collection - has fed bits of hamburger, cheese and even chocolate to his plants. The 314 pages of ``Savage Garden'' contain wonderful photos and detailed information on cultivation of many different species of CPs. Our rating: Two and One-Half Stars. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) Books deal with flies, carnivorous plants and solitude in the snow. Gus Ruelas/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion