BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION: ANTARCTICA AHOY! THE ICE BOOK BY JUHAN SMUUL

Hello dear readers and blog visitors! Today we'll talk books again in this little digital place to call my own. More specifically, today I'll share my review for a literary travelogue Jäine raamat written by Juhan Smuul (given name Johannes Schmuul), an Estonian journalist and writer. Wikipedia titles this book as The Frozen Book, but from what I managed to find online (on Amazon and so on), there are quite a few English editions of this book until the title: Antarctica Ahoy: The Ice Book.  Supposedly, this is how this book was originally translated. Indeed, I haven't found any editions under the title The Frozen Book but maybe this is a later translation of the title. If you decide to search for it in English, perhaps it is best to try with both titles.

This travelogue covers Soviet expedition to Antarctica, but it also devotes several chapters to visits to other countries. Apart from Antarctica, I would say that Australia features most prominently among countries described in this travelogue.  Smuul wrote several travelogues during his life, but this one is the best known and most critically acclaimed among them. This was my first encounter with this author.  From what I managed to find online, Juhan Smuul also wrote several novels and screenplays. I might look them up when I find the time because I quite enjoyed this book. 

My personal reading experience was quite pleasant. I discovered a vintage copy of this book (in a Slavic  translation) during an insomniac night a few weeks ago. I often make use of technology for reading purposes, but I immensely enjoy reading the traditional way- and especially so vintage books. I really liked the illustration on the vintage cover I found, so that was what drew me in. I started reading it that night. I must have forgot about it then next day (despite the fact that I liked the writing style immediately) because I didn't take it with me when I left for Croatia a few weeks ago. Two days ago I remembered this little book, found it again  and finished it. 

Now, I'm ready to publish my review of this little literary treasure, coupled with some romantic photography that contrasts the book's cover. The lilac dress I'm wearing is from a local designer Stanka Zovko ( see more of my last month haul in Ozz store here, here  and here). The floral bouquet is from a local florist. My husband bought it for me (the occasion was our anniversary). Some of the photographs were edited by me ( because I was feeling creative). As usual, most of them were taken by my husband (that likes to serve the role of my personal photographer). 

THE FROZEN BOOK (AHOY ANTARCTICA: THE ICE BOOK), A BOOK BY JUHAN SMUUL 4/5

In the introductory part of this post, I already stated how I came across this book and wrote a bit about my reading experience. Moreover, I confessed that I enjoyed it. The writing style of this (previously unknown to me) writer really appealed to me. Now, I will get into more detail about the book itself. 

There are several ways one can describe The Frozen Book. It can be defined as a travelling journal, a diary of a writer aboard ship, a literary travelogue, a study of an expedition or as a journalistic report. In fact, I would describe this book as a mixture of all of the above. The fact that the author is a writer and a journalist is important for this book as some parts of it are quite philosophical. There is even a bit of literary criticism thrown in there. The Frozen Book is a mixture of objective and personal writing, of diary form style, essay and reporting style. I would recommend it both to those who want to read it for historical/educational (as a testament of the times) and literary reasons. 

A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: A TESTAMENT TO THE SOVIET TIMES

Juhan Smuul was a writer of Soviet era. He won the Lenin literary prize for this book. The book was written to cover the third Soviet expedition to Antarctica.  In one sense, this book is a testament of the Soviet times. The author describes the ship and the crew in detail. He speaks of the scientific work and sacrifice made by brave people in the name of progress. As I said, this book is both a report of the expedition and a personal diary. Both in his personal and objective writing, Smuul is a man of his (Soviet) times. What makes this book different from some other books published in that time is that it is more a work of literature than propaganda. In other words, it is a well written and interesting book that serves to the credit of its writer. Obviously, J. Smuul expresses positive views and outlook on Soviet times, expressing his believes in Soviet technology and progress. However, his views are neither pushy nor do they dominate the book.  You can see that these views are something that the author believed in as a man of his times. 

It is easy to see Smuul's optimism in regards to Soviet Union as naive and misplaced from a modern perspective, but it is important to remember when this book was written. At any rate, there is an atmosphere of optimism in this book that isn't limited to Soviet countries and that make it an attractive read. This was an era of discoveries, when many believed that scientific progress and exploration will solve all problems. An era when something as silly as communism could be honestly believed in by intelligent man. 

What is interesting about this book is that it doesn't seem to hold any negative views about the West. It expresses concern at the way Soviet countries are portrayed at the West, but as far as Western countries are portrayed there is no hostility. On the contrary, the author often praises Western art and artists. I would say this book gives a unique historical perspective both as a travelogue and as a  personal diary expressing the author's views (and these views are also a testament of the times, not less relevant that the expedition itself). I'm not an expert on the topic, but this book seems to be significant in the sense that it shows a more positive view of the West. Perhaps the reason for its popularity was that it was one of the few literary insights into West  (for its readers) during the Soviet times. It is also worth mentioning that the author is Estonian, so he brings the Baltic cultural perspective into his writing. 

 

LIFE ON BOARD THE SHIP, THE SEA VOYAGE AND THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

A large part of this book takes place on board the ship. The writer wrote about life on board the ship in great detail, sometimes more as a journalist focusing on objective events (travels, the expedition etc) and sometimes from a more personal perspective as when he wrote about his own feelings and experiences as well as those of his ship mates. For instance, Smuul writes about missing his wife and shares how other expedition members/ship crew deal with separation from their families.  

His views on ship life were almost contradictory at times. Sometimes Smuul's wrote about the sea and sea travel so poetically he made me think of Joseph Conrad. At other times, he stressed how life on the ship can be quite difficult and explained how it demands self-discipline and organisation. He includes many anecdotes, some of them quite funny. Smuul has a healthy sense of humour. He isn't afraid to make fun of himself, either. Often he applies a self-humorous tone in his writing that sometimes even turns a bit self-critical. I think this only makes him more relatable to the reader as it makes him appear more honest.

The Antarctic expedition was obviously covered in depth. Some aspects of it were truly fascinating. As a writer, Smuul knows how to take his reader somewhere. The descriptions of Antarctica and its explorers seemed very accurate. Moreover,  I found his observations about animals (especially wild life) quite perspective. The way Smuul describes behaviour of orca whales (who are  members of the dolphin family actually), penguins and other Antarctic animals is consistent with all the nature documentaries I have seen (and I have seen a lot). During some of the passages, I felt like I was watching one of those documentaries and could almost hear Sir David Attenborough's voice narrating it all. 

At times, the description of expedition takes a more serious tone. There is one death described (a gas accident) and there were reflections on danger that many marines and explorers face. There is praise for people who work hard and make sacrifices for progress. At one point the opportunity presents itself and the author wonders whether to leave the expedition early to return home more swiftly. He even finds good reasons for it and writes them down. Nevertheless, he decided to go on. It is obvious from his writing that he saw the journey as educating and eye opening. He wrote about some difficult moments as formative. 

THE VISIT TO AUSTRALIA, A FASCINATING GLIMPSE INTO ITS SOCIETY

The visit to Australia happens only towards the end of the book, but it is very rich in observations and descriptions. First of all, the author described the encounters with the Soviet and Estonian immigrant communities. The Estonian  immigrant  reflections are separate from other Soviet immigrant communities, so it seems the author viewed them as separate. I'm supposing that when he wrote about the Soviet immigrant communities in Australia, he was mostly referring to Russian and Ukrainian ethnic groups. When he wrote about the Soviet immigrant communities, he said they greeted the Soviet ship with curiosity and sometimes with a sense of guilt.  Still, among these immigrant communities, there are some  opposing views. Some seem to miss their homelands, others believe that only life in the West is possible. Some are neutral about the Soviet Union, others try to convince the crew of the ship that West is superior and leave capitalist pamphlets. The meetings with immigrants reveal more information. Some of them were not political immigrants at all, they left during the war and post war times and are as such quite neutral in their views. Some are happy in their new country, others would like to return but cannot for practical reasons. When it comes to Australians themselves, the author's reflections are mostly positive. The author expresses positive views of Australian working/middle class, their homes and so on. At any rate, he doesn't openly criticize any aspect of their lives.  I think the author mostly met with working and middle class while he was in Australia. From what I remember, the official reception of Soviet's ship in Australia is described as welcoming and Australian's officials as polite. So, there is a generally positive outlook on this Western country, something perhaps not expected in Soviet writing. However, in his writing Smuul is critical of Australia's treatment of Aboriginal communities as well as some of the racial crimes of that time. One has a sense he does it more from humanitarian reasons, one doesn't feel politics openly meddling into it. Generally speaking though, it seems he was mostly curious and neutral about Australia, tried to describe it as fairly and objectively as he could. Smuul also stresses that the time spent in Australia wasn't enough for them to truly form any definite options about it. All in all, the section about Australia was interesting. I'm not sure do I remember clearly everything that was in it, but I found it interesting- as I said, this book is often a testament of its time.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS AND DIARY STYLE WRITING- AN ESTONIAN PERSPECTIVE

The fact that the author is Estonian is relevant to the book and not only because it brings a Baltic perspective. Author's personal views can be connected with Estonian culture, art  and identity. His poetic style of writing and the strength in his descriptions of nature is something that can be connected with Estonian literature and art.

I already mentioned that the author included personal and sometimes quite funny anecdotes from the Antarctica expedition and the journeys that followed. These literary glimpses into his thoughts and inner life were really interesting. Moreover, besides capturing his own inner life in writing,  Smuul also wrote about the psychological and inner life of different people involved in this expedition. Often I had the feeling that he managed to capture the very essence of someone's personality in a  few words.  In his writing, he made some of his fellow shipmates really come to life. 

It is hard to tell with certainly what inspired all of author's writing in this book but I don't think it is necessary to know it all. What is important is that the book itself is an interesting read. The Frozen Book is in many ways a quality read and isn't a pamphlet of any sorts. That doesn't mean that the author doesn't try to put Soviet ideas out there. To his credit, I don't think he does it consciously or in an obvious way. Were there Soviet influences even in the personal writing in this book? There definitely were as Soviet version of communism is something the author (at least at the time this book was written) seemed to honestly believe in. 

 Estonia is historically a Lutheran Protestant country. The author sometimes expresses positive views about Christian religion, especially Protestantism and the personality of Luther. This might seem surprising for Soviet times, but it was not necessarily so. Generally speaking, the communist regime tried to suppress religions but it seems that it was willing to make exceptions for political reasons or to gain new followers. Whether this Lutheran praise was a reflection of author's personal Estonian identity and link to the religion of his people or just a reflection of Soviet times it's hard to tell. Maybe the author was just being bravely honest about his potential spiritual feelings, maybe there was more to it than met the eye. Maybe there is a reason why those parts weren't censored. Was there any part of this book that was censored? That would be interesting to know, wouldn't it? This book seems surprisingly open minded and honest at times, but it is hard to tell with certainty whether or not that 'honesty' is all natural. 

 For example, the author is more critical of Catholicism than other religions. This is actually consistent with communism and its ideology that sometimes saw Protestantism as the smaller of the two evils. It occurred to me that it might be because the majority of believers in Soviet countries (and those countries they hoped to take political control over) were Orthodox or Catholic Christians. So, Soviet communism perhaps tried to suppress what it saw as a more imminent treat to its power, that is the older Christian religions (Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity) and remained more neutral in its views towards the newer Christian religions (i.e different varieties of Protestantism). Ironically, communism sometimes seemed to even idealize the religions of the capitalist lands it opposed. Maybe there were political plans behind it, maybe not. None of this takes up much space in the book or is especially relevant for this review, I'm only mentioning it because it came to my mind and made me think. Even if sometimes it is hard to tell whether some views expressed are truly original or an unconscious promotion of Soviet ideology on part of the writer, I still enjoyed reading this book. It is the kind of book that makes you think and that is all it matters. 

A BOOK THAT KNOWS HOW TO KEEP ITS READER'S INTEREST BUT ALSO REQUIRES CONCENTRATION FROM ITS READER

This is a book that knows to keep its reader's interest but at times it also demands concentration. Sometimes the writer expresses himself about some event or topic in few words, so if you don't want to miss anything, it is important to stay concentrated. Sometimes my thoughts would wonder of and I needed to reread some passage again. Moreover, some parts of this book I had to read slowly to understand what there were really about. I already wrote about the mix of writing style. Personally, I didn't mind it, but sometimes it required more concentration to keep up with both Smuul the journalist or Smuul the writer. These changes of style are sometimes quick and even a bit chaotic, but on overall they make the book more interesting. 

 The style of writing may often change from personal to objective, but one can always feel the author's voice in there. This unique book has a lot going for it: beautiful poetical prose, wonderful philosophical passages and interesting observations. There is even some humour in it. Mostly, Smuul's writing seems open minded and optimistic in tone. I suspect this is a book that can make most readers feel nostalgic (even if the reader like myself never lived in those times) about the past and times when people seemed to believe we can make this world a better place. At any rate, I found myself thinking about those past times that (at least in writing) appear to have been more simple and optimistic. Were there really such times when people believed in future progress of humanity or does it just seem to me they did? I'm not entirely sure, but I can say this book made me feel nostalgic about a time that predates my birth. Within the pages of this book, one often senses hope in humanity.  All of it. Humanity as in entire world, not just some specific country. The writer doesn't express it openly, but you can feel the faith in humanity in there. Perhaps the writer even dreamed of some kind of meeting of the East and the West. At any rate, he doesn't express any negative views of the West, something perhaps a bit surprising for a Soviet writer. Besides its historical significance, this book also has literary value and I think that's recommendation enough. I'm really glad I happened to read it and I might even reread it some day. If you are interested in reading more about this book, I have a link for you (that leads to this interesting paper about the symbolism of water in Smuul's writing). 

Thank you so much for reading, commenting or just visiting. Have a nice day!