Customer Reviews

Midnight Wilderness

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I have just read Midnight Wilderness and found it to be a compelling account of the mystery and majesty of America's Far North. The authors transports the reader to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge enabling our mind's eye to experience vicariously the splendor of its fauna and flora. As I put this book down, I see the awesome Porcupine Caribou herd thundering across the summertime coastal plain, semipalmated sandpipers, musk-oxen, Dall sheep, wolves, Pacific loons, Lapland longspurs, snowy owls, tundra swans, and arctic foxes. Now more clearly than ever before I see the connections between and among the Arctic's wild and pristine physical and living communities. And, I feel compelled as never before to add my voice to those of the many others who understand why this awe-inspiring wilderness that is unequalled anywhere else on earth should be protected and preserved for future generations.

The book jacket states the book is a passionate and vivid account of her trips into the ANWR, and it certainly is that. Having been in many of the same places, and even flown with some of the same people, I can make an immediate connection with her book. This book is a first person account, not a naturalist documentation. Some of her trials and tribulations make for very interesting reading, and makes one glad sometimes that they did not have to trek in some of the places. Her account of some of her hiking in the rugged Romanzof mountains sent chills up my spine. A weakness perhaps is after almost each description, she states what is at risk by allowing drilling. Sometimes that gets in the way of the journey. However, the last section of the book outlines the history of the preservation attempts, and the very real dangers of oil development to such an unspoiled wilderness. This book is a personal account and not a detail as to the intricate inter-relationships among the flora and fauna, and it was not meant to be. I enjoyed the book for what it is, and that is a personal story. I wished she had described in a bit more detail her time in the arctic when the colors started to appear as fall approached. Having been along the Jago River in the 1002 lands at the height of the fall colors, it is something that cannot be imagined in advance. One can never believe such a landscape of apparent green can take on so many colors. A perfect companion book to this would be that of E. C. Pielou, A Naturalists Guide to the Arctic. With Pielou's book, one can gain a fuller understanding of the tricks of light in the arctic, and the interdependency of the animals with the plantlife. Oil company executives will not like this book. Most others will enjoy reading her accounts.

I love Debbie Miller's book Midnight Wilderness about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Her journal writings, with detailed land references, eloquently paint a portrait of this pristine area and how unique and beautiful this remote land is. I enjoyed reading about all the animals and birds that live and migrate there every year, and about the people who depend on this area. This book educates us on the oil development controversy and why it is vital we continue to fight in protecting this special land for now and future generations. This book is truly the ultimate reference book for the Arctic Refuge and I highly recommend it to all.

Debbie Miller draws from her journal and from her heart as she recounts her explorations of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the last great wilderness area left in the United States. Few people have actually stepped foot on this northeast corner of Alaska, but by reading the words of Miller, one can be transported to this rare and magical place. The book, written primarily during the 1980s and updated in the current edition, is informative and inspiring. She effectively intersperses relevant historical and scientific facts with her own personal observations and love for the region.

Debbie Miller moved from California to become a schoolteacher in Arctic Village. From there, she took numerous treks into the Refuge. This book captures her experiences and impressions.

Debbie is a graceful writer who weaves a story well. Occasionally she gets a little preachy about the need to protect the Refuge from development, but for the most part her writing is informative, entertaining and entirely readable. I found the last chapter absolutely gripping as she describes taking her toddler to camp in the Refuge. As a parent of young kids, I cannot possibly imagine this--it's hard enough to travel there as an adult without kids, but bringing a kid just seems overwhelming. But her stories, especially the interaction between her daughter and a wolf, were moving and emotional.

The book did a great job giving me a preview of life as a visitor to the Refuge. This is the seminal book about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, written before the Refuge was "cool," and it is the template for all of the books that follow it. If you're going to read only one book before going to the Refuge, this is the one. Strongly recommended.

I am planning a trip to the ANWR Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and I hoped to gain insight about the region from the experiences of another. I expected to read about the wonders of the ANWR. What I found was a book that was full of negative advertisements to save the ANWR. Debbie Miller definitely is passionate about the ANWR and her book is the story of her crusade to save it. When she does tell of her journeys throughout the ANWR her story becomes sidetracked by her save the ANWR chant. The book fell short of my expectations.