My Last Continent

A Novel

By: Midge Raymond

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

An unforgettable debut with an irresistible love story, My Last Continent is a big-hearted, propulsive novel set against the dramatic Antarctic landscape - an "original and entirely authentic love story" (Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project).

It is only at the end of the world - among the glacial mountains, cleaving icebergs, and frigid waters of Antarctica - that Deb Gardner and Keller Sullivan feel at home. For the few blissful weeks they spend each year studying the habits of emperor and Adélie penguins, Deb and Keller can escape the frustrations and sorrows of their separate lives and find solace in their work and in each other. But Antarctica, like their fleeting romance, is tenuous, imperiled by the world to the north.

A new travel and research season has just begun, and Deb and Keller are ready to play tour guide to the passengers on the small expedition ship that ferries them to their research destination. But this year Keller fails to appear onboard. Then, shortly into the journey, Deb's ship receives an emergency signal from the Australis, a cruise liner that has hit desperate trouble in the ice-choked waters of the Southern Ocean. Soon Deb's role will change from researcher to rescuer; among the crew of that sinking ship, Deb learns, is Keller.

As Deb and Keller's troubled histories collide with this catastrophic present, Midge Raymond's phenomenal novel takes us on a voyage deep into the wonders of the Antarctic and the mysteries of the human heart. My Last Continent is packed with emotional intelligence and high stakes - a harrowing, searching novel of love and loss in one of the most remote places on earth, a land of harsh beauty where even the smallest missteps have tragic consequences - "half adventure, half elegy, and wholly recommended" (Karen Joy Fowler, author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves).

©2016 Midge Raymond. All rights reserved. (P)2016 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Excellent!!

Loved the book and storyline....the narration was excellent and really drew you into the book!

Gripping, thought-provoking read for book clubs

What a beautiful and haunting story! The scenery is gorgeously rendered. The science feels well-researched. The characters are flawed and lovable. I was totally engaged--a total page turner. And because it asks big questions about our planet, our children, and our species, this makes a great read for book clubs. Lots to discuss!

Penguins and People in Antarctica

Life of a penguin researcher in Antarctica. Drama and difficulties with love and a normal life. Lots of interesting information about the Antarctica penguins, ice burgs and the continent.

Antarctic adventure

I found the story and setting to be quite original, and educational. There is a lot of information about the history and wildlife of this remote location. *Spoiler* Minor complaint, the author went for a Titanic-type disaster and rescue that seemed melodramatic in the context of the story. I appreciated the environmental message (admittedly, not very subtle) although I noted other reviewers who were put off by this. Cassandra Campbell is always a pleasure to listen to, one the Audible’s best narrators.

Great environmental messages, good story but the timeline jumping was hard to follow

I definitely enjoyed the environmental messages of this book. I also really liked the danger aspect and ship wreck that lent some survival and thriller aspects to the book. Plus the romance was mostly great. I was even happy with the ending being unpredicted. This book has most if not all areas covered of genres I like.

My only critique as a reader was that the jumping timeline was hard to follow. There were anchors given at the beginning of each big scene change about what time you were in, but it would jump so much that I'd have trouble lining the full timeline of events in my mind.

It made for confusion and lots of rewinding to try to orient myself. But I understand the reason for the timeline jumping, just wish it has at least been only 2 different jumps (basically everything in the "past" at least being in order leading up to "D-Day") and then jumping back to present in between. but the timeline jumps were unpredictable and I often had to pause the book and figure out where that particular time fit into the other past tense scenes.

Still a great book regardless though!

Fantastic

What a fantastic story, and told in an amazing way. First, l had a bit of trouble following along with the timeline, but once l wrote down when each chapter was set, it was easier. Also, listening for longer periods of time made it easier to follow the story. And in the end, l couldn't stop listening!
I'm so glad a friend has recommended this book. 🥰

Antarctica vacation = guilt trip

This was such a “feelbad” read for me. The ending bummed me out and I feel like this was a book length lecture against Antarctica tourism. I think my biggest issue is that I found the main character horribly unlikable and I didn’t care at all about her throughout..

I did learn a lot about penguins.

The contemporary storyline was interesting to me but it was constantly interrupted by “Twenty year’s ago” text that centered around a character I loathed. To cap off a bad reading experience, the contemporary storyline had a very unsatisfying conclusion.