Alive

Mar 05, 2011 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, 2011-reads, re-read

In October of 1972, a chartered plane carrying 45 passengers and crew left Uruguay to travel to Chile. A majority of the passengers were made up of young men who were part of an amateur rugby team going to Chile for a game. Others included family and friends. Over the rugged Andes, the pilot made a fatal error, and the plane crashed into the side of a mountain, flinging parts of the tail section, fuselage, wing, rudder and even some passengers out over the desolate landscape. The survivors were,...more In October of 1972, a chartered plane carrying 45 passengers and crew left Uruguay to travel to Chile. A majority of the passengers were made up of young men who were part of an amateur rugby team going to Chile for a game. Others included family and friends. Over the rugged Andes, the pilot made a fatal error, and the plane crashed into the side of a mountain, flinging parts of the tail section, fuselage, wing, rudder and even some passengers out over the desolate landscape. The survivors were, for the most part, very young men (average age around 23 years old). On average, they came from priviledged families. Most were devout Catholics. They enjoyed their cigarettes. They loved their mothers and girlfriends. They loved the game of rugby and were eager to experience a taste of the world outside their beloved Uruguay.

Over the next 70 days, the remaining survivors battled cold, avalanches, injury, fear and hunger. To survive, they prayed - alot. They devised plans for capturing water. They made forays into the vast white bleak landscape to search for supplies and a way out. They became makeshift doctors and surgeons and helped the wounded. They waited for rescue to come from the outside. And to fight off starvation, they ate their dead.

The story of the 16 remaining Andes survivors makes for riveting reading. The first time I read this book I was in my early 20s myself, and I remember the cannibalism being the overriding memory I took away from this book. Now I'm older, and it's not the cannibalism that captures my attention, but how these very young men kept their sanity, faith and courage in the face of unimaginable horrors. Of their cannibalism, they are unapologetic (which is as it should be). However, they didn't take what they did to survive lightly, and one of the survivors says it best:

"When one awakes in the morning amid the silence of the mountains and sees all around the snow-capped peaks--it is majestic, sensational, something frightening--one feels alone, alone, alone in the world but for the presence of God. For I can assure you that God is there. We all felt it, inside ourselves, and not because we were the kind of pious youths who are always praying all day long, even though we had a religious education. Not at all. But there one feels the presence of God. One feels, above all, what is called the hand of God, and allows oneself to be guided by it...And when the moment came when we did not have any more food, or anything of that kind, we thought to ourselves that if Jesus at His last supper had shared His flesh and blood with His apostles, then it was a sign to us that we should do the same--take the flesh and blood as an intimate communion between us all. It was this that helped us to survive, and now we do not want this--which was something intimate, intimate--to be hackneyed or touched or anything like that...."

Alive is much much more then a survival story. It is a glimpse of courage and faith in the midst of death, fear, and hopelessness.(less)

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Oct 13, 2011 Brenda rated it 5 of 5 stars

On Friday, Oct. 13, 1972 a Fairchild F-227 chartered from the Uruguayan Air Force, carrying a young amateur rugby team and their families and friends from Uruguay slammed into the middle of the Andes Mountains east of Chile.

They had left home with much excitement on Oct 12th, but reports of bad weather in the Andes had put them down for an overnight stay in Mendoza. Most of the young men, with an average age of just 19, had never flown before, never been away from home, so they were extemely ex...more On Friday, Oct. 13, 1972 a Fairchild F-227 chartered from the Uruguayan Air Force, carrying a young amateur rugby team and their families and friends from Uruguay slammed into the middle of the Andes Mountains east of Chile.

They had left home with much excitement on Oct 12th, but reports of bad weather in the Andes had put them down for an overnight stay in Mendoza. Most of the young men, with an average age of just 19, had never flown before, never been away from home, so they were extemely excited to be going to Chile. They set off again in the afternoon of the 13th, and contact was lost at approximately 3.30pm that same day.

Initially the plane broke up, with the wing hitting the mountain first, and when they hit the ground, the tail separated from the fuselage, with those people at the rear of the plane dying instantly. When the fuselage finally came to rest, there were 32 survivors left from the 45 who had boarded the plane in such high spirits.

Some were severely injured, many had broken bones and other injuries. But there were some who were barely injured, and it was these who took the lead to help their friends. With only a little wine, some candy and chocolate, plus many cigarettes to help them survive, they were sure they would be rescued within a matter of a few days, if not sooner. They made their home in the fuselage, erecting shelters around the plane to help them stay warm. It was intensely cold, and they weren't dressed for these temperatures. They had their faith, as they were all Catholics, and felt God was with them up high in the mountains.

But as the days moved on to weeks, their numbers went down, first to 27, then after a horrendous avalanche, they lost another 8, taking their number down to 19, and finally 16. The horrors, the human endurance, catastrophes, the shockingly overwhelming nature of it all, will stun you, shock you, and at times revolt you, but the miracle of their survival will stay with you for a long time after you finish this book.

This story of the 16 survivors, what they suffered, and how they remained alive is one everyone should read. (less)

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Jan 28, 2012 Linds rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1970s, 5-star-2012-read, inspirational, movies, non-fiction, read-in-2012, tear-jerker, tough-guy, south-america, survival

This is one the most intense survival story I've ever read. It takes turns being horrific and inspirational. I have seen the 1993 Ethan Hawke movie 'Alive' and while it captured a lot of details, the book is so good. It was written directly after the incident so all the memories were fresh and the detailed conversations were remembered.

In 1972 a private Catholic college rugby team from Uruguay went on a trip to play a match in Chile and enjoy a mini vacation. Their plane crashed in the Andes mou...more This is one the most intense survival story I've ever read. It takes turns being horrific and inspirational. I have seen the 1993 Ethan Hawke movie 'Alive' and while it captured a lot of details, the book is so good. It was written directly after the incident so all the memories were fresh and the detailed conversations were remembered.

In 1972 a private Catholic college rugby team from Uruguay went on a trip to play a match in Chile and enjoy a mini vacation. Their plane crashed in the Andes mountains, and there were some survivors.

After 72 DAYS in the freezing cold, in inadequate clothes, no food, injuries from the crash, 2 of the boys got through climbing the mountains with no equipment and got help from civilization, and rescued their 14 friends that were still alive.

Their story is pitiful and horrific. The crash is infamous due to the fact that they had to eat those that died in the crash to stay alive. While this is the key to their survival it's not sensationalized and dealt with respectfully. One of the sadder parts of the book is when the boys all make a pact that if any of them died they wanted the others to eat them to stay alive.

Nando Parrudo emerges of the hero of the piece. A shy and awkward boy, he emerged as the best able to mentally and physically handle the pressure that few would be able to keep their heads. He would rally and encourage the boys that were losing their will to live. He lost his mother and sister in the crash and it was sheer stubbornness and determination that got him over those mountains to get help for the rest.

One day five years ago I got caught in a blizzard in my car, and the interstate closed. I had to turn off my car and heater because I was almost out of gas and with the blizzard AAA couldn't come get me even if the interstate opened. I hadn't eaten that day, had no water. I had my jacket, I was in my car, and I still took of the seat cover for a blanket, too miserable and cold to sleep. It was by far the worst night of my life where grief or something wasn't involved, it seemed like it would never end.

And I was in a car away from the wind. I had a coat and mittens. I think of that night and their experience was times a thousand. I just felt so bad for them. Those boys are heroes and their story is amazing.

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Feb 06, 2009 Mark R. rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Alive" provides a detailed account of the trials a group of rugby players and their flight companions underwent after their plane crashed in the Andes in 1972.

The book isn't written as a "nonfiction novel", and has a tone halfway between fictional prose and an in-depth magazine article. I believe the author's intent was to describe the situation as accurately as possible without fabricating anything, aside from small pieces of dialogue present here and there throughout the book.

Piers Paul Reid...more

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Dec 31, 2008 Missy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow, what an incredible story. I had seen the movie a while back and thought I knew what happened, but the movie doesn't depict half of what went on up there in the Andes. And the characters and their thoughts and struggles during their 70+ days out there is very intense. Along with what really happened from the parent's point of view with trying to get the gov't to send search and rescue people out, because nobody believed there could be anyone still alive, much less 16 of them. And what the pa...more

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Oct 25, 2007 Catharine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

One of the survivors in this book is quoted as saying that his experience of surviving following a plane crash in the Andes Mountains was the greatest experience of his life. All of the survivors suffered from severe cold, lack of food, and some had injuries,or infections, The test was severe, and yet, this young man could say that it was his greatest exprience. I think whenever we prove to ourselves how much we can handle, we grow and we can look back and say that the hardship, whatever it was,...more

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Nov 30, 2007 Katie Abbott Harris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Most know the story of "Alive," a true account of astonishing survival. In 1972, a plane carrying a rugby team from Uruguay crashed in the Andes mountains. Of 45 passengers, only 16 survived the 70 days on the mountain. Their food supply quickly depleted, and rather than starve to death, they made the grisly decision to eat the bodies of their dead companions. This cannibalism has been hyped extensively as an act of bravery, but the enormous faith that they placed in God and man, enabling them t...more

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May 14, 2010 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this back when it was fairly new... I would have thought that I'd retain more of the feeling I had at the time.

What will anyone do when faced with death? How will humanity in general deal with starvation? I'd say "it remains to be seen" might be the lesson to be learned here.

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May 28, 2008 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 25, 2013 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Lisa (Harmonybites) by: Assigned High School Reading

Shelves: biography, history, non-fiction, travel

In October of 1972 a plane carrying 45 passengers and crew crashed into a glacier in the Andes. Within a week there were only 27 left alive and the food was running out and soon hope of rescue was lost. To stay alive, those remaining had to resort to eating the bodies of the dead. Eventually two of their number climbed a mountain to reach civilization and rescue those left behind.

That describes gruesome suffering, but somehow this account managed to be life-affirming. Maybe because, after all,...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Cameron Chesnut rated it 5 of 5 stars

Alive

Alive by Piers Paul Read is a great book that demonstrates the value of teamwork on and off the field. The Uruguayan rugby team is on their way to Chile when suddenly their plane crashes in the Andes. Several people die but a handful of people survive the crash and now have to find a way to survive the harsh conditions of the mountains. All they have are a few drinks, some food, and seat covers to keep them warm. As they share all that remains, they realize this won’t last for long and they...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Josie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the most amazing book I have ever read. I have read this many times and my copy is now battered and tatty but will be forever loved. The story is the most poignant, heartbreaking, inspiring story I think has even been told. For these men to face such horrors and to conquor against all odds is nothing short of a miracle. I first read this book about 6 years ago and it really hit a nerve with me. Its something I go back to in testing times during my life as its definately a book that gives...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, non-fiction

I read this when it first came out in PB, so many years ago, mid-70's. I'd give it 5 stars because I still remember it so clearly, but I never wanted to re-read it. It was well done, but pretty gruesome. Stranded for 10 weeks with not much else to eat but dead passengers (some of them team mates) injured, & cold. They tried a number of things, but finally 2 of them managed to walk out & get help. It's one of the most incredible stories of survival I've ever read.

I wondered what happened...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Chloé Blencowe rated it 4 of 5 stars

I had to read this book for my A Level English Language/Literature course work first thinking it would be a hideously boring book (as most exam board choices are, especially the book I was to compare this to... Robinson Crusoe)but I was 'pleasantly' surprised when I read it, although there is nothing pleasant about the tale itself. The book tells of the rugby team who were stranded on the Andes for months who face a course of misfortunes (view spoiler)...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Frank rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book has been called a lot of things, or at least the story it tells. Just how far would you go to survive in conditions these players found themselves? So I think for me the book is more than the true story of survival by school players; it is a demand for the reader to place him or her self in that position and think about what he or she would do. At least I found myself doing that. Could I eat the flesh of another human; a friend? Could I give up and just will myself to die? Rather than j...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Elliot Ki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read is an excellent book, though not necessarily without its faults. It switches off between reporting about the survivors and how they are doing in the Andes, and how their families are coping with the loss of their children. Essentially, Read makes it so there is a boring section of the book (talking about the families) versus the captivating parts (when the focus centers on the survivors). But the boring side is needed, as the reader need...more Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read is an excellent book, though not necessarily without its faults. It switches off between reporting about the survivors and how they are doing in the Andes, and how their families are coping with the loss of their children. Essentially, Read makes it so there is a boring section of the book (talking about the families) versus the captivating parts (when the focus centers on the survivors). But the boring side is needed, as the reader needs to know background information about the rugby’s team before the terrible tragedy. The author places the timing of when to switch off perfectly. He crafts it so when the survivors are about to set off on an expedition or do something monumental, he terminates the scene and goes back to the families. This creates a cliffhanger, forcing the reader to ask the question, “What happens next?”

Piers Paul Read is able to keep his audience engaged in other ways as well. Constantly he uses dialogue as a form of action, and only when the characters can say it better than he can. By utilizing this, the reader feels like he is right in the thick of it, alongside the survivors. Also, it explains the circumstances and adds information so the reader can picture what is going on through the minds of the characters.

The author paints a vivid image, providing key details by “getting the name of the dog”. He points out aspects of the crash, like the angle it came down, where it supposedly came crashing, and the conditions of the surroundings of the planes. He adds how desperate the rugby team was when they realized everyone had given up on them. When the survivors were forced to eat the bodies of the dead, many of them being their friends, and some family as well, it revolts readers alike. He is able to appeal to all the senses. The reader is disgusted by such cannibalism, even if it is the only way to keep on going. Obviously, Read builds his work around a key question, which is, Will anyone that didn’t die immediately in the crash brave the elements of the Andes and make it out alive? Essentially, this question is the engine of the story, as the plot unfolds to ultimately provide the answer.

Piers Paul Read lets us be in the story as he reveals the traits of the characters, so the reader has a better understanding of the plot as a whole. He goes about doing so in a variety of ways, such as providing concrete details and dialogue among the survivors. Instead of moving up the ladder of abstraction (provoking thoughts, philosophical-type), he heads towards the bottom, which enables the reader to have a clearer knowledge of what is going on in the story.
Read’s tone of voice is appropriate throughout, changing it when necessary. The mood takes an ominous tone just before the crash. After the crash, and the days following it, especially when the days go by, it turns desperate. If the survivors somehow feel hope, the mood temporarily gets happier.

All in all, Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, is a great book, even though it gets boring at times. Piers Paul Read uses several tools to make the book a good read, and I recommend it to anyone of any age.
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Jul 01, 2011 Patti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not gonna lie--I read this book because I wanted to read about how they ate the people. That is what hooked everyone to this story, isn't it? I saw the movie to see how they ate the people. It's what everyone remembers and why we remember the Donner party all these years later. Dude, they ATE THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!

In the book, they had already eaten the first people by about page 70; the book is hundreds of pages longer. Huh, I thought. What are they going to talk about for the rest of the book?

What...more Not gonna lie--I read this book because I wanted to read about how they ate the people. That is what hooked everyone to this story, isn't it? I saw the movie to see how they ate the people. It's what everyone remembers and why we remember the Donner party all these years later. Dude, they ATE THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!

In the book, they had already eaten the first people by about page 70; the book is hundreds of pages longer. Huh, I thought. What are they going to talk about for the rest of the book?

What they talk about are the other aspects of survival and it is a very compelling read. There was an avalanche shortly after the initial crash, there are a couple of treks to find the tail and to see who is hardy enough to attempt a walk for help. There are deaths and fights and camaraderie and heartbreaks and survival and yes, they eat the people.

This of course begs the question of how far any of us would go to survive. Would I be able to take a piece of glass and cut the flesh off of a recently dead human being? I don't think there is any way to answer that without actually being in that situation which, God willing, I never will be. And speaking of God, the boys' faith in God is awe inspiring. I sometimes snap at God when I get caught in traffic and these boys were faithful throughout (although they, understandably, questioned why some lived while others died). I will have to remember this story next time I get snappy.

The only reason that I didn't give this book 5 stars is that I found the parts describing the parents' efforts to find the boys rather dull. I don't know if I just anxious to get back onto the mountain with the boys, but I found myself skimming those parts. I will say though that the reunions with the families were just amazing...I can't imagine what the families went through and how full of awe they were to see their sons again.

One other thing I would have liked is to some sort of follow up to tell me what the rest of their lives turned out like, especially the older man who had the 4 kids and the boy whose sister and mother died in the crash (or shortly thereafter). Nevertheless, this was a compelling read...I would suggest reading it in the summer though because parts of it made me feel kinda chilly!!(less)

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Apr 19, 2011 Yune rated it 3 of 5 stars

The tale of the survivors of an Uruguayan plane after it crashed in the Andes mountains. It's difficult to make this story uninteresting, but most of the appeal does end up coming from amazement rather than compelling writing.

As always, extreme situations will bring out better things in some people than others, and Read delicately walked the line between describing some people's failings without being harshly condemning (since, y'know, many of us would not be paragons in a similar situation). Ho...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Kater Cheek rated it 3 of 5 stars

The success of this book relates mostly to the compelling nature of the tragedy that spawned it. Even before reading this book, I'd heard the story of these Urugayans who crashed into the Andes back in 1972. It seemed like the perfect book to read on a long flight home.

I've read a lot of books about disasters, so I came to this with a more critical eye than the average reader. Read focuses almost entirely upon the actions taken by the survivors after they landed. He leaves the cause of their cra...more The success of this book relates mostly to the compelling nature of the tragedy that spawned it. Even before reading this book, I'd heard the story of these Urugayans who crashed into the Andes back in 1972. It seemed like the perfect book to read on a long flight home.

I've read a lot of books about disasters, so I came to this with a more critical eye than the average reader. Read focuses almost entirely upon the actions taken by the survivors after they landed. He leaves the cause of their crash fairly vague. Did they not have black boxes back then? Was it never recovered? Did he assume we had no interest in that? For whatever reason, the cause of the accident is mentioned only cursorily.

Once they crashed, the story began to cover the survivors and how they dealt with the horror of their situation. Were they going to be rescued, or should they try to hike to safety? Who was in charge, and how did they deal with the injured? How did they protect themselves from the elements. And, of course, the most gruesome aspect, what did they eat?

From a research standpoint, Read does a good job. He covers both what happened on the cordillera as well as what was happening among the rescuers. He lavishes details about their background, and how it impacted the decisions they made. He even provides back story as to who among the passengers had suffered, and who had a reputation as a playboy, and who did not even belong to the same team as the others. Every survivor or victim of this crash receives his or her due.

As with many non-fiction books, this attention to detail was its weakness. There were simply too many characters for me to keep track of their names. I can understand that, out of respect for the survivors, it didn't make sense to edit out the names or stories of anyone. However, from a narrative standpoint, it would have made more sense to chose five to seven "main characters" and focus almost entirely on them. As it was, the litany of names and backgrounds of victims overwhelmed me, and after a while I simply gave up trying to tell one from another. It didn't help that the names were all foreign to me, and many of them had nicknames as well.

Those with a ghoulish bent will appreciate the detail with which Read describes how the survivors butchered and ate the dead. Those who just want a gripping tale of survival under brutal conditions might instead try THE LONG WALK or ENDURANCE: SHACKLETON'S INCREDIBLE VOYAGE.(less)

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Mar 05, 2011 Athira rated it 4 of 5 stars

Suspense, emotions, and cannibalism. In the book, ALIVE: The Story of the Andes Survivors, author Piers Paul Read showcases his ability to hypnotize the reader. Seriously, it's as if he works in jedi mind tricks into his writing. Throughout, he keeps the reader interested by teasing him or her with the constant use of internal cliffhangers and mental shifts.

The book begins focused on a group of Uruguayan rugby players accompanied by some of their friends and family members on their annual trip t...more Suspense, emotions, and cannibalism. In the book, ALIVE: The Story of the Andes Survivors, author Piers Paul Read showcases his ability to hypnotize the reader. Seriously, it's as if he works in jedi mind tricks into his writing. Throughout, he keeps the reader interested by teasing him or her with the constant use of internal cliffhangers and mental shifts.

The book begins focused on a group of Uruguayan rugby players accompanied by some of their friends and family members on their annual trip to Chile to participate in a rugby tournament. With forty five jubilant passengers on board, the Fairchild FH-227D takes off on Friday, October 13, 1972 and begins its route across the Andes. However, extreme weather conditions cause the plane to jeer off course and plummet down into the barren mountains. The story then goes on to recount the seventy two days that the survivors of the crash are forced to suffer through before being rescued.

While retelling the experience, Read chooses to switch back and forth between the stories of the survivors and the rescuers. Not only does this give the reader a sense of completeness, it also allows Read to insert a cliffhanger at the end of almost every section. This tool helps make ALIVE a very page-turning book by keeping the reader on end and wanting more. Also, Read often compares and contrasts both sides. In their need to survive, the passengers might do something unthinkable, such as resort to cannibalism, and through the author's calm, convincing tone, the reader becomes familiar with the idea and even begins to view human flesh as just another food source. However, when Read switches back to the rescuers, the reader suddenly snaps back to the "outside world," and the actions of the passengers suddenly seem unthinkable and grotesque. Such realizations prove that Read was capable of writing the story in such a real, telling way using mind-washing diction that the reader feels as if he or she is actually trapped in the Andes with the passengers.

The fact that Read is capable of making events preceding the crash as well as events that occurred days after rescue seem just as intriguing as the seventy two days of survival is also one of the best elements in this book. To do this, Read plays with the reader's mind by either withholding certain information or making great use of dramatic irony. This in turn makes the reader feel somewhat frustrated but in a good way since it makes him or her want to read more. This also showcases Read's talent to pick out the key ideas (or atleast the ideas that would be most meaningful to the average reader) presented in the story of the Andes survivors.

The only aspect of this book that I disliked was the beginning. Read decides to use a large majority of the first chapter discussing history and backstory about the Uruguayans, their various reasons to take the plane to Chile, and an overly-detailed explanation of rugby. By putting all of this information together, Read makes this section sound like a passage from a textbook. Worse still, this uninviting opening may even deter the reader from reading further. To avoid this, Read should have weaved this information throughout the first few chapters so that the book would have started off with the focus being on the Uruguayans' interactions with each other before the accident.

To add, Read signifies that the majority of the dialogue in the book is fabricated. However, Read also makes it clear that he went through a lengthy interview process with everybody significantly related to the accident before writing the novel. In this way, some parts of the book aren't completely accurate, but they are as close as possible. Also, the dialogue adds another dimension to the story. It makes everything seem relatable. Without it, the story would be quite lackluster, and it would resemble narration rather than an engaging account of survival. In fact, the dialogue is one of the best features of the book because it provides the reader with a deeper understaning of each of the passengers' personalities by showing rather than telling.

Overall, this book is very well written, and it does an outstanding job of pulling the reader into the story. As long as you push through the dull introduction, you'll find yourself divulged in this truly miraculous story, which is why I give this book a very deserving four out of five stars.(less)

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Nov 08, 2010 Austin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of those novels that you will never forget. It is a phenomenal writing piece based on a rugby team whose plane crashed when flying over the Andes Mountains. They were stuck in these mountains for over ten weeks. Forty five passengers and the crew were on the plane before it crashed, and only sixteen of the passengers left the mountain alive. This book will go down as one of my all-time favorite novels in the entire world. Since it is a survival story, at any point in time someth...more

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Sep 28, 2010 Zach Hogan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Imagine, stranded in the middle of the Andes mountains, surrounded by mountains, snow, the front half of a plane, and dead passengers. The memoir of this true story is Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read and it shows the true horrors of survival. In the introduction of the book, Read blatantly states his thesis. He writes, “This is the story of what they suffered and of how they remained alive” (14). This is exactly what he writes about in the book. Survival and suffering...more Imagine, stranded in the middle of the Andes mountains, surrounded by mountains, snow, the front half of a plane, and dead passengers. The memoir of this true story is Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read and it shows the true horrors of survival. In the introduction of the book, Read blatantly states his thesis. He writes, “This is the story of what they suffered and of how they remained alive” (14). This is exactly what he writes about in the book. Survival and suffering are the reasons for the title of this book. The title “Alive” can be interpreted with negative or positive connotation, or both, and it would still sum the experiences of the survivors. Although the survivors went through many tragedies and had to do extremely depressing tasks, they were still able to survive and give hope to people around the world.

Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors is, as its name states, the story of the Andes survivors. On October 13th, the plane, named the Fairchild, crash-landed in the Andes Mountains with forty passengers, fifteen of them being the rugby team and twenty five being friends and family. For eight days, a search went on to find the plane, but it could not be found. The plane had crashed in a spot that no one would have guessed, so the survivors had to figure out ways to live while they waited to be rescued. Living in the front of the plane, because both the back of the plane and the wings had ripped off, the survivors had to eat the dead to survive. For seventy-two days, along with natural occurrences such as an avalanche, they lived like this. Early on though, one of the survivors, Nando Parrado, realized something had to happen. “While most of his companions only thought of being rescued, Parrado considered the active option of somehow getting back to civilization by his own efforts” (65). Throughout the book, the survivors come to agree with Parrado’s idea. On the seventieth day, after sending two of the strongest boys days before, a farmer in a village miles away from the crash site, spotted the two figures emphatically waving their arms. He left and then the next day checked to see if they were still there. Finding them in the same spot, the farmer threw a pen and paper over to the two haggard looking men. The note that was thrown back started, “I come from a plane that fell in the mountains. I am Uruguayan...” (14). Only sixteen of the original forty survived.

Nando Parrado’s determination saved the lives of the other survivors. After regaining consciousness, Parrado gains an insatiable hunger for freedom and even goes to the extent of stating, “‘Then I’ll cut meat from one of the pilots,’ said Parrado, ‘After all, they got us into this mess” (65). After being told that there would be no food for a hike to freedom, Parrado’s determination allows him to make the first suggestion of eating the dead to survive. This determination and suggestion allows the other survivors to gain the strength to do what had to be done to survive. Also, Parrado displays his determination through physical strength. Parrado, one who was initially left for the dead, overrides fear with determination when climbing up the mountain, “If he had slipped he would have fallen for many hundreds of feet, but this did not dismay him… intense anxiety to see what was on the other side”(225). Here, Parrado’s determination to gain freedom and save the rest of the survivors allows him to climb an extremely steep mountain as tall as 13,500 feet, covered in snow, without any help. Through incredible, and maybe excessive, determination Nando Parrado was able to save himself and fifteen other people.

In this novel, Read’s writing style is much different than traditional descriptive writing in that he tells the story without tedious and extreme detail, keeping it concise. At the beginning of the novel, Read states, “At times I was tempted to fictionalize certain parts of the story… but in the end I decided that the bare facts were sufficient to sustain the narrative” (10). Read could have added the fictional extra details to add drama, but he did not. His writing style allowed the story to become the center focus of the book, rather than excessive detail. The most detail that was written in the book was describing a new setting, which was not even that descriptive, “The ground was covered with fresh grass, the mountains rose up behind them, and the sound of the river could be heard from several hundred yards away where it crashed down through the gorge” (266). In this quote, Read could have written metaphors or similes to describe the grass, mountains, and river, but rather, he did it in a way that was concise and still allowed the reader to picture the setting. Read writes in a way that allows the reader to picture the setting in their head, but not so much as to be excessive. This writing style is one of the reasons for the excellence of this book.

Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors shows the true story of one of the greatest survival stories. When reading the author’s note before the prologue, one can see from there that the book will not be filled with fictional dramatic excitement. The author wrote the story as it was told by the survivors. This gave the book a quality of basic humanity. It showed exactly what the survivors went through and the perspectives of each of them. This novel is a must read for anyone.(less)

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Sep 02, 2010 Corinne rated it 4 of 5 stars

When you know from the beginning of a book that a plane full of young Rugby players crash lands in the snowy Andes mountains, and yet somehow some of those boys survive for weeks and weeks - you know it's not going to be a pretty story. And it's not. It's survival at its grittiest core, what do we humans really need to stay alive? Their story is told in an incredibly straightforward, almost newspaper-story type narrative. There's no real emotion. There's no flowery speech. It's just as true of a...more When you know from the beginning of a book that a plane full of young Rugby players crash lands in the snowy Andes mountains, and yet somehow some of those boys survive for weeks and weeks - you know it's not going to be a pretty story. And it's not. It's survival at its grittiest core, what do we humans really need to stay alive? Their story is told in an incredibly straightforward, almost newspaper-story type narrative. There's no real emotion. There's no flowery speech. It's just as true of a retelling as you can get under the circumstances and if I'm going to read non-fiction, that's exactly how I like it.

What they go through on that mountain is so grueling: the terror, the fear, the frustration, the pain and hunger and the bone biting cold. And yet what's interesting is their faith throughout, their actual, real belief that they will be saved despite the deck being stacked against them. They get creative and turn the carcass of the plane into a shelter, they go on expeditions to find out where they are and look for help, they make their own blankets and sleeping bags and perform emergency medical procedures on each other. They eat everything that could possibly be eaten until there is nothing left but the bodies of their comrades that are frozen out in the snow. In order to stay alive, those are eaten too. It does make one squeamish, to read the grisly details of their meals and I keep asking myself if I could do it. Would I do whatever it took to be with my children again?

Regardless of what I would do, this story did make for some very interesting reading. I could NOT for the life of me keep all the foreign names of those boys and their parents straight, though. It drove me loco. I finally gave up and by the end I knew who maybe five of them really were, but honestly, it didn't matter that much. The author did his best.

No, this story is not for the faint of heart and sometimes, of course, people let their weaknesses get the better of them. But I found this incredible sense of triumph. Human beings are absolutely astonishing creatures and it's amazing how deep that survival instinct can burn. (less)

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Aug 10, 2010 Becca rated it 3 of 5 stars

This tells the story of how some people survived a plane crash in the Andes, with little to no food, shelter, or means of knowing where they were and how to get out. I always find these tales of survival, and of people being pushed to the limit, interesting.

The story is well told, comprehensive, sensitive to most issues, and searching as far as the motivations and suffering of the survivors. I particularly liked the heroism of the few who managed to hike out to contact civilization. I admired th...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Joseph Igoni rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 14, 2009 Steve rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I remember well the news reports when the survivors were found. Of course, the way they survived was emphasized in the news, but the day to day story of survival is much more than that. This book was written shortly after the events occurred, and filled with details. It's written well, and is hard to put down. One of the survivors, Nando Parrado, wrote his own story a few years ago called "Miracle in the Andes". His story matches the story here well, and is a good companion book.

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Jun 20, 2009 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a book I return to again and again for the incredible inspiration it gives me during times of fear or stress. Truly what could be more terrifying than being stranded, after a horrifying plane wreck in the middle of the Andes Mountains in the dead of winter. Not only must they remove their dead friends from the wreck, but they must watch many others die slowly due to various reasons.

The survivors, with the help of those that did not make it, managed to work and pray together to formulate...more

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Jan 31, 2008 Carlie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was given a first edition copy of this book for Christmas one year with original newspaper articles of the event hidden inside. The only thing I knew about this story prior to reading it was what most know; the cannibalism. This was not the the focus of the book and was dealt with as a matter of last resort, survival. These young rugby players were inspiring and handled their situation truly as a team when faced with the universal, absoluteness of death.

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Aug 22, 2011 Lushbug rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the official account of the survivors of the Andes plane crash in 1972 who survived for over 70 days in the bleakest conditions you can imagine. Of the 45 people on the flight, only 16 survived, resorting to cannibalism to live. They coped with freezing cold, no food, avalanches, being surrounded by dead and dying friends who would scream and moan in agony, knowing there was nothing they could do for them.
Everyone knows this story as they became famous not just for surviving but for how...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Esme rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Das Wunder der Anden

Am 13. Oktober 1972 stürzt ein Passagierflugzeug aus Uruguay mit 45 Menschen an Bord in den Anden ab. 70 Tage in einer ausweglosen und gefährlichen Grenzsituation. 16 überleben, weil sie ein gesellschaftliches Tabu brachen: Anthropophagie. Eine authentische Geschichte, die jede Vorstellungskraft übersteigt.

Piers Paul Read verbrachte mit den Überlebenden mehrere Monate und durchlebte mit ihnen jede Minute dieser Zeit nach. Es entstand dieses Buch, das über das Leiden, den zähe...more

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