Katie's review
Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (Avon Nonfiction) by Piers Paul Read
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 to withstand stunning hardship, was even more inspiring. In addition to starvation, they experienced horrific weather conditions, an avalanche, injuries, and dispair, and incredibly, their endurance and will to live triumphed. The book could have used some editing; there was a lot of repetition, and it would have been helpful if the author had added a chart to help keep track of the many characters. 5 stars for the epic experience, 3 for the novel.
