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Touching the Void
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Touching the Void by Joe Simpson - 5 stars (Steeplechase, BWF)
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I read this book many years ago for my F2F book club. I finished it only because a dear friend had recommended it. It made me angry!Snippet from my review:
I view them as selfish, arrogant, risk takers who then assume someone will save them. The one, in particular, risked not only his own life but the lives of his friends. ARRGGH!
Amazing true story of climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates and their horrifying ordeal on Siula Grande in 1985 in the Peruvian Andes. After reaching the summit via the previously unclimbed west face, they ran into trouble on the descent. Joe Simpson takes the reader through his near-death experience on the mountain. During the critical segments of the climb, Simon Yates’s perspective is included. The writing is wonderful, especially considering Simpson never set out to be a writer. It is filled with vivid descriptions of the terrain as well as the details of mountaineering techniques. I felt fully immersed in the narrative. Simpson has a knack for conveying his innermost thoughts and emotions in a relatable manner. It is intense and engrossing. It is a story of physical and psychological trauma, as well as one of friendship. I have always been fascinated by those who take extreme risks to accomplish a self-imposed goal, and especially if they involve activities in an exceptionally cold environment. Highly recommended to those who enjoy true stories of survival, mountaineering, or extremely perilous adventures.
PBT Steeplechase - tagged "mountaineering" x233:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...
PBT April BWF Extra T/S - fits letters, not tag