Welcome to my holiday book review.... Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.
I have meant to read this book for YEARS. Maybe I am the only one who hasn't read it? Well, if you've been putting it off or haven't heard of it, I suggest you head down to the bookstore ASAP.
WOW! is all I can say... Well, that and, "I'm never going to climb Mt. Everest!"
To enjoy this book you probably need to be interested in at least one of the following: mountaineering, huge challenges, teamwork under pressure, pushing the limits, survival, heroism, tragedy, nature, endurance... I would say a love of, or understanding of mountaineering is completely unnecessary to get into it though.
One warning... if your lifelong dream is to climb Mt. Everest you may not want to read this. Keep the dream alive and don't scare the @#$%! out of yourself...
As mentioned, any thoughts I have ever entertained (none really) of climbing Everest are hereby shelved. In fact, I have instructed Sacha not to allow me to ever consider the idea. The book is at times terrifying... imagining the ordeal was quite enough thank you!
It's been a while since I reviewed a book (like maybe 20 years), so bear with me as I get around to describing why this book is so good...
1. Man against nature is a compelling storyline (for me). A man (or woman's) car, house, job, clothes, bank account comes to mean exactly ZERO when he or she may die on the side of a mountain. (OK, well maybe the clothes will matter...)
2. Critical decision making and teamwork became interesting elements of the unfolding disaster. Krakauer does a great job of allowing the reader into the minds of the key figures.
3. Everest - I learnt an amazing amount about the mountain. We've all heard of it but to hear how it is tackled by a modern expedition (and what can go wrong!!) is super-interesting. NOTE: If there is a photo edition - buy it.... My copy had a paltry handful of black and white photos.
All told, this is a fascinating, sickening, heartbreaking account of an adventure that went seriously off the tracks. It is amazing and horrifying to put yourself into the crampons of the people who lived and died during this expedition....
This book gets my highest rating - two thumbs up, five stars, a gold statuette....
Rating: * * * * *
Next Read: The Kite Runner (whenever Sacha finishes it...)
Aloha from Kauai...
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