Joyce M. (hijolly) reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A real nail bitter, couldn't put it down, why do people do these kind of things book.
Isaac H. (thehurl7) -
Helpful Score: 2
This is a well written book about an incredible journey of a life and death climbing accident. While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I think it is fair to warn other readers that it certainly does contain a lot of terms and vocabulary that might only be familiar to someone who knows climbing. This did have a glossary in the back that helps, but it can still be a bit of a challenge if you do not know the vernacular, but still worth a read!
Donal T. (donzilla) reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I had dreams of white, deadly mountains, and narrow, gaping chasms.
Great (true) story-telling! I love the excerpts from the other players, where you get to see the story from both sides.
Great (true) story-telling! I love the excerpts from the other players, where you get to see the story from both sides.
Edith F. (Tigger14) reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 27 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is an incredible story of survival, friendship, difficult choices, and ultimately of a love of life. Against all odds Joe Simpson survives not one, but 2 falls in the Peruvian Mountains. With a broken leg he makes his way miles down the mountain, across a glacier, and then across a desolate landscape to safety. The most compelling part of the story is how he and his partner make decisions with far-reaching consequences and how they remain friends to this day.
Melody (integrity1) -
Helpful Score: 1
This is an incredible book about a true story of two men who almost complete their task climbing a mountain. Toward the end there is an accident and the rest of the story is so good you dont want to but the book down!
Mark H. reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Engrossing!
K E M. (Rampallion) reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 158 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Amazing and often horrifying true-life account of two mountain climbers who get into trouble at 21,000 feet in the Andes. Will one leave the other behind?
Donald K. (NjoyBoatn) reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A gripping survival story and great read that goes way beyond the action packed sport of mountain climbing. How an accident and the almost fatal ramifications play out goes beyond the adventure and into human nature. I found the postscript and epilogue particularly interesting. It is best to spend some time exploring the glossary before reading as there are lot of technical climbing terms used throughout. It truly is amazing what the human body can endure given the will and determination to survive.
Helpful Score: 1
This was an interesting book. The courage will to survive was amazing.
Harrowing story of survival, when left for dead.
Camden S. (xserafinx) reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 78 more book reviews
"This is not primarily an adventure story about climbing. It is an account of one man, not just facing the abyss but being in the abyss and having his very being stripped to a raw struggle, not to survive but to want to survive.
Simpson and a climbing partner in an excess of youthful bravado planned a new route up a monster Andean peak in Peru. The area was remote and civilization was somewhere else. After an arduous ascent, Simpson fell and broke his leg while descending. The reader gradually realizes what a chilling horror has befallen the pair. They have no possibility of rescue; the mountain was almost unclimbable for two superb athletes with two good legs. How can they possibly get down when one of them is unable to walk?
Partner, Simon Yates, ropes Simpson to himself and tries to guide Simpson down who is forced to crawl, slide, and inch himself forward. Then Simpson goes over the edge of a cornice and is dangling with only the rope holding him over the void. Yates heroically digs in, but gradually he himself is being inexorably drawn to the chasm. He finally, with shuddering reluctance, cuts the rope, and Simpson falls many feet into a crevasse.
The rest of the book is Simpson's six-day excruciating journey down the mountain: his thoughts, hallucinations and agony. Simpson is a powerful writer without a trace of self-pity. He doesn't try to impress us with his stoicism - far from it, at times he is almost mad with fright. There is nothing lurid here; the book is exhausting, but thought provoking. You won't forget it easily, and you cannot help but wonder what it is like beyond the edge and into the maelstrom."
- SweetMolly (Richmond, VA)
Simpson and a climbing partner in an excess of youthful bravado planned a new route up a monster Andean peak in Peru. The area was remote and civilization was somewhere else. After an arduous ascent, Simpson fell and broke his leg while descending. The reader gradually realizes what a chilling horror has befallen the pair. They have no possibility of rescue; the mountain was almost unclimbable for two superb athletes with two good legs. How can they possibly get down when one of them is unable to walk?
Partner, Simon Yates, ropes Simpson to himself and tries to guide Simpson down who is forced to crawl, slide, and inch himself forward. Then Simpson goes over the edge of a cornice and is dangling with only the rope holding him over the void. Yates heroically digs in, but gradually he himself is being inexorably drawn to the chasm. He finally, with shuddering reluctance, cuts the rope, and Simpson falls many feet into a crevasse.
The rest of the book is Simpson's six-day excruciating journey down the mountain: his thoughts, hallucinations and agony. Simpson is a powerful writer without a trace of self-pity. He doesn't try to impress us with his stoicism - far from it, at times he is almost mad with fright. There is nothing lurid here; the book is exhausting, but thought provoking. You won't forget it easily, and you cannot help but wonder what it is like beyond the edge and into the maelstrom."
- SweetMolly (Richmond, VA)
great, inspiration story. Me and my kids loved reading this one!
Joanne K. (Jerseygirl-exit30) reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 79 more book reviews
I had trouble putting this book down, I was on the edge of my seat!
Samantha T. (sammyg) -
I found this book to be very interesting. I could not put it down. If you like stories about adventure and survival, this book is for you.
Joy G. reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 22 more book reviews
Interesting story of adventure and survival.
Janet D. (Jay-d) reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 181 more book reviews
A great story of determination and courage.
Jennifer E. (estabiemom) reviewed Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival on + 10 more book reviews
I did not read this, my husband read it, and loved it.
