Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
4.5 - this book is beautiful and the author writes with so much vulnerability. Interestingly, how much it “hooked” me ebbed and flowed, I think because it felt just as I was getting invested in her summit of Everest, it would switch back in time to her childhood/early adulthood. But I really enjoyed and would recommend to a friend!
my final book to hit my yearly reading goal, and it might have been my favourite book this year. so incredibly powerful and incredible to read. i have never had the desire to hike everest before, but now i am googling base camp treks after reading how transformative and spiritual that experience can be. i am so glad that i decided to read this book after having it on my list for so long. one of the best memoirs i’ve ever picked up hands down, thank you silvia for sharing your words with the world
This is a tough one to review because if it had been fiction, I would have abandoned it somewhere between raging against white men and the pronoun they for a woman. I refuse to tolerate this in the books I choose in order to calm my mind from the madness of today's society. But I wanted to read this book specifically because it is a memoir and I have had a lifelong fascination with Everest and Nepal.
Well, the parts that are about that are generally great, especially the guiding of the sex trafficking and sexual assault survivors to Base Camp. I adored the girls, well, mostly the Nepali girls and their horrific realities are worth far more than 370 pages. One should discuss less spiritual bullshit and more how the world could pressure the disgusting corruption in a country basically maintained by the obsessive deadly Everest tourism. But yeah, in the end, we are all toxic and I agree with this statement.
The parts about Peru were good. I have a strong stomach so I just accepted Silvia's horrendous assaults as the reality of so many children. Just do 5 minutes of digging online and you will get to know far worse, supported and defended by grotesque politicians which go through extreme lengths to unman themselves and protect the unprotectable. So I was not shocked when a toxic family did nothing for their daughter's rape. This is common throughout Latin America during those times as it is common throughout Eastern Europe where I am from even now. What was incomprehensible to me was her decision to continue staying in contact with her family, her respect for a weak mother and her thanking of a violent, incapable of love father in the acknowledgements at the end. To me this is devoid of sense and while obviously a personal thing, I find it invalidates much of the earlier chapters post the trauma.
The parts about America, especially San Francisco are expectedly lame. Not her sexual orientation, I don't care about that, because in my simple brain we are more than what we fuck, despite what is being drilled into kids today. But the audacity for raging against white men, who obviously are all portrayed as lowlife scum, while choosing to delve as deep as possible in being an addict and a fuckboy of the highest degree. People who mindlessly fuck should not judge others who do. People who have more empathy for made believe pronouns than for their life partners should really address their decision making skills.
In the end, it was too little mountain, too much oh woe is me, too much hypocrisy and too little depth. At the same time too long and too short. I love Everest, I love Peru, I love people who overcome trauma but I don't like how this story was chosen to be told. 7 summits were climbed but more was written about gay bars, drinking, mean corporations and invented racial issues.
3 stars because of Everest.
Well, the parts that are about that are generally great, especially the guiding of the sex trafficking and sexual assault survivors to Base Camp. I adored the girls, well, mostly the Nepali girls and their horrific realities are worth far more than 370 pages. One should discuss less spiritual bullshit and more how the world could pressure the disgusting corruption in a country basically maintained by the obsessive deadly Everest tourism. But yeah, in the end, we are all toxic and I agree with this statement.
The parts about Peru were good. I have a strong stomach so I just accepted Silvia's horrendous assaults as the reality of so many children. Just do 5 minutes of digging online and you will get to know far worse, supported and defended by grotesque politicians which go through extreme lengths to unman themselves and protect the unprotectable. So I was not shocked when a toxic family did nothing for their daughter's rape. This is common throughout Latin America during those times as it is common throughout Eastern Europe where I am from even now. What was incomprehensible to me was her decision to continue staying in contact with her family, her respect for a weak mother and her thanking of a violent, incapable of love father in the acknowledgements at the end. To me this is devoid of sense and while obviously a personal thing, I find it invalidates much of the earlier chapters post the trauma.
The parts about America, especially San Francisco are expectedly lame. Not her sexual orientation, I don't care about that, because in my simple brain we are more than what we fuck, despite what is being drilled into kids today. But the audacity for raging against white men, who obviously are all portrayed as lowlife scum, while choosing to delve as deep as possible in being an addict and a fuckboy of the highest degree. People who mindlessly fuck should not judge others who do. People who have more empathy for made believe pronouns than for their life partners should really address their decision making skills.
In the end, it was too little mountain, too much oh woe is me, too much hypocrisy and too little depth. At the same time too long and too short. I love Everest, I love Peru, I love people who overcome trauma but I don't like how this story was chosen to be told. 7 summits were climbed but more was written about gay bars, drinking, mean corporations and invented racial issues.
3 stars because of Everest.
I will probably never climb Mount Everest. With this memoir, I feel I don’t have to (thank goodness) because the chapters Lovado dedicated to her climb truly captures the reader’s imagination. I was surprised how much I felt I was experiencing her thoughts, bodily motions, and spiritual reflections alongside her. This memoir was an adventure in it of itself!
This memoir switches between chapters about her trek and the life she lived that lead her to attempt to summit Everest. Lovado reflects on her past in a way that makes you feel you’re both viewing & reflecting on her memories together. She masterfully captures and embraces her full self-brave soul & human with flaws-as she embarks on a journey of healing & self discovery.
She challenges readers to ask themselves what is real strength? Specifically-to see how to be soft is also to be strong.
This memoir switches between chapters about her trek and the life she lived that lead her to attempt to summit Everest. Lovado reflects on her past in a way that makes you feel you’re both viewing & reflecting on her memories together. She masterfully captures and embraces her full self-brave soul & human with flaws-as she embarks on a journey of healing & self discovery.
She challenges readers to ask themselves what is real strength? Specifically-to see how to be soft is also to be strong.
Really powerful, gut-wrenching memoir, and beautifully written. I found the sexual abuse scenes really hard to read (as it should be, because WTF
'In the Shadow of the Mountain' is Silvia Vasquez-Lavado's story of personal triumph. Experiencing sexual abuse as a child, Vasquez-Lavado struggled with her trauma for years. Alcohol and sex addiction became a soothing salve for many years. She eventually took charge of her life, channeling her energy to helping other women in need. Along the way, Silvia received a higher calling to ascend the tallest mountains, her most famous being Mount Everest.
This memoir alternates between Silvia's life journey, and her 2015 mission to reach the Mt. Everest summit. This memoir is very raw and straightforward, as it shares Vasquez-Lazado's struggles as she attempts to fit in with her male counterparts. Silvia struggles to feel a sense of comfort throughout her life, as her trauma prevents her from bonding with close relationships. It takes heartbreaking life events and deep meditation in order for Silvia to regain her courage.
I was deeply moved by Silvia's powerful story. Everyone should find the time to read this memoir!
Thank you to Henry Holt Books for the gifted copy.
This memoir alternates between Silvia's life journey, and her 2015 mission to reach the Mt. Everest summit. This memoir is very raw and straightforward, as it shares Vasquez-Lazado's struggles as she attempts to fit in with her male counterparts. Silvia struggles to feel a sense of comfort throughout her life, as her trauma prevents her from bonding with close relationships. It takes heartbreaking life events and deep meditation in order for Silvia to regain her courage.
I was deeply moved by Silvia's powerful story. Everyone should find the time to read this memoir!
Thank you to Henry Holt Books for the gifted copy.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Read cover to cover in 2 days. Suddenly I want to climb a mountain