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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Solid book, hard to put down. Each chapter is a story in its own right, originally written as essays and articles. Krakauer makes you feel like you are there which is a much safer way to scale a mountain.
In my obsession with tales of mountain climbing, I tend to get hung up on the big guys of the Himalayas. This collection of essays by Jon Krakauer (Into Thin Air), written between 1982 and 1989 and first published in the magazines Outside and Smithsonian, provides a broader view of the world of mountaineering, with tales of tackling ice towers in Alaska and the classic routes up the iconic Alps. And of course, there's just enough of Everest and K2 to satisfy. In these tales, Krakauer focuses not so much on the mountains themselves but on the slightly bent men and women who dare to climb them, providing a glimpse into the age old question of why they climb mountains.
While the small stories at times showcase Krakauer's ability to write, for the most part it doesn't allow him the ability to finish a story or to delve into specific characters. Definitely a good read for fans of Krakauer but not as good as his more recent books.
Continuing my reading of mountains and alaska-related stuff...I liked "Into the Wild" more, but this has some good short stories, esp. the first couple.
Maybe I'll read "Into Thin Air" sometime.
Maybe I'll read "Into Thin Air" sometime.
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
slow-paced
Well written essays on climbing and mountaineering. This book was a very nice read.