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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
A fascinating look at supercave exploration. I loved the photos, and wished there were detailed maps to help me picture the scope of these caves!
I wasn't crazy about the heavy emphasis on the drama and scandals surrounding the Cheve explorer, Bill Stone, though. At times, I felt that the writer was heavily biased in Stone's favor and wasn't presenting an even handed look at the events. I also wanted more details about the whys and hows of supercaving, but that wasn't the fault of the book.
Truly impressive stuff, especially the Ukrainians.
I wasn't crazy about the heavy emphasis on the drama and scandals surrounding the Cheve explorer, Bill Stone, though. At times, I felt that the writer was heavily biased in Stone's favor and wasn't presenting an even handed look at the events. I also wanted more details about the whys and hows of supercaving, but that wasn't the fault of the book.
Truly impressive stuff, especially the Ukrainians.
Hands down the best non fiction book I have ever read. Only took me a week or so
adventurous
fast-paced
Not so much an interesting story about cave diving as a weird biography about a man who’s clearly a dick but that the writer sees through rose coloured glasses. DNF
An interesting subject nearly ruined by the writer's hyberbolic style. There was never a 'race' to find the world's deepest cave; what there was was a dedicated Ukrainian caving society exploring the world's deepest cave, and an intrepid megalomaniacal american caver trying to establish a mexican cave as the world's deepest (it's not even in the top 5) over the same 25 yr. period, whose story the author desperately wanted to tell.
Both stories were interesting, and a better writer would have found a way to weave in the story of, perhaps, some of the other european speleologists who were establishing true records during this time as well, or interwoven the stories he was telling a bit more tightly so that the timelines of the two explorations would seem more akin to the race he was trying to make us believe was occurring.
Tabor's prose is so full of hackneyed exaggeration that it's almost laughable at times how hard he tries to make every single scene a matter of life or death (we get it, caving is dangerous). He even resorts to ending every one of his 50 odd chapters with a sort of artificial cliff hanger, just to perpetuate the endless,and ultimately defeating, sense of impending doom that never materializes.
Both stories were interesting, and a better writer would have found a way to weave in the story of, perhaps, some of the other european speleologists who were establishing true records during this time as well, or interwoven the stories he was telling a bit more tightly so that the timelines of the two explorations would seem more akin to the race he was trying to make us believe was occurring.
Tabor's prose is so full of hackneyed exaggeration that it's almost laughable at times how hard he tries to make every single scene a matter of life or death (we get it, caving is dangerous). He even resorts to ending every one of his 50 odd chapters with a sort of artificial cliff hanger, just to perpetuate the endless,and ultimately defeating, sense of impending doom that never materializes.
Interesting subject matter that is somewhat ruined by Tabor's refusal to call the misogyny women in caving face what it is. Weirdly xenophobic at times in the sections about Klimchouk. I also don't think there's enough about Klimchouk (compared to how much ink was spilled on Stone) for the framing of the book as a race between the two to work, and that aspect just feels kind of forced. All that said, there are a few fantastic turns of phrase in here, and its really an interesting book.
it turns out, i am just super unimpressed with how deeply someone goes into a cave. they're like: "so picture how deep this thing is and then it goes even deeper and then it levels out a little and then it just goes deeper! and humans GO DOWN THERE! and boy it is super dangerous!" and i'm snoring.
I can't believe I finished this book. While the underlying content was good, the pacing and organization was off. A big chunk on one team (Stone’s), a small chunk of the other (Klimchouk’s), mingle them a bit at the end, and blah. I’m glad I did push through to get to read about Klimchouk’s experience as an Ukranian.
Yes it was non-fiction, but it didn’t find a good balance in engaging and informing. If it was boring and straight forward I would have preferred it. The writings style tries to make every little event exciting and dangerous. What it failed to do is make me want the teams to succeed. I really didn’t care who discovered the deepest cave, I wasn’t pulled in and cheering them on. I think that adding more characters, teams, or background about caving was needed. I was seriously mouthing 'blah blah blah' while reading at parts of it.
I think what made me the most annoyed is the author never portrayed the satisfaction of caving and help the reader understand why these people do it. My very limited caving experience showed me the wonders, challenges, and the joy of caving.
Basically, its an option out there if you want to learn about extreme caving. If you don’t need the content, don’t bother.
Yes it was non-fiction, but it didn’t find a good balance in engaging and informing. If it was boring and straight forward I would have preferred it. The writings style tries to make every little event exciting and dangerous. What it failed to do is make me want the teams to succeed. I really didn’t care who discovered the deepest cave, I wasn’t pulled in and cheering them on. I think that adding more characters, teams, or background about caving was needed. I was seriously mouthing 'blah blah blah' while reading at parts of it.
I think what made me the most annoyed is the author never portrayed the satisfaction of caving and help the reader understand why these people do it. My very limited caving experience showed me the wonders, challenges, and the joy of caving.
Basically, its an option out there if you want to learn about extreme caving. If you don’t need the content, don’t bother.
adventurous
slow-paced
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced