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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
I have a hard time with "survival" books where the protagonist puts themselves in these harrowing situations due to their own incompetence. This wasn't quite as egregious as Into the Wild or Wild, but it's still hard to admire the main character and his perseverance, considering he made some very poor decisions before even entering an environment that he clearly wasn't qualified to be in. That said, the author does a great job of bringing you into the moment and making you feel the emotions and sensations he experienced. The dialogue is a little stilted, but bearable. It wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't great. If you like this genre, it's worth the read, otherwise leave it on the shelf.
adventurous
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
In some ways, I find non-fiction books a lot harder to review than fiction books. This is an account of actual events, narrated by Yossi Ghinsberg, making them a personal account of his survival during the two weeks he was lost in the Amazon rainforest.
I will just start with a couple things I did not like. First of all, as a women who has traveled solo, no way in the world would I follow a strange man into the rainforest, without the proper gear or food supplies, under the assumption we would be able to provide for ourselves. It would never happen. I do not relate. That doesn't mean I think less of the Yossi or his friends - I understand the urge to explore, to have authentic experiences, to take risks. This one is just a few steps farther than I would go.
The friction between Marcus and his friends was also hard to read about. Yossi makes out Marcus to be the friendliest, the most sensible, and the nicest of his friends. And Yossi and Karl get so frustrated with him for not enjoying things I also would not like - the hunting, the lack of planning, being forced to walk around on infected feet etc. It's worse when you realize it's the last interactions anyone will have with Marcus - he never does make it out of the jungle.
The actual description of being swept away down the river, losing his friends, losing almost all of his gear, and struggling to figure out how to get to a village - all of that is harrowing. I can't imagine surviving these circumstances as Yossi describes it. The lack of proper map, the lack of shelter, struggling to get food, being attacked by every insect and parasite in the jungle, the foot infection that forces him to crawl up and down hills, struggling to make it to safety; that must have taken an incredible amount of will to continue on, despite the odds.
If I did have to get lost in a jungle though, I'd like a friend like Kevin looking for me. Kevin had an incredible amount of luck in being found by locals shortly after getting separated from Yossi. He did not rest though; he immediately contacted several embassies and anyone with any clout he could get a hold of to try and have search parties sent out, and he did not stop even when everyone told him Yossi was probably dead. He was directly responsible for getting a group to take him back up the river, a trip that ended with them finding Yossi just as they were going to head back.
The most frustrating part was the one part Yossi and Kevin never could figure out. It's only after they both return that they realize Marcus, who they thought was fine, never returned. That no one has seen Marcus since they parted ways with him and Karl. This is also when they discover Karl was a lying con artist. Only why talk a bunch of tourists into going in the jungle? He did not make money off of it. And no one has seen him since either. Both Karl and Marcus disappeared, leaving behind nothing but questions.
I really disliked the animal abuse that happens in the beginning, which is never remarked on at all (Karl beats a dog frequently, the others don't care?) and that they purposefully decided not to bring food so they could try to shoot every animal they saw for food instead. When Yossi is alone and starving, it's understandable that he needs any food he can get. Before that point though, it's completely unnecessary.
I will just start with a couple things I did not like. First of all, as a women who has traveled solo, no way in the world would I follow a strange man into the rainforest, without the proper gear or food supplies, under the assumption we would be able to provide for ourselves. It would never happen. I do not relate. That doesn't mean I think less of the Yossi or his friends - I understand the urge to explore, to have authentic experiences, to take risks. This one is just a few steps farther than I would go.
The friction between Marcus and his friends was also hard to read about. Yossi makes out Marcus to be the friendliest, the most sensible, and the nicest of his friends. And Yossi and Karl get so frustrated with him for not enjoying things I also would not like - the hunting, the lack of planning, being forced to walk around on infected feet etc. It's worse when you realize it's the last interactions anyone will have with Marcus - he never does make it out of the jungle.
The actual description of being swept away down the river, losing his friends, losing almost all of his gear, and struggling to figure out how to get to a village - all of that is harrowing. I can't imagine surviving these circumstances as Yossi describes it. The lack of proper map, the lack of shelter, struggling to get food, being attacked by every insect and parasite in the jungle, the foot infection that forces him to crawl up and down hills, struggling to make it to safety; that must have taken an incredible amount of will to continue on, despite the odds.
If I did have to get lost in a jungle though, I'd like a friend like Kevin looking for me. Kevin had an incredible amount of luck in being found by locals shortly after getting separated from Yossi. He did not rest though; he immediately contacted several embassies and anyone with any clout he could get a hold of to try and have search parties sent out, and he did not stop even when everyone told him Yossi was probably dead. He was directly responsible for getting a group to take him back up the river, a trip that ended with them finding Yossi just as they were going to head back.
The most frustrating part was the one part Yossi and Kevin never could figure out. It's only after they both return that they realize Marcus, who they thought was fine, never returned. That no one has seen Marcus since they parted ways with him and Karl. This is also when they discover Karl was a lying con artist. Only why talk a bunch of tourists into going in the jungle? He did not make money off of it. And no one has seen him since either. Both Karl and Marcus disappeared, leaving behind nothing but questions.
I really disliked the animal abuse that happens in the beginning, which is never remarked on at all (Karl beats a dog frequently, the others don't care?) and that they purposefully decided not to bring food so they could try to shoot every animal they saw for food instead. When Yossi is alone and starving, it's understandable that he needs any food he can get. Before that point though, it's completely unnecessary.
What a page-turner. Also, note to self, stay away from rainforests unless you are very, very lucky.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Excellent book! Once I got into the meat of it, I lost sleep because I literally could not put it down!
I really loved this memoir. I actually watched the movie that is based off of this book first, and really enjoyed it. At the end when I found out that it was based on a true story, I knew I had to read the book.
The book starts out with introductions to the characters and their friendships. We get some information about Yossi’s plans and activities before going into the jungle. Everything is pretty normal, not much cause for concern. I like how I didn’t get bored while reading this, even at the beginning of the book when things were slower. Maybe this is because I watched the movie first, and knew what was coming later.?
After the group enters the jungle, they are doing something different every day, and seeing different places. This keeps the pace moving very well.
I like how the author is honest about the characters changing relationships. He doesn’t sugarcoat them. They all start out as close friends, but after a short time in the jungle, Yossi and Kevin become closer while growing apart from Marcus as they continue to get more irritated with him. Yossi and Marcus have some semblance of friendship before the group splits up, but it’s not the same as before. It’s nice that he doesn’t try to romanticize the friendship, to paint himself in a better light.
After the group splits up, this book gets even more interesting and exciting. Yossi is trying to survive, and decides to keep fighting for his life against crazy odds. It shows you how we are all stronger than we realize.
This book is full of adventure and suspense! I would definitely recommend.
The book starts out with introductions to the characters and their friendships. We get some information about Yossi’s plans and activities before going into the jungle. Everything is pretty normal, not much cause for concern. I like how I didn’t get bored while reading this, even at the beginning of the book when things were slower. Maybe this is because I watched the movie first, and knew what was coming later.?
After the group enters the jungle, they are doing something different every day, and seeing different places. This keeps the pace moving very well.
I like how the author is honest about the characters changing relationships. He doesn’t sugarcoat them. They all start out as close friends, but after a short time in the jungle, Yossi and Kevin become closer while growing apart from Marcus as they continue to get more irritated with him. Yossi and Marcus have some semblance of friendship before the group splits up, but it’s not the same as before. It’s nice that he doesn’t try to romanticize the friendship, to paint himself in a better light.
After the group splits up, this book gets even more interesting and exciting. Yossi is trying to survive, and decides to keep fighting for his life against crazy odds. It shows you how we are all stronger than we realize.
This book is full of adventure and suspense! I would definitely recommend.