Reviews

This is a bleakly fascinating book. The story within is engagingly told: I don’t think I could ever describe myself as having enjoyed reading it, because the content is so grim, but after a certain point all I wanted to do was read it and I ploughed through the vast majority of it in one sitting.

It’s a real insight into the reality of climbing Everest. This, as an idea, holds no appeal to me whatsoever, but it managed to appeal even less by the time I finished this book. The whole enterprise seems dangerous, ill-advised, miserable and bleak throughout, and unfortunately was my main take away from this book.

The events within the book are, of course, tragic; there were parts near the end that made me tear up, even though I knew the general details of what was going to happen. Krakauer’s writing style is simple, but with moments of beautiful, haunting description that were effective because of their simplicity.

If I had one comment, it was that the chapter focusing on the Indo-Tibetan Border Police expedition – who also lost three people the same day – felt oddly placed. I understand why the author felt the need to acknowledge this, but the chapter was very short and felt very much like an afterthought. I think this chapter, and the acknowledgement of the three climbers who died in that particular incident, could have been written into the narrative more effectively, if they were to be included.

The book as a whole, though, is a bleak, desperate story of survival. It raises serious questions about the act of climbing Everest in general, not to mention as a commercial enterprise, and is thought-provoking and deeply fascinating to read.

Content Notes:

Warnings:

Spoiler

Death, injuries, depictions and graphic descriptions of high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) / high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), hypoxemia / hypoxia, blood, references to surgery and amputations.