Gripping narration: you feel the terror and the pain and the heroism as if you were there
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson
Book on Amazon | My review on Amazon
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed August 21, 2009
Told in first person, this story of Joe’s survival on an inhospitable mountain after breaking his leg, his determination to get off that beastly mountain, and his future decision to continue climbing – all are a source of great inspiration.
Joe and Simon choose to climb in the wilderness of the Andes where there is no emergency help system (such as available in the Alps). They want to pitch themselves against this formidable mountain without any backups – just the two humans and the mountain. The mountain almost defeats them, but not quite – a little bit of luck even amidst the disastrous situations, and Joe’s overwhelming determination to live, makes this survivor’s tale extraordinary. The mountain, the crevasse, the snow storm, the dark nights of terror – all take on a life of their own, as if they are evil monsters playing with two puny humans, could crush them with a casual stroke of their paw.
The adventure spans 7 days – the first 3 are about normal climbing and conquering the Siula Grande peak and starting the descent. The remaining 4 days are fraught with mishap, drama, emotional and physical endurance. The rescue effort by Simon happens as a matter of course, without deliberate discussions, exploration of all possibilities and consequences. At the point where Simon has to cut the rope the reader is completely in sync with him, knowing he has no choice.
I liked the parts narrated in the first person of Simon (written by Joe – he acknowledges Simon’s trust in allowing him to write those parts in his own words) – describing Simon’s dilemma, guilt, and giving him a fair assessment for his role in the rescue. The emotional drama when Joe discovers his leg is broken, and the non-verbal exchange of thoughts between the two – is so totally honest and poignant. Joe comes across as someone with a deep understanding of human nature.
Great book, I’ve read it twice over.
