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Summary: thoughts on " We Die Alone"
Review: I received this book two days ago as an early Christmas present, having never heard of it either by title or author, and quite frankly I'm amazed that a story recounting heroism of this magnitude had escaped my notice for so long a time. As I'm writing these thoughts, I still have not finished reading the book, although as soon as I'm done recording these thoughts I have every intention of finishing it. The one (minor) quibble I have with the book is that the Author/narrator has a tendency to over-explain himself, and at times this results in an annoying tendency to put himself directly in the path of the story he's trying to tell. This caveat aside, I'm finding this work a truly compelling, sometimes horrifying and ultimately uplifting tale of the power of the human spirit to prevail against seemingly insurmountable odds. I would highly recommend this book to lovers of adventure tales in particular, and to readers of both fiction and non-fiction suspense and intrigue in general.
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Summary: We Die Alone
Review: I stumbled on David Howarth's "We Die Alone" while searching for something else; it sounded interesting, so I ordered it and finally got the time to read it while moving to a new duty station. I couldn't put it down. The story is inspiring and unforgettable; it touches your heart and soul. More importantly, and probably more profoundly, it is the true account of a man's dedication, courage, and selflessness to his country's plight. There are a lot of good books, but only a few books are so powerful in their ability to make a lasting impression. This one does that. As a matter of fact, I lost the book and have spent the last 8 months trying to find it. I couldn't, so I reordered it. Buy it, read it and keep it.
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Summary: Terrific story of human endurance
Review: I will add to the chorus of praise for this book. Really very remarkable what a human being is capable of.
If you liked this book, you might also check out "The Long Walk" and "Alive", also very good survival stories.
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Summary: Strange Tale
Review: I'm not a compulsive reader of fantastic true survival stories, though I was raised in the Colorado Rockies and enjoy a bit of moutaineering. But this one was available on tape from the public library.It started with a lot of bullets over the head and exploding boats and boots lost in the snow and frostbite -- many, many good people who risk their lives for something intangible. The book, I feel, is very good at expressing the states of mind of the people involved -- it's not a simple recounting of events. But there's one major event that starts about 2/3 of the way through the book, which was so fantastic that I sort of didn't believe it... until I met two of the people involved in the organization that rescued him. And I think what the fact of that event conveys to me is the power of the human mind -- how much our thought and will do, after all, determine things like whether we live or die. The story has a way of sticking in your mind. One other thing that sticks in my mind about the book concerns the Lapps. It's an odd story. The Norwegians are good skiers and strong people by modern civilized standards (I mean that little itsy country beat the whole world in the winter Olympics). The story relates how they tried several times to get him across the Swedish border, but just couldn't get the sledge that far given the weather and time constraints and geography -- had to keep turning back. They tried to involve the Lapps early on, but they have a fundamentally different approach to such things -- the Lapps among other things, like most nomads leave those who are too weak to travel behind to die in the snow. Then after a month of futility on the part of the Norwegians, a Lapp decide to show up and see if the story was true. Horwath describes how he just stands there for 3-4 hours staring at him in the Arctic snow, and then finally resolves to take him across into Sweden. He and his friend receive some brandy in gratitude, drink several bottles in one night and seem none the worse for it in the morning, and then kind of non-chalantly pull off what the Norwegians could not. That combination of ability to do something what their more sophisticated neighbors could not combined with the lack of sense of urgency interests me. Jan Baalsrud was born and raised in Kapellveien 4, Kolbotn, Oslo, Norway.
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Summary: Definitely a favorite book
Review: If this story had not been confirmed by other people, it would probably never be believed. It is incredible that a man could endure so much and yet survive. David Howarth tells the story extremely well and keeps your interest the whole time. This is definitely my favorite book so far about World War II. I most definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about adventure and survival.
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Summary: The Ultimate Survivor
Review: In a plain and straightforward manner, David Horwath recounts the incredible true story of a Norwegian commando sent back to his defeated homeland to sabotage a Nazi airfield. The mission is discovered and compromised before it really gets started--but the story has just begun. The commando, Jan Baalsrud, embarks on an incredible journey as he attempts to escape back to friendly lines. He is aided here and there by his countrymen, who risk their own lives and the lives of their families and villages to save him, long after, by all odds, he should be dead. As I read the book I was reminded of Ken Follett's "Eye Of The Needle", but with two distinct differences: Jan Baalsrud is a hero, not a villan. And this is a true story, not fiction.
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Summary: The most amazing true tale you'll ever read...
Review: Jan Baaslrud's unbelievable tale of survival should be on every schools mandatory reading list. The message of one mans' unparalled will to survive is truly inspiring.
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Summary: AMAZING STORY
Review: Just when you think your life is tough, read this book and realize what tough is! Great story and unbelieveable endurance.
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Summary: Fast paced action on a true, yet almost unbelieveable, story
Review: Mr. Howarth has captured an amazing WWII escape, from under the noses of the Nazi's, in a form which is both easily read and understood. From the moment of the failed Allied mission in the most northernly reaches of Norway, in the winter, to the final escape and recap, it is a fast moving, captivating historical account of the ordeals of one allied soldier, alone in occupied territory. A "must read" for any war buff or anyone who likes amazingly true stories. The author captured the real events by interviewing the participants after the war was over and reconstructing the whole scenario along with the principle, Jan Baalsrud. The bravery of those who helped Mr. Baalsrud escape is to be admired and be a lesson to all who face danger and trails in their lives. Jan's ordeal pushed the understanding of the limits of the human being's survival instincts to the a new level. John Sackenheim, Ross, Ohio USA
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Summary: A must for any adventure reader!
Review: Mr. Howarth writes one of the most splendid military adventure books that are available to the reader. As Stephen Ambrose says in the introduction to the book...you cannot put it down! That is so true. If you have an interest in winter/military adventure/survival this book is for you. Do not pass it up!
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