Into Thin Air

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, a totally thrilling book.
Review: The book INTO THIN AIR, is a thrilling tale about the tragic Mt.Everest climb of 1996. Not only does this book give a detailed account of the 1996 climb, but it gives the history of Everest. The book's intense description gives you the feeling that you are actually on the climb with them. The emotion put into this book is truly extraordinary. By the end I felt the sorrow that the family and friends of the courageous climbers felt. I did not made it through the end of the book without a tear falling down my cheek. The only thing that took away from this book was the major disagreements in the facts concerning the climbers. Other than this, the book was EXCELLENT!!!

Rating:
Summary: Realistic portrayal of the hardships of achieving a goal
Review: In my opinion, Into Thin Air, written by Jon Krakauer, was an awesome book that explored the mystical depths of climbing Mt. Everest. I have never before read a publication that realistically described the determination, will power and desire to achieve such a rigorous goal. This book was truly spellbinding. It made you feel as if you were placed in the driver's seat of a vehicle that someone else was driving. I was surprised at the closeness I felt to each of the climbers. Krakauer accurately depicted the emotions of life that occured during the 1996 tragedy. I felt sympathy and remorse for the victims and witnesses, even though three years after the event, I am now reading about it. Jon Krakauer has a magnificent ability to take you to the scene of the story, make it seem like the event had just occured and then tell you about it.

Rating:
Summary: I thought this was a very good book.
Review: After reading Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air, I began to think more about how sacred each person's life really is. In just a second, an entire life can be lost because of a simple mistake. This also made me think of the insane drive that compells climbers to take such high risks. I found Into Thin Air to be very informative and precise. Mr. Krakauer's attention to detail and timing leading up to this disaster seem extremely accurate. This book was a page-turner that made me want to pay attention to every occurrence that those climbers experienced. It was like a mystery unfolding as I read, and I could predict what was likely to happen next. The only thing that bothered me about this book was the fact that the story was not told from beginning to end, but put into flashback so the outcome of the story was already evident before it was thoroughly described. I think Krakauer could have added more suspense and terror if the events were written in chronological order. Overall, I thought Into Thin Air was thrilling and expertly written. It amazes me how good Jon Krakauer's memory is of the events that occured on Everest due to the extreme debilitated state he seemed to have been in. I realize how difficult this book must have been to write, and I admire Krakauer's courage after witnessing such a disaster.

Rating:
Summary: Though the plot was good, something was missing.
Review: In the novel "Into Thin Air", Jon Krakauer recounts his experiance in the Mount Everest disaster of 1996. He gives an eyewitness account of the tragedies and triumphs that occured on the great mountain's unforgiving slopes. Though Krakauer does a good job telling the tale, I felt that something was missing. It almost seems like he missed the point of his own book. It seemed like he was trying to make amends to the families of the deceased for the discrepancies in the article he wrote for Outside Magazine. Instead, I felt that he spent more time pointing fingers at everyone (himself included). Even so, the book was very readable. I think the book teaches you a little something about the value of life and trust.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book
Review: Reading this great novel, made me feel like I was there with the whole expedition trip. Knowing all the characters in this book is very important. If I had just gone straight to the mountain.... I would not have felt the same about the people who were up on the mountain... Knowing what would make a person climb the largest mountain in the world is more exciting. Excellent Book !!!!

Rating:
Summary: fantastic!
Review: I loved this book! I read the entire thing in one sitting. I'm going to purchase one for myself and I'll definately get the illustrated version.

Rating:
Summary: fascinating story
Review: Overall a very good book, but too much personal attack in detail

Rating:
Summary: Gripping life-and-death adventure that stays w/ you for life
Review: Absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. Although it is difficult to keep the dozens of players straight during the story, the details are painted so vividly by Krakauer that you'll feel as if you were there. I couldn't put it down.

Rating:
Summary: It was o.k.
Review: This book wasn't as good as I expected it to be. I didn't like the way the author skipped back and forth between the past and present events. He spent more time talking about the history of Mt. Everest and the people that climbed it than he did telling about what happened in 1996. I think the book would have been better if he would have just told his story from the beginning and stuck with it until the end.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, but......
Review: I was completely pulled into this book. I have no climbing desire at all, and in fact believe people who need or want to do that are "nuts!", but the story was great. It really shows you a different world ( the climbing world) and Krakauer is a very good writer. And although it tells of a horrific tragedy, it didn't leave me depressed, I just couldn't stop thinking about all those involved. It really stayed with me, and will for a long time. After reading this, I bought INTO THE WILD and enjoyed it too, although not as much. I liked Jon Krakauers writing so much, I almost subscribed to OUTSIDE Magazine just so I could read more. I do agree with the Singapore review that Krakauers account and book seemed more fictious than THE CLIMB, and do feel Krakauer unfairly criticized A. Boukreev. THE CLIMB, I believe was a more honest, personal account of what actually happened and Anatoli was the real hero, and not the villian (maybe too harsh a label) Krakauer steered the readers into believing. It is an unbelievable good read and should be read, just get all sides of the story.