Alive : The Story of the Andes Survivors

Rating:
Summary: The Test
Review: I just finished reading the book "Alive" by Piers Paul Read. It is a survival story that deals with friendship, endurance, and faith. The men in the book were put to the test of, hunger, fear, and cold. When the Uruguayan plane carrying the soccer team crashed in the Andes mountains in 1972, the first reaction of those who survived the crash was hope of being rescued. The men in this book lived not knowing how or when they would die. They had no food, and everyone was restless throughout the book. The thought of being rescued slowly slipped away. On the tenth day on the mountain the boys resorted to the only available food, and that was their teammates. This really disgusted me, because the style of Piers Paul Read's writing was so graphic it sent chills up my spine. I thought I was going to throw up. Some of the people ate a lot of the dead bodies and others just eat enough to stay alive. I think that the author's intent of all this gore was to show, accurately and honestly, what the men were forced to do in the situation conflict that it caused with their religion. It said they were not guilt of any cannibalism in their church, but they still had to live with themselves. The author did a great job making you feel as though you were right their on the mountain. I sometimes skipped over the eating parts just because I couldn't take it anymore. I think this book it great for people that like survival adventure stories. I think it also deals with some religious aspects too. Like the question, what would you do if your religion conflicted with you survival?

Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: I just reread this book and was awed. I have read many "adventure" books that try to recreate the bonding and excitement produced from human struggle (Paddle to the Amazon, Keep Australia on Your Left, etc.) by setting-out on a tourism expedition. These are good books & stories, but they cannot and do not compare to the unforeseen tradgedy of surviving a plane crash in the high Andes.

The story is almost as powerful as Scott's journals of his Antarctic expedition - almost b/c Alive is written in the 3rd person.

Rating:
Summary: Heroism, not cannibalism, is the point of this amazing saga.
Review: Alive is the true story of the Uruguayan rugby team whose crossing of the Andes by plane ended in a tragic crash. Thus began an immense struggle for survival that forced the young men to eat the bodies of their friends and relatives.

Much has been made of the cannibalism but to me the story is inspiring and unforgettable for other reasons. The boys were faced with almost certain death, yet their faith in each other and in God enabled them to withstand what for most of us would be beyond our ability to endure. After reading this book, if anything, you will appreciate how good your life is, in spite of how you may feel about it beforehand. Knowing what human beings can endure and triumph over is a great boon to my hope for the future of humanity.

Rating:
Summary: a masterpiece
Review: I must have read this book when I was about 12 or 13 ( a long time ago). What I remember is it had a powerful effect on me, so much so that I immediately read it again upon finishing it. I have not seen the film. I was afraid the experience would spoil my memory of the wonder and awe I can still remember feeling when I read this book. I remember it as a compassionate and enthralling account by a skilled and sensitive documenter of real people experiencing the most testing of ordeals. Don't hire the video - just read the book.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most moving stories ever told
Review: I first read this book 25 years ago and I have read it several times since.

The crash in the Andes stripped the young men not only of all the luxuries of life but most of the neccessities as well and yet over many long weeks -full of hunger, extreme cold and fear - the best aspects of humanity flourished in those mountains.

By eating the bodies of the dead they found the only way they could remain civilized - the strong did not have to take from the weak in order to survive.

Read the book, see the film, read the book again.

Rating:
Summary: Good but detailed
Review: this book wasnt bad but it was extremely long and drawn out. it goes into much uneeded detail but had some good parts to it. maybe worth reading if you are bored.

Rating:
Summary: Incredibly powerful!
Review: The story intrigued me after watching the atrocious movie version. I'm glad I sought out the book. This is the most powerful true story I've read since reading the tales of Holocaust survivors. Having also read Krakaur's Into Thin Air, I must say that this is the far superior story. What these kids (mostly 19-26 y.o.) endured puts Krakaur's experience to shame. The ingenuity and will to survive are incredible.

Rating:
Summary: ALIVE
Review: Great book, you should read it, and if you have any Q's, email me at [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: The best book I ever read!
Review: I believe that I'm not the only person who read this book, but I wanna say to all the people who didn't read it yet: "you have to read it!" It isn't a normal book, it's a true happend story that's beautifull written down. I have seen the movie 'Alive' several times, but when you read the book, you will notice that the book is told with much more details. I'm only 15, but the story really surprised me... I found the book dramatic but i really like it how the boys of the rugbyteam support eachother...if you read the book, you will understand what's friendship all about. It isn't just be friends and support eachother... a real friend also gives his life for his friends...in this book, almost every guy says that when he is dead, the other may eat his body, so they will not die. I hope that the persons who read the story or who wants to ask something about it...they may always contact me at [e-mail] I love reading, but i never read a book like this one! Please do yourself a favor and read it... Thanks !

Rating:
Summary: Alive
Review: Alive is one of my favorite books, that is why I have read it more than once. What the crew of the Fairchild witnessed was so mind blowing, it is amazing anyone survived the devastating crash. This is one of the occurences that we never want to be subjected to. Being stranded for days, malnurished, and starving are not the ways I want to leave this Earth. I give much praise and respect to the survivors of the Fairchild. The book was very well written, beautiful job Piers Paul Read. I loved your book.