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Summary: Into Thin Air Book Review
Review: Book reviews help people to know if they want to read a book. Having a general idea of what a book is about before it is read can be a big time saver. In a book review of Into Thin Air, I would rate it very highly. The book gives specific details on what mountain climbing is all about, as well as giving a history of climbs that have occured on Mount Everest and on several other mountains in the Himilayan mountain range. Also, the author,Jon Krakaur, describes the other climbers on Everest in great detail, making the story more fun to read because that makes it easy to connect with what the characters are going through. Jon also gives excellent describtions to his surroundings and the physical and mental challanges he faced along the way. I can honestly say that Into Thin Air by Jon Krakaur, is one of the best books I have ever read.
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Summary: Wonderful account on the everest disaster
Review: Among many books written on the Everest disaster that I have read, Into Thin Air gave us a much more interesting account of what really happen. Jon is a superb writer. If you like this book, I recommend you to go get his Into the Wild.
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Summary: Great story - poorly written
Review: From reading articles and web pages for and by Jon Krakauer, one can easily see that he is a world class rock climber and therefore a natural choice to write a piece about the denigration of high altitude climbing, namely Everest. I remember the press at the time (before the disaster) having small articles on the trash that was being left on Everest (mainly O2 canisters) and how this was mostly caused by the flood of guided amateurs on their way to "bag" Everest. Then, this disaster struck and riveted the world (at least for the fifteen minutes the typical person wants to think on a subject).I knew the dangers of high altitude climbing from earlier reading and study - but I didn't know exactly how grave the dangers are, or the personal element to these extreme conditions. If you've ever become a little cold while outside on a ski trip, just think back to the experience related here for a gentlemen named Beck Weathers. Mr. Weathers' story, among others, and the extreme hardship of the story making it a riveting yarn. But... Mr. Krakauer's writing style is examplary for someone who is accustomed to writing for newspapers or magazines. Therefore his writing is simple to the point of being simplistic. While that in itself doesn't speak badly of his writing, his frequent use of profanity does. Being in the Army, I am no prude or stranger to a well-turned blue phrase, but when the cursing has no point, it tends to put me off. If he were relating actual verbatim dialog, this would be totally understandable. Overall, a great story seems marred by the story-teller. I'm going to the library to check out "Into the Wild", and hopefully I'm a little more pleased with Jon Krakauer's style of writing.
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Summary: One of the best book I ever read
Review: Krakauer's book is one of the best books that I have ever read. When I finished it I was unhappy because I wanted to know more about the characters that made up the story. I don't believe that there can be a greater compliment to an author. What made the book so readable was the way in which the author chose to tell the story. The attempted climb up Everest, and the resulting deaths certainly created the ingredients for a compelling story. However, Krakauer did not stop with the mere telling of the story. The strength of the book lies in the human story and the tragic waste of human life that took place. Krakauer brings you almost inside the heads of the different players as they ascend Everest and make numerous life and death decisions. You get to the point where know these people intimately and grieve their deaths. Especially painful was the death of Rob Hall, the climb leader. His telephone call to his wife as he was dying on top of the mountain was particularly disconcerting. You almost felt as helpless as his wife must have felt. Krakauer also does a fine job dealing with the causes of the disaster. He doesn't lay blame in the traditional sense, but talks about the general causes and then lets the reader draw his own conclusions. For instance, he writes about the commercialism of the climbs and the money that could be made by taking on inexperienced climbers. Scott Fischer, the leader of the other party that was trapped, clearly fell victim to this greed. Lastly, when reading the book, I got a good picture of why anyone would want to climb Everest. One might expect that this book would turn anyone off, given the tragic results. However, the opposite was true. After the book was done I wished that I was a 21 year old again with the $50,000.00 necessary to explore the top of the world. If you only read one book, Into Thin Air should be on the short list.
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Summary: Fascinating! Humor, fear, adventure and heartache...
Review: For more than a year, my husband pestered me to read "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. I always promised I would, but honestly, I wasn't really interested. I expected all sorts of bleak descriptions of snow and ice, hunger and fatigue. Krakauer gives this, but he also gives the reader so much more. Although the primary narrative focuses on the ill-fated Everest expedition of spring 1996, Krakauer provides fascinating backgrounds and history. He talks about the history of Everest, of failed attempts to climb the world's highest mountain and of successful expeditions to the roof of the world. Krakauer describes the Sherpa culture and roles, the land he hikes through to reach base camp, and the reasons he chose to climb Everest. I expected a book with characters climbing determinedly, but mutely, toward their goal. But Krakauer tells us about the lives and personalities of his companions, making us care about the people and giving the story incredible life. Maps and photos help the reader keep people and locations straight and really help in understanding what's going on. A list of people on the mountain at that time is a handy (and needed) reference. Even though this is a nonfiction book, it reads like a novel and is a page-turner. Krakauer's writing is so wonderful; I felt like he was telling the story to me, writing this book for me (even though nothing could be further from the truth). His words grip you and won't let go.
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Summary: How a 7th grader sees a vacation
Review: As you read this book you feel like a kid on vacation in a station wagon. You keep saying are we there yet. This whole book should have been made into a 6 page pamplet. The best parts are in the final 3 chapters. But like the trip in the station wagon, you're so tired of the trip you've forgot why you're there.
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Summary: WOW!!
Review: I just finished this book. I couldn't put it down. I actually wasn't sure exactly what had happened on Everest in 1996 other than it was not good. It is really quite a sad story since most of the people who perished seemed to be such nice people and some died simply because they didn't want to leave others behind. I am looking forward to reading Boukreev's account and others. I personally didn't think he came across too badly in this book, especially when he risked his life to try to rescue others. He actually seemed to use more sense than most of the others that day which is why he was strong enough to go searching for people. I feel so bad for the families of those who died. Mr. Krakauer brings them to life and makes them seem very down to earth and just regular people who loved to climb mountains. I really don't have any interest in mountain climbing but this is more a human interest story. Along with the heroic acts of some of the climbers and the IMAX crew, there were also some things that seem unbelievable.. like climbers passing by other dying climbers in need of help and not stopping to talk to them, give them water, or help them in any way just because they didn't want to hurt their own chances of reaching the summit. Also, Poor Beck, that's all I have to say! This guy is amazing! I haven't yet seen the IMAX movie but luckily for me it is still playing here in NY and I plan to see it this weekend. The selflessness of the IMAX team and just the fact that they were actually on the mountain when this happened has peaked my interest in seeing the movie a great deal. This is a fantastic read because it really happened. We really can't judge these people because we weren't there, I just wish it had a happier ending.
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Summary: Response for Mrs. Casserly's 1st Period Class
Review: Into Thin Air is an emotional and moving book about a Mount Everest climbing expedition gone terribly wrong. Jon Krakauer's terrifying and shocking experience is artfully portrayed through in-depth descriptions and the use of great detail. Krakauer's beautiful, yet sometimes horrific images draw the reader into the book and giving the sensation of every feeling which Krakauer faces. The reader feels the brutal cold, extreme fatigue, and great pain which Krakauer experiences while upon Everest. Having never experienced the actual sensations of climbing, this book kindled a yearning deep inside, giving even me the desire to want to climb the highest peaks on earth. This sensation is short lived though, due to the riveting depiction of the ends suffered by eight of the climbers who were caught on the mountain during a sudden and terrible storm. The book leaves many loose ends about what could have been done differently. The actions of Rob Hall, one the expedition's leaders, are put into serious question. In addition to this, the actions of everyone present may be questioned. However, many of the answers lay buried forever upon the icy slopes of Mount Everest with the bodies of the fallen victims.
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Summary: An Amazing Encounter With Nature
Review: The expedition to the peak of Mt. Everest was a magnificent climb. Mt. Everest's frigid temperatures, low oxygen supply, and unpredictable weather made this trip unbearable. Every year, thousands of people attempt to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest. Standing 29,028 feet high, the mountain allows only the strongest to succeed. In 1996, eight courageous adventurers set out to take on what is known as the mightiest of all mountains. These eight people were selected by "Outside" magazine to participate in a guided expedition to the peak of Mt. Everest. They were also asked to document their experiences when they returned home from their journey. Throughout this story, Jon Krakauer was faced with more conflicts than he knew how to handle. There were many conflicts within himself that he had to overcome. People were dropping like flies as the climb continued. With each fatal outcome of many people, memories of the dead, still to this day, haunt Jon Krakauer. When he completed reaching the peak of Mt. Everest, tantalizing memories would play again and again through Jon's mind. This made it hard for him to concentrate and get himself back together after the hike. He would try to forget these images, but they would stay with him forever. Nature conflicted with more than anything else. A large storm swept across the mountain like wind whipping through trees. Six of Jon's fellow climbers had been reported missing after the storm had hit. Later, Jon found out five of the six climbers had been killed by the violent wispy winds that coated the mountain's surface. The sixth person that was reported missing was fortunately still alive. Though alive, his right hand had been so badly frostbitten, that it had to be amputated. While reading this story, different thoughts were racing in and out of my head. I felt as if I were almost there with the climbers, trudging through the snow right beside them. All of their struggles made my complaints not even worth sharing. The next time I start to complain about how cold the weather is, I will think back to this novel and bite my tounge. Jon Krakauer's hike to the peak of Mt. Everest took a lot of courage. His positive thoughts are my reasoning for him successfully completing his goal. Doing something that requires as much stamina as climbing Mt. Everest, you also need to obtain a strong mental ability to think positively; mental toughness. By having the book written and narrarated by a real life surviver, makes the journey more interesting for the reader. It describes situations in full detail from a first hand experience. Most of these events would be less meaningful to someone who has never experienced it. This is why having a survivor tell the story makes the situations more fascinating. Friendships were very important throughout this encounter. To survive for as long as possible, you needed to know how to work together. By working together, you learn to collaborate ideas with each other. By doing this, you create friendships that last a life time. Whether dead or alive, everything and everyone you encounter during an extravagant experience such as climbing Mt. Everest will always be remembered.
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Summary: Criticism on Into Thin Air
Review: Criticism: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer The book that I have read I called Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer. The main character in the story that sets the plot in motion is Jon Krakauer, or Rob Hall, his leader. He writes, in depth, his accounts of his mountain climbing. Next, the villain, who is against Krakauer, could either be the mountains, or Sandy Pittman. One Antagonist is the mountain. They try to challenge Jon to the best of his ability, and make it so that he doesn't succeed. Or, it could be Sandy, because she kind of makes a mockery of climbing, such as bringing an espresso along on her adventures. Some other important characters are the Sherpas, who are very dedicated, Hall, who completed expeditions in harsh conditions, too. Also Rob, who was in his group, Scott Fischer, Andy Harris, Lene Gammelgaard, Tim Madsen, Charlotte Fox, and Nel Beidleman. Scott Fischer was the leader of the Mountain Madness expedition, Andy Harris was a guide on Rob Hall's team, and Doug Hansen, who was a postal worker, and his dream was to climb. There were also some important places, which were Mt. Everest, Dhera Dun, Pakding, Lobuje, and many others One symbol is I think Mt. Everest. It symbolizes the problems we have today. At first, it hits you head on. While you are trying to overcome it, you have more problems, and hardships, that make it difficult for you to succeed. Then, when you reach the top, you are overjoyed and relieved. This is just like any problem that you will encounter in real life. Each character has a conflict with him vs. nature. They climbs, but the mountains do anything they can to stop them. As they get higher, there is less oxygen. Being very fatigued, it is hard to go on, so it takes even longer. It is very cold, too, which makes your body weaker. The weather is very icy and stormy. On top of all this, they have to climb a mass of land that is vertical. There was also a self vs. society, because sometimes on group leader had to make a decision, which would put the other group members life's' on the line. This book is ad, because thirteen people died in one season, just because they wanted to try to climb a steep mountain. When they are climbing, they are low on oxygen, and some get very ill. But, the different groups are kind of like families, since they are putting their life into someone else' hands, and trusting them with it. The reader also becomes part of their family, feeling bad for the different things that happen to the characters. It is tragic, yet adventurous at the same time. Into Thin Air is adventurous, because first he talks about how steep the mountain is, and how hard it is to climb. Next, when they are climbing it, it talks about all the hardships, such as weather, oxygen, and oxygen depletion. This is the climax of the book, since you are very intense to see what happens to the characters. Lastly, the outcome, or denouement, occurs and some are happy, since the character made it, and some are tragic. The book leaves you like there should be more. When he's talking about how he hasn't slept in a long time, under nourished, and very sick. I know I wouldn't have the energy to climb if I hadn't slept in 57 hours, only eaten soup and candy, and separated ribs with a bad cold. However, I also liked that the book left you hanging, because then you could imagine what happened, good or bad. I liked this book a lot, since it had to sides. It was very visual; you could picture the climbers climbing up the mountain. This book makes you want to look into climbing, but then when you read how hard it is, and how easily you can die, you rethink it. I recommend this book to readers of tragedies, and adventure novels.
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