Touching the Void

Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival | Joe Simpson

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I saw the documentary as a kid and it‘s never left me. Finally, I‘ve read the book and it‘s just as horrifying, stressful, and incredible as I remember. Though Joe and Simons‘s experience in South America has sparked some intense criticism, they both have always maintained that, though they made some serious errors in judgement that led to this near catastrophe, Simon‘s decision was the right one. Very quick but utterly engrossing.

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Nickrudelich

Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival | Joe Simpson

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I've currently read the first eleven chapters of the book Touching the Void by Joe Simpson. The last summary ended with the unknown status of Joe after Simon cuts the rope sending Joe falling. After the expectation of dying from the impact Joe surprisingly survived. Although he survived the fall from the cliff he now faces the challenge of getting out of the crevasse he has fallen into.

Nickrudelich After attempting to climb and push his way out of the crevasse he comes to the conclusion that the only chance of survival would be for him to lower himself deeper in the hope of finding an alternate way out. Joe eventually reaches the bottom of the cave and crawls around until he finds a slope that's possible to climb up and out of the crevasse.
4y

Nickrudelich Meanwhile Simon has made it to base camp where he finds Richard (Joe and Simon's non-climbing friend) and informs him about the tragic event that has occured. Once Joe has finished the painful climb out of the crevasse a voice in his head urges him to push forward. In agonizing pain Joe manages to climb over the glacier finding the footprints of Simon which helped him to continue on by giving him hope. 4y

Nickrudelich A storm arises and forces Joe to bring his descent to a hold. After the storm clears Joe moves on with courage while the voice in his head continues to assist him in getting down the mountain. After some time Joe decides to make a splint for his leg out of the materials he has with him. Whether Joe makes it all the way down the mountain is still unknown at this point of the book.
4y

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Nickrudelich I have greatly enjoyed this book so far because it has shown a painful and agonizing journey necessary for survival. This was interesting to me because in my opinion I think that it would be impossible to even move on a flat surface with a broken leg let alone climb down a mountain. If you like books based off of true events that make impossible tasks possible I would highly recommend this book.
4y

Nickrudelich The book is set in a first person point of view. Most of the time it is in Joe's point of view but it also alternates from time to time to Simon's point of view. It is made clear that there is a switch in perspective or point of view by the author when he italicized Simon's point of view. First person is established because throughout the book pronouns such as “I” and “our”.

Rating 9/10

4y

MissYaremcio Nicely done Nick! This looks like a fantastic read! 6/6 4y

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Nickrudelich

Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival | Joe Simpson

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Currently I've read up to the first six chapters of the book Touching the Void by Joe Simpson. The book tells a true story between two mountain climbers named Simon Yates and Joe Simpson who attempt to summit the unclimbed west face of the infamous peak called Siula Grande. The two climbers endure many challenges and dangerous obstacles that stand in their way but ultimately do reach the summit.

Nickrudelich On the descent down the mountain in the attempt to climb down an ice wall Joe falls and breaks his leg. Joe's injury was certain to be a life sentence because of the severity and impossibility of him making it down the mountain on his own. Despite Joes‘ injury Simon and Joe find a solution to lower Joe down the rest of the mountain. Although this would be challenging they do succeed for a good portion of the mountain until Joe falls off a cliff. 4y

Nickrudelich Linked together by a rope and having no possible way of getting Joe back up the cliff Simon is faced to make a horrific decision. Weather conditions were worsening and Simon made the decision of cutting the rope to save himself. The condition of Joe to this point is unknown.
4y

Nickrudelich I very much enjoyed this book so far because it is based on a true story and is intriguing by all these hard decisions that the two men are forced to make. I was incredibly fascinated by Simon's decision to cut the rope dropping a Joe to an unknown surface. The way the author showed both perspectives of the two men was extremely interesting because you got to see what each of them were personally thinking about particular situations.
4y

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Nickrudelich A motif in this book could be the rope that holds the two men together. The rope is mentioned quite often in the book and could be used to enforce the idea of a partnership and trust. Constantly the men have to trust each other because they are attached to each other. If one person falls that could mean the other person is also taken away with them. Always being linked together also brings the idea of how close their friendship and partnership is. 4y

Nickrudelich Rating 8.5/10 4y

MissYaremcio Oh this looks incredibly intriguing! I can imagine that it was full of anticipation! 6/6 4y

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Laurak43

Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival | Joe Simpson

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Epic tale of survival without romanticism. On a tightrope of tension until the end despite already knowing the ending!
'Life can deal you an amazing hand. Do you play it steady, bluff like crazy or go all in?"

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Caroline2

Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival | Joe Simpson

Plenty of falling in this one....! Poor Joe! 😳 #ififell #beatlemaynia

Eggs

Whatannareads I love that it‘s called “touching” the void and it‘s also the only one wrapped in plastic. Sorry I know that‘s really childish 😂 6y

Caroline2 @Whatannareads 😂 yeah I lent my paper copy out and never got it back. 🙄 so then I ordered the folio edition and now I‘m scared to take it out of the wrapper!!! 😆 6y

Eggs Great choice! @Whatannareads -like that comment 🤗 6y

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Caroline2

Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival | Joe Simpson

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Joe and Simon certainly get a bit #frozen in this fight for survival book! I loved this and it is one of the few books that I‘ve read more than once! 👍🏻 #winterwonderland

Cinfhen, TrishB

TrishB Good pick - a lot of adventure/survival books this month! 6y

CarolynM Have you seen the film? I thought it was a pretty good adaptation. 6y

Caroline2 @CarolynM Yes!!! I‘ve seen the film many times! I thought it was spot on! We went to a talk by Simon too. This was when the film first came out and people were so harsh towards him! ☹️ 6y

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Balibee146 I loved this book and the film. 6y

Cinfhen Im not familiar with film or book ~ need to check it out 6y

Caroline2 @Cinfhen They are both really good! 👍🏻 6y

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CarolynM

Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival | Joe Simpson

#GetMovin #HigherGround

A mountain climber in the Andes slips into a crevice and his climbing partner, not knowing whether he is dead or alive, is forced to cut the rope. This is so not my thing, but my book group read it a few years ago and it really is such an extraordinary story it was impossible not to be moved by it. I should add that it's a true story.

Cinfhen, eanderson

Cinfhen I‘m always amazed by true life survival stories🙌🏻 7y

Cathythoughts Oohhh! Nice one 👍🏻it looks so cold up there 7y

RebelReader The movie is good too! 7y

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