|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 Great Book, a must read! Jul 10, 2010
Let me start by saying I thought this book was excellent. I've read about all there is when it comes to Everest and this is not your typical Everest book. Bear, best known in America for the TV show Man vs. Wild, does an excellent job bringing you into his climb of the worlds highest peak. What the "other" Everest books always seemed to lack, in hindsight, was humor, something this book has no shortage of. Probably one of the most interesting and favorite parts of the book for me were his descriptions of the mountain. He does a great job painting the picture of what he sees, something I've always thought the big name Everest writers have lacked. His descriptions of the view (top to bottom) and the western Cwm/South Col really helped me envision a place I will likely never see. Bear is a storyteller and it shows in this book. As I said before, I found the humor a pleasant surprise and I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions. But Bear also knew how to bring the book to a serious point when the story called for it. His story is amazing and inspiring. Do yourself a favor and buy this book.
 Not really a "kid's" perspective, but definitely a good story Jun 18, 2010
Bear Grylls delivers a compelling tale of high adventure. In addition to the technical aspects of climbing, I learned a great deal about the history of the Himalayas and its people. I felt as if I was with him on the expedition, with all of its discomforts and unexpected challenges.
However, I was really hoping to hear this tale from the perspective of a wide-eyed youngster. And since Bear Grylls wasn't actually a kid -- he was 23 years old -- I did not get any of that youthful sense of wonder. This was a matter-of-fact story laid out by an accomplished adult.
(For the story of an actual kid summiting Everest, check out 13 year-old Jordan Romero's story, THE BOY WHO CONQUERED EVEREST)
The Boy Who Conquered Everest: The Jordan Romero Story
 Worthwhile but far from Spectacular Apr 13, 2010
For those who rated this book '5 Stars' or are concerned that I missed the 'message' of the book let me assure, that I did not.
Bear tells of an awesome experience; that is an assured fact. However, he does it a manner that is far from engaging and exciting. At no point did I find myself actually fighting to put this book down. Maybe it is because I already knew that he successfully climbed Everest that it eliminated the suspense that would ordinarily be created for a lesser known figure/role-model. Or maybe it is just because the book was written to accentuate the core message of endurance, patience, and perseverance... I believe it is the latter as just finishing this book required all three.
The book was often repetitive in its messages and statements: be patient, carelessness can be fatal, and family/faith are driving influences. But time and time again, all I read was Bear violating all of these repeatedly and succeeding based on pure luck and timing (his words several times over). He rarely practiced what he preached and perhaps that is what he learned from Everest and wants to pass on to his readers: he went up an impetuous youth with lofty aspirations and came down a changed patient/mature adult. Save short of asking him directly, one can not know these answers.
I will say, that on a whole, the novel is worth reading if for not its saving grace, the last 1/5 of the book (from his weather conditions release and go-ahead of BC to try for the summit). If it were not for his honesty and overall simplicity of this last 1/5th I doubt I would have even finished the book. Here he does manage to capture attention and feelings of what a true feat he is striving to attain. But beyond that one section, I felt disappointed with what I read.
In summary, check this book out if you want to learn more about Everest through the eyes of a youthful adventurer. But for more captivating reads, there are most assuredly more worthwhile climbing stories and classics.
3/5
Excellent! Feb 18, 2010
I could not put this book down. Bear Grylls tells his story of his trials and tribulations climbing Everest in a way that puts you right there with him.
Bear Book Review Feb 07, 2010
So far, I have enjoyed my reading of "The Kid Who Climbed Everest". Though, I think the editor could've been more thorough on citing a few spelling and grammatical mistakes before releasing it to press.
|
| | |
