Fact/Based on Fact
Into the Silence by Wade Davies |
I was completely absorbed. I've read a lot about Mallory, but this was so much more than the story of climbing Everest. It put the whole quest into historical context - the World War One section was so moving and went some way to explain why Mallory carried on when all seemed against him. With great detail, the author conveys the difficulties in just getting to the base of Everest, the provisions, the equipment- down to the last detail. Towering, engrossing and epic. Sheila/January 2013 |
Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer |
Don't normally read Jeffrey Archer,but given this book by Helen and couldn't put it down. The story completely obsessed me- that of George Mallory and the climbing (or not) of everest. Sent me off to the local library hunting out all biographies of George Mallory, together with all the research by those who found his body. Absolutely fascinating. I think I'd like to believe he fell to his death on the way down and hope that one day we will find out. Brilliant! Sheila/September 2009 |
Moondust by |
Although this took me months to read - I can highly recommend Moondust. It is thought provoking, a look into space travel (past and future) and full of fascinating insights into what it must have been like to walk on the moon. The reasons for space travel are fascinating and amusing in hindsight and has some amazing parallels with the US's current desire to go back. It is the story of one man's growing obsession in finding out as much as he can about the remaining nine moonwalkers and how their lives have developed since that glorious time. It captures a time in history (Vietnam War, Woodstock, Bay of Pigs, Cold War etc) that was going on when I was a child but was completely unaware of. Definitely worth going through the sometimes detailed descriptions of space travel and politics. Sheila/July 2006 |
Stuart, A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters |
Sheila bought me this book. It is the true story of a homeless man that Alexander Masters is writing his book about It is told backwards, so it starts off with Stuart in his thirties and ends with him as a young boy. It is only after you finish the book that you realize the reason Stuart turns out to be the way he is. In a way I wish I had know the end first as I found myself hurrying through the book to get to the end. This book gives you an insight in the life of a homeless person and the never ending cycle of being on and off drugs. Reasonably enjoyable, but not a strong recommendation. Karen/July 2006 |
