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WeeklyThreadWhat Books Are You Reading This Week? January 09, 2017 (self.books)

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[–]laurz 6 points7 points  (8 children)

Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer - I had been on the wait list for the e-book for so long and it finally came a couple days ago. Last week I finished The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak and The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank. On audiobook this week I plan to listen to Moonglow, by Michael Chabon.

[–]Equalsthree95book currently reading 2 points3 points  (3 children)

How is Krakauers' book so far? I have really never read anything about a dangerous mountain climb or some nature adventure, and I wonder how it reads. Is it thrilling? Or really only worth reading if you're into mountain climbing or something? Just a pleb asking some questions.

[–]laurz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It reads like an adventure story of Krakauer's experience with some historical background mixed in. Admittedly I'm not very far in, but my thoughts so far is that the book is meant for us plebs. I'm not in any way a mountain climber or a frequent reader of true-adventure-stories but it was hard for me to put it down when I went to bed.

[–]GreenEggsandThew_Ham 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're looking for a thrilling (and true) Mountaineering story, Touching the Void is an incredible read.

I find Krakauer's stuff really interesting, but I am into climbing so might have a natural bias there.

[–]sionnachglic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you read anything like The Hot Zone? It's a bit like that. Fast, nail-biting. Edge of your seat. I read this as a teen one summer while at the Jersey shore. I wasn't into climbing or anything like that then. I was just a kid that liked to play outside.

Then, I grew up and became a geologist, quite by accident. I've climbed lots of mountains as part of my work and I often think about this novel. When I'm pissed with a super heavy pack full of rock samples half way up a mountain with no trail, trying to get to some ridge to do some mapping, I think about this book and think, "it could be so much worse right now".

Read it!

[–]krishnakanthreadsit 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've read Karkauer's Into The Wild and absolutely loved it.. and last year, I've read Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard and it was such a beautifully written book about the author's Himalayan expedition..

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh man. I should read Anne Frank as an adult. I bet it is a whole different experience.

[–]chanyolo 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I love Into Thin Air! Hard for me to put down.

[–]laurz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same. I finished it last night rather than going to bed at a reasonable hour.