AUTOBIOGRAPHY
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ADVENTURE
Mountain Climbing
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NON-FICTION
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Touching The Void
by Joe Simpson
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Prusik Knot
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Endless Knot
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
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The Ledge:
An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on
Mount Rainer
by Jim Davidson and Kevin Vaughan
Survival,
friendship and interconnections
In June 1992, mountain
climbers and best friends Jim Davidson and Mike Price headed
down Mount Rainier after a triumphant, joyful summit. In the
flash of seconds, the journey turns into disaster as Jim Davidson
plunges into a deep crevasse with his friend falling in behind
him. With his friend dead and help nowhere to be found, Jim
Davidson must not only battle the extremes of the crevasse itself, but
he must also battle the inner demons within him if he is to
survive. Trapped on a narrow ledge within the crevasse, he needs
to find a way out without the support of his partner and little gear to
aid his ascent.
THE LEDGE is a fast-paced adventure story and a moving affirmation of
friendship between mountain climbers Jim Davidson and Mike Price.
Written with the support of Mike Price's family, Jim Davidson and
Denver Post journalist Kevin Vaughan rely on previous tape recordings,
letters, notes, newspaper stories, journals and other interviews and
research (sources listed in the back) for accuracy in detail while the
separation in time from the event and the book brings a new perspective
from which to view the events. In the beginning, the authors
discuss the backgrounds of both Jim Davidson and Outward Bound
instructor Mike Price. Jim Davidson's discussion of his
relationship with his father not only prepares the reader for climbing
attitudes and experiences of the author but also gives a background to
the moving account of the role his father plays within the author while
struggling in the crevasse. In the beginning, there is one
narration shift without name identifier that makes it difficult for
readers to determine whether the speaker is Jim Davidson or Mike Price
but otherwise the narration shifts follow smoothly while preparing
readers for the subsequent adventure. By building up the
characters of the two friends, the story of the climb itself has more
effect. Through all parts of the story --- the preparation, the
climb and the aftermath --- Jim Davidson's friendship with Mike Price
is ever-present.
THE LEDGE is a chilling action-packed adventure story of survival in an
extreme landscape that will appeal to mountain climbing enthusiasts but
the book is so much more than descriptions of mountain topography and
climbing gear. THE LEDGE is a powerful testament to
the friendship between two climbing partners even beyond the moment of
death. Though the author is often alone, knowing there is no one
there to rescue him, the reader feels the closeness of friends and
family.THE LEDGE is a moving story of one man's struggle against
himself, within the crevasse and within his heart and mind as survivor
guilt threatens to turn him inward. THE LEDGE is an inspirational
story of turning the blackest moment into beauty, of moving outward to
others as the author moves forward in his life. One need not have
ever climbed a physical mountain to enjoy THE LEDGE. I was unable
to put this book down once begun. Once finished, the imagery of
the book continues to stir my imagination. Don't forget to read
the acknowledgment notes from both authors at the end. One
clearly feels the connection between the two authors in reading them
side by side. Indeed, in the end, THE LEDGE is a book about
connections, from the friends Mike and Jim, between father and son,
between past climbers and present day ones (such as Joe Simpson and Jim
Davidson), between authors, and finally between authors and reader as
climbing adventure story moves from mountain outward.
Publisher: Ballantine
Books
(July 26, 2011)
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
Review Courtesy of Amazon Vine
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