Touching The Void by Joe Simpson

630 Words2 Pages

The subject of the book Touching The Void Is about three adventurers that climb a mountain and have something go terribly wrong. Joe, Simon, and Richard ascend the mountain in search of the summit. “Of rough walking and, and surrounded by by ice mountains.” Page 15. Richard stays at the base camp while Joe and Simon head out. “What time you’ll be back?” Richard asked. Page 20 Joe and Richard reach the summit of the mountain and on the descent Joe breaks his knee. They try to make it back down but they get stuck. Simon has no other choice but to cut the rope and let Joe fall. Simon continues back down with the guilt of having killed his friend. Little does Simon know, Joe is alive crawling back down the mountain fighting for his life.

The mountains where the story takes place is the Peruvian Andes. “We were in the middle of the Cordillera Huayhuash, in the Peruvian Andes.” Page 15. What changed their whole experience was when Joe broke his knee. I paused, then I said as unemotionally as I could: “I’ve broken my leg.” Page 74. The event altered their story of the great adventure they had and how they beat everyone. For both of them it was ever changing moment in their lives. Simon felt guilty for cutting the rope on Joe. He had to crawl his way down the freezing mountain injured. All of this because of climbing to the summit of a mountain.

The audience which the book appeals to is for those adventurous and suspenseful readers. It is an adventure with the ascent of the mountain and its travels. Adventurers will like this book for the climb and amazing views. “The majestic 21,000 Siula Grande.” Page 16. It is suspenseful in describing the ascent, descent, and fall. It describes the suffering and sorrow of losing a friend and of ano...

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...do it without his friends and family’s help. “I wish to thank my parents for encouraging me to write the book.” Page 218. Everything he went through helped him to write the book and tell the story about what had happened.

The author’s attitude toward the subject ranges from excitement and pain to sorrow and happiness. He wanted everyone to know about his adventure and tragedy. The book helped him express his feelings, let the world know, and how to be happy. Joe and his peers wanted him to write about his story. He also wrote it to give thanks to all of the people who helped him. “The encouragement of friends and relatives I would have never started.” Page 218. And for everyone who attempted the mountain, but never came back. “To Simon Yates and to those friends who have gone up the mountains and have not returned.” Page 5. This is what he wanted to tell everyone.

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