The Book Depository Facing Up by Bear Grylls
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Price: £12.99
Brand: The Book Depository
Description: Facing Up : Paperback : Pan Macmillan : 9780330392266 : 0330392263 : 05 Aug 2011 : A remarkable journey to the summit of Mount Everest, described as 'honest and compelling' by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. The Book Depository Facing Up by Bear Grylls - shop the best deal online on thebookbug.co.uk
Category: Books
Merchant: The Book Depository
Product ID: 9780330392266
MPN: 0330392263
GTIN: 9780330392266
Author: Ian
Rating: 5
Review: This is the first book I have purchased for my Kindle and I have to admit, I have loved reading through it. I've watched Bear Grylls on TV a lot, he is an admirable character and after browsing through the Kindle store, I just had to buy this when I discovered it. He may not be the best writer in the world, but he tells the story of an Everest climber well, and, for a first time reader of an Everest book, he explains everything in rich detail. He describes all the parts of the climb very well using easy to understand language and explains some of the history behind the naming of areas of the Everest climb. The impression I get from his TV appearances make me think that he is a tough character, physically and mentally strong who doesn't know the meaning of pain. This book tells otherwise. Bear lets us into his world on his ascent to the Everest summit. He tells us of his fear for the climb, his determination to do his best and fulfil his childhood dreams and the physical struggles throughout the journey. We see him build friendships with people from all around the globe and on more than one occasion we hear how different people on the slopes of Everest save others lives, even those who know are not part of the same team, or risk their lives to help others - Bear himself doing this. I realise this probably isn't the best review, but it's hard to put into words how much more respect for this man after reading this book. It takes just as much mental strength as physical strength to summit Everest and Bear has tons of it. He had many doubters, particularly because of his age and lack of high altitude experience, but he reached the top of the world through many struggles. His respect for the other climbers, including those who did not reach the summit, is admirable. They're is clearly an understanding that it doesn't matter how high you reach, if that's how high you can push yourself, then that's you're own top of the world. I'm looking forward to reading some more of Bears books in the future.
Author: Rachel Cahalane
Rating: 3
Review: I read this immediately after finishing Dark Summit, and felt a bit underwhelmed as a result. Dark Summit is superbly written with a really rich vocabulary, whereas the dialogue in Facing Up is cringeworthy and childish at times. Bear Grylls is definitely no literary genius. It is interesting as it gives us an idea of the day to day realities of life on the mountain, like eating, sleeping and crapping; overall, however, I wouldn't recommend.
