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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 21, 2008 - 01:42am PT
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I'm not sure if One Man's Mountains would be a good choice. Some of us are already very familiar with it and own it, which is a sort of advantage. Also, there isn't really any one theme to it, as a sort of collection of biographical writings.
I lean toward something that few if any of us have already read, so there's a fairly level playing field. Literature good, noting that much climbing writing doesn't qualify.
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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Jul 21, 2008 - 10:02am PT
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In the history/exploration vein, I'm reading a good book right now: Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe (Laurence Bergreen). Despite the breathless title, it's well written and researched. I quickly found out that I knew nothing at all about what happened.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jul 21, 2008 - 11:00am PT
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I suggested the Patey because it is easy to digest in pieces, but hell, if everyone has read it already..
As far as Magellan, seems we're stuck on the seafaring theme (besides Albanov I recommended Batavia's Graveyard, although that only BEGINS with a shipwreck).
It was a hairy trip though. Starting with 5 ships there were mutinies, a 90 day crossing of the island rich Pacific without landfall leaving the men eating parts of the rigging, and like only a dozen make it home (Magellan dies) on one ship.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 21, 2008 - 01:06pm PT
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Good Morning !
Piton, your word "stuck" stuck with me. Think we should move on perhaps, to something besides ships, ice and jungles.....
Does anyone know how long a read Conquistadors or Feeding the Rat is ?
Would these be serious considerations to the rest of you all ? : ) More suggestions ?
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jul 21, 2008 - 04:27pm PT
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Conquistadors is great.
I liked the story of the german sentry that was saved by the frozen machine gun.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Jul 21, 2008 - 04:57pm PT
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Conquistadors is medium sized, about 350.
Feeding the Rat is short, only about 150. Might be fewer folks here that have read that one.
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jul 21, 2008 - 07:05pm PT
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Read 'em both (and the Patey book) they're all good.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 21, 2008 - 07:28pm PT
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Anyone, author for Conquistador's ? Thumbnail sketch.
Are 350 pages ok for the month of Sept. People still going on vacation .... as in Facelift....going back to school ? lrl
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jul 21, 2008 - 08:21pm PT
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Lionel Terray
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 21, 2008 - 08:40pm PT
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Thanks Jaybro...
Conquistador of the Useless...Climbs the Alps to Annnapurna....sounds like a good 350 page read about mostly a high altitude climber. Critics say well written with the exception of some slow going initially.
Feeding the Rat, is about 130 to 150 pages if you include pictures. A very famous English climber/adventurer most have never heard of ...he likes it that way. Climbs anything, rock, peaks, waterfalls....
They both sound solid to me. We haven't done a pure climber book yet....Mortenson was about his "mission".
Still have time for more suggestions. If you don't have a suggestion post which of the above you'd like to read in SEPT>
Cheers and Joy, lrl
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jul 21, 2008 - 08:47pm PT
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Say it ain't so Lynne. You never heard of Terray?
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 21, 2008 - 08:56pm PT
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New Book Marm Motto: Even on my worst day it would be Shangrila for Albanov and crew. So don't sweat the big stuff. : }
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 21, 2008 - 10:33pm PT
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Piton, I have been a workaholic for the past many years. Made time for family and friends....some sports..and WORK 24/7.
HOWEVER...wonderful for me...Lynne's life part two is all about learning and climbing and fun. So, yeah, I'm an intellectual and book dweb but I will deal with the learning curve.
Say, have you noticed how many questions the book marm asks ?
AND...people CAN change. Giggles and thanks for all your help and suggestions and not pointing out the obvious...book marm is book challenged....hehe.
QUESTION: CAN THE TACO HANDLE A BOOK CHALLENGED BOOK MARM ?
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Jul 21, 2008 - 10:41pm PT
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Sure. Book geek here to help the challenged.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 27, 2008 - 07:58pm PT
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DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....
Took all the books listed by You All Great ST Book Clubber's since we started in May.....
Books most frequently suggested:
Bats At The Beach by Brian Lies, short read
The Gambler by Doestoevski...sounds long, if so maybe we could do in Sept./Oct. after summer is over. R. Walling et. al. Please give imput.
Conquistadors of the Useless by Lionel Terray, not to long @350
Starlight and Storm by Gaston Rebuffat (length unknown)
The Control Of Nature by John McPhee ...NATURE, DON'T TAKE PERSONALLY...HEHE length unknown
Feeding The Rat by Al Alvarez, very short
One Man's Mountains by Tom Patey
FYI, I have about 15 more books that have been suggested and will keep them on the active list. The above books have been mentioned numerous times on quite a few of our ST Book Club Threads.
I am leaning toward:
Conquistadors
Feeding the Rat or
One Man's Mountains
PLEASE ALL GIVE YOUR IMPUT....WILL ANNOUNCE TITLE FOR AUGUST ON JULY 29, EVENING.
BEGIN DISCUSSION OF : In the Land of White Death on 7/30.
Please post any ideas or suggestions on the discussion forum we use or other book ideas.
Thanks abunch from the book marm.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jul 27, 2008 - 08:40pm PT
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Who has Conquistadors? Chessler? I read Grandstaff's copy.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Jul 27, 2008 - 09:45pm PT
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Looks like there are a few used paperback reprints of Conquistadors available thru Amazon for ~20.
I read it at the Cambridge Univ library while in England. Then looked in vain for a reasonably priced copy of the first edition for many years. Finally got a copy of the reprint a few years ago, but it may be between printings.
Which might be a reason to look at a different book, as good as that is. If it can't be obtained reasonably cheap, we won't get too many readers.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 27, 2008 - 09:46pm PT
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Everybody got a library card? If your local library doesn't have it, try interlibrary loan.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 27, 2008 - 09:52pm PT
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Thanks for your comments guys, the libraries within a 30 mile radius here in San Diego carry nothing. We do need a book people can get easily. Anastasia or anyone .... suggestions ?
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Anastasia
climber
Not there
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Jul 28, 2008 - 12:12am PT
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Savage Summit : The True Stories of the First Five Women Who Climbed K2, the World's Most Feared Mountain
By: Jennifer Jordan
This Game of Ghosts
by Joe Simpson
Starlight and Storm
by Gaston Rebuffat
(We need to plan for this one... I insist that we read it since it is my favorite climbing book. I also recently learned that the new edition is about to be released, they are accepting pre-orders for September 5th on Amazon.com.)
Conquistadors of the Useless
By: Lionel Terray
(We are pretty much on the same page except I am wondering about the availability...)
AF
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