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Product Description
Review
"* 'A tale of split lives fused into one extraordinary story of adventure, laughter, tears and joy' - Joe Simpson * 'A brilliant book, well written, gripping, honest and very moving' - Chris Bonington * 'Andy Cave's compelling autobiography is, like Joe Simpson's Touching the Void, a gripping book on mountaineering that will appeal even to those who didn't know they were interested in climbing.... Cave is a talented writer who brings the emotional and physical aspects of mining and climbing to life in an understated but lyrical tone... Fascinating.' - Observer * 'The story of Andy Cave's transition from Yorkshire coal miner into one of Britain's best climbers echoes the heroic tones of Don Whillans or Joe Brown... Thoughtful and often gripping... Cave explains what it actually feels like to climb the kind of exceptionally dangerous routes that the rest of us, climbers or not, find unimaginable. There are few other climbers with the writing skills to be able to pull this off. There are fewer still who have led such an interesting and varied life as Cave.' - Scotland on Sunday"
Book Description
Joint Winner of the Boardman Tasker Prize 2005 and Winner of the Adventure Travel Award - Banff Festival 2005
The extraordinary autobiography of a brilliant young climber who began life as one of the last generation of British miners.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Andy Cave has a good story to tell and he tells it really well. In a straightforward style, he doesn't mess with the essence of this gripping account of how he came up for air from the gritty life of a Yorkshire miner in the Thatcher era and found his purpose in rock climbing and later extreme alpinism at the top end of the sport. I couldn't imagine taking this book on a Himalayan expedition though - you'd want to finish it too quickly! The pictures he paints of how focussed, how skilled and how lucky you have to be to tackle climbs on Gasherbrum IV and Changabang and come back again make for a great read. Besides the climbing, his self effacing writing and his generosity towards the people who appear in his life, make this, for me at least, one of the best climbing autobiographies published in recent years.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Most of us will never venture into the high mountains nor into the pits. This beautifully written book gives a clear and honest picture of life in the collieries in the 1980s and Andy Cave's escape from it via climbing to the roof of the world. I found the description of his family sensitive and moving and I found myself revisiting my own memories of the coalstrike. I have to admit it made me feel uncomfortable but it helped me to understand things more clearly too.What I also liked very much about this book was Andy's honesty about his fears in the mountains as well as his passion for them. It rang familiar bells and made it much easier to feel with him the pain and anguish he must have felt at the death of Brendan Murphy.This is an important book and a great contribution to mountaineering literature. Andy's style is easy to read, often witty and always engaging. His descriptions of the mountains are often elegiac and I loved that.Read this book and listen to the message.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having tried to read several mountaineering books, by experienced mountaineers, I have realised that there understanding of what makes a good read, is not the same as their undoubted mountaineering talent, there are sometimes, too many references which detract from the story.
Having read, and enjoyed all of Joe Simpsons excellent books, I spotted Andy Caves book. I was as much drawn to his background, as I live only 15 miles from where he was raised, as I was by his exploits. Andys writing talent is superb. I was unable to put the book down, and look forward in hope to reading more of his work, either fiction or non-fiction. Well recommended even if you have no interest in mountaineering or climbing.
Having read, and enjoyed all of Joe Simpsons excellent books, I spotted Andy Caves book. I was as much drawn to his background, as I live only 15 miles from where he was raised, as I was by his exploits. Andys writing talent is superb. I was unable to put the book down, and look forward in hope to reading more of his work, either fiction or non-fiction. Well recommended even if you have no interest in mountaineering or climbing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Learning to Breath
A good read, but its necessary to get to page 197 before the real climbing begins. The very long introduction and early life includes a very one-sided account of the miners strike,... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Rich
Good but not brilliant.
Not wishing to be harsh, this is good read, but not outstanding. Cave might be a great mountaineer but he's no Joe Simpson in terms of his ability to tell the story. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. S. C. Hamnett
Fantastic
I don't read many books- often starting one and getting bored of it and giving up around 100 pages in, this however; I couldn't put down. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Peter Thomas
A great read
Andy Cave has clearly made the best of his life to date. His account of working as a young school leaver in a pit and struggling through the miners strike of the 80's acts as a... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Cate4good
A superb read
Andy Cave describes his evolution from Miner to climber in a wonderful book with great honesty and humour. One of my favorite books!
Published 21 months ago by Zamster
Eager to Read
I have not read Andy Cave's books before and I am not even a mountain climber. I have been skiing for 9 years ( Late starter) having 2-3 ski holidays a year to try and catch up... Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2010 by Mrs. D. A. Jarvis
A worthy addition to a mountaineering library
This book is rare in the climbing genre, in that the description of the climbing largely takes second place to Caves growing up in Yorkshire, which is referred to frequently... Read more
Published on 28 May 2009 by J. Carr
Learning to breathe - FANTASTIC!
My mother-in-law recommended this book and I was a bit sceptical. However it is absolutely brilliant! I laughed & cried. A really honest account. I couldn't put the book down. Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2008 by Mr. R. F. Buxton
From pits to peaks
As a rock-climber Andy Cave plays in the premier league, and as a mountaineer he has performed on some of the most exacting of Alpine and Himalayan routes. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2008 by D. Elliott
An excellent book from an excellent mountaineer
Andy Cave has been one of Britains leading mountaineers for quite a while. I have been waiting for a book to be released on his life (and achievements). Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2007 by Nick Bryce
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