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Federico DN's Reviews > Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors

Alive by Piers Paul Read
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bookshelves: used-book, non-fiction, adapted

Miracle in the Andes.

In 1972, a plane full of rugby players and their families crashed in The Andes Mountains. The story is well known. Scarcely with any food or water, suffering sub-zero temperatures, only sixteen of forty-five made it out alive. After nearly three months struggling to survive, injured, famished, freezing, against all possible odds a couple of them finally managed to climb across The Andes without any mountain gear and reach a nearby town to call for help. Their survival was legendary. News about it traveled the world, it was called the 鈥淢iracle of the Andes.鈥�

In this book Piers Paul Read documents in precise detail how everything unfolded for the survivors, from the airplane crash on October 13, until they were rescued, 72 days later. This was a gruesome story, reading about every little thing that transpired within the crash site. This survival story is not entirely a tale of loving brotherhood or a united fight for survival. Piers Paul Read depicts a lot of the darker side of that battle, like how they just basically divided themselves into strong and weak classes, constant bickering and fighting over many issues, constipation and other unpleasant declining health issues, and many other chilling things. Nothing is left out. Not even cannibalism. The survivors did far more than just slice a piece of meat from a couple of dead people. Not an easy reading to digest, but a great story of survival nonetheless. And the most precious thing I rescue from this book is Liliana, and how she was like a mother to them all. (view spoiler)

The movie (1993) is a lovely adaptation of the book. Not entirely faithful to the original work, but very worth it. A considerably lighter version, with much of the darker side of the ordeal left out. Beautiful pacing, and highly inspiring. A stellar cast including actors like Ethan Hawke, Illeana Douglas and an exquisite introduction and ending by John Malkovich. Not the greatest movie per se, but a highly memorable one.

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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1974] [318p] [Non-fiction] [Conditional Recommendable]
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Milagro en los Andes.

En 1972, un avi贸n lleno de jugadores de rugby y sus familias se estrella en la Cordillera de los Andes. La historia es bien conocida. Escasamente con nada de comida o agua, sufriendo temperaturas bajo cero, s贸lo diecis茅is de cuarenta y cinco sobrevivieron. Despu茅s de casi tres meses luchando por sobrevivir, lesionados, fam茅licos, congelados, contra todas las posibilidades un par de ellos finalmente lograron cruzar a trav茅s de los Andes sin equipo de monta帽a y llegar a un pueblo cercano donde pudieron pedir por ayuda. Su supervivencia fue legendaria. Noticias sobre ella recorrieron el mundo, fue llamado el 鈥淢ilagro de los Andes.鈥�

En este libro Piers Paul Read documenta con precisos detalles c贸mo todo se desenvolvi贸 para los sobrevivientes, desde el choque de avi贸n del 13 de October, hasta que fueron rescatados, 72 d铆as despu茅s. Esta fue una historia sangrienta, leer sobre cada peque帽a cosa que sucedi贸 en el lugar del accidente. Esta historia de supervivencia no es enteramente sobre una amorosa hermandad o una lucha en unidad para sobrevivir. Piers Paul Read detalla un mont贸n de los lados m谩s oscuros de esa batalla, c贸mo b谩sicamente dividirse entre ellos en fuertes y d茅biles, constantes peleas y discusiones sobre muchos asuntos, constipaci贸n y otros desagradables asuntos de una salud declinante, y muchas otas escalofriantes cosas. Nada es dejado afuera. Ni siquiera el canibalismo. Los sobrevivientes hicieron mucho m谩s que solo cortar un pedazo de carne de un par de muertos. No es una lectura f谩cil de digerir, pero sin embargo una gran historia de supervivencia. Y lo m谩s preciado que rescato de este libro es Liliana, y c贸mo era como una madre para todos. (view spoiler)

La pel铆cula (1993) es una adorable adaptaci贸n del libro. No enteramente fiel a la obra original, pero muy valiosa. Una versi贸n considerablemente m谩s ligera, con mucho de los lados m谩s oscuros de la lucha dejados afuera. Hermoso ritmo, y altamente inspiradora. Un elenco estelar incluyendo figuras como Ethan Hawke, Illeana Douglas y una exquisita introducci贸n y final por John Malkovich. No es una de las m谩s grandes pel铆culas, pero s铆 una muy memorable.

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NOTA PERSONAL :
[1974] [318p] [No Ficci贸n] [Recomendable Condicional]
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Reading Progress

January 1, 2000 – Started Reading
January 1, 2000 – Finished Reading
February 24, 2014 – Shelved

Comments Showing 1-46 of 46 (46 new)

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message 1: by Federico (last edited Jul 24, 2019 09:52AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Such a terrible tragedy. I always remember Liliana and how she was like a mother to them all. Saw the movie too and it was a piece of candy compared to how the events were described in this book! Will write a proper review someday. Thank you Leslie <3 !


Federico DN Argentina. Way to the south end of the continent. The plane crash happened not so far from here. The Andes is the international border between here and Chile.


Federico DN Always a pleasure Leslie 馃槝


message 4: by inciminci (new)

inciminci Your review is fantastic, Federico, and this story... Well worth remembering, I'm adding this!


message 5: by Federico (last edited Oct 11, 2022 03:31AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN inciminci wrote: "Your review is fantastic, Federico, and this story... Well worth remembering, I'm adding this!"

Thank you Inci <3 ! It's not an easy read, but hope you like it :)


message 6: by Fran (new)

Fran Fantastic review, Federico!馃憤


Federico DN Fran wrote: "Fantastic review, Federico!馃憤"

Thank you Fran :)


Jesse This is one of my favorite survival stories. Absolutely amazing


message 9: by Marquise (new)

Marquise I recall filching this book from my dad as a girl and being horrified at the things the poor survivors had to do to stay alive. Great review, Federico!


message 10: by Debra (new)

Debra Great review, Federico!


Federico DN Jesse wrote: "This is one of my favorite survival stories. Absolutely amazing"

Sadly I have only read few non-fiction stories, but of all of them I too think this is one of the best. Thank you Jesse :) !


message 12: by Federico (last edited Oct 11, 2022 07:49AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Marquise wrote: "I recall filching this book from my dad as a girl and being horrified at the things the poor survivors had to do to stay alive. Great review, Federico!"

Lol. I did exactly the same, when I was still at school. So many horrifying things, if the movie had included all of them rather than a survival drama it would've been closer to a horror story :/ . Thank you Marquise!


Federico DN Debra wrote: "Great review, Federico!"

Thank you Debra !


Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) Fantastic review Federico!


message 15: by Federico (last edited Oct 11, 2022 09:17AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Miya (struggling with pain, keeping reviews short) wrote: "Fantastic review Federico!"

Thank you Miya <3 !


Myriam V Otro de la biblioteca familiar. 驴De qui茅n era? Muy buena tu rese帽a. Yo lo le铆 maso a los 13 a帽os. Hay una pel铆cula m谩s vieja, cuando sali贸 la que coment谩s vi la otra y era fiel tambi茅n a la historia pero medio berreta, de poco presupuesto quiz谩, mucho no me acuerdo.


message 17: by Federico (last edited Oct 11, 2022 10:24AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Myriam wrote: "Otro de la biblioteca familiar. 驴De qui茅n era? Muy buena tu rese帽a. Yo lo le铆 maso a los 13 a帽os. Hay una pel铆cula m谩s vieja, cuando sali贸 la que coment谩s vi la otra y era fiel tambi茅n a la histori..."

Gracias Myriam! Otro m谩s jaja, ya me conoc茅s bien xD. Igual que vos yo tambi茅n lo le铆 cuando andaba en el colegio! No pregunt茅 pero muy probablemente era de mi viejo, porque mi vieja ley贸 poco y nada en su vida. Y mi viejo ley贸 centenares de cosas pero lamentablemente poco y nada de ficci贸n. Ese bicho me pic贸 a mi nom谩s <3. La pel铆cula que viste debe ser "Survive!" de 1976. Vi el trailer en Youtube y s铆 parece de bajo presupuesto, inclusive para la 茅poca. Igual siento curiosidad, tengo etapas pero en general soy mucho m谩s cin茅filo que bibli贸filo. Primero tengo que ver si puedo encontrar la pel铆cula completa, y si alg煤n d铆a estoy muy aburrido... quien sabe jajaj


message 18: by Canadian Jen (new)

Canadian Jen I haven't read this, but did see the movie. Was an awesome one. Great review


Federico DN Jen wrote: "I haven't read this, but did see the movie. Was an awesome one. Great review"

The movie is certainly much more easier to love than the book. Thank you Jen :) !


message 20: by Yun (new)

Yun Great review, Federico! Both the movie and the book sound fascinating! I'll definitely add the movie to my tbw! :)


Jesse You should try Endurance by Alfred Lansing it's a great true survival story too. Minus the catabolism


message 22: by Federico (last edited Oct 11, 2022 02:08PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Yun wrote: "Great review, Federico! Both the movie and the book sound fascinating! I'll definitely add the movie to my tbw! :)"

Thank you Yun! I can't believe you haven't watched the movie yet. I just assume everybody has seen it lol.


message 23: by Federico (last edited Oct 11, 2022 02:17PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Jesse wrote: "You should try Endurance by Alfred Lansing it's a great true survival story too. Minus the catabolism"

Noted. Thank you Jesse! I must confess I almost never read non-fiction, and if I hadn't found this old copy in my family's bookcase I probably would've never read it lol, but if I ever feel strong enough to read something like this, I'll be sure to check that one out :)


message 24: by Tina (new)

Tina Oh I remember the movie. What a powerful true story. A fantastic review Federico! I cannot even imagine the horrors they suffered!


message 25: by Chantel (new)

Chantel Never heard of this before - the book or the movie - maybe I've been living under a rock lol Glad that this was such a super read for you!! Sounds like a crazy ride style of story


Federico DN Tina wrote: "Oh I remember the movie. What a powerful true story. A fantastic review Federico! I cannot even imagine the horrors they suffered!"

Thank you Tina! Multiply the horrors of the movie by ten and maybe you have something closer to what's on the book :/


message 27: by Federico (last edited Oct 11, 2022 04:14PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Chantel wrote: "Never heard of this before - the book or the movie - maybe I've been living under a rock lol Glad that this was such a super read for you!! Sounds like a crazy ride style of story"

That rock must be really comfy lol. Thank you Chantel! The movie is very good if you want to check it. Very recommendable and fairly easy to watch. The book is an entirely different thing though.


message 28: by Axl Oswaldo (new)

Axl Oswaldo Una historia que siempre he querido leer, a pesar de que he visto la pel铆cula y he le铆do art铆culos sobre la tragedia, siempre me llam贸 la atenci贸n este libro, pienso que es de esas historias en las que debes dejar de leer por lo fuerte que pueda llegar a ser, pero que al final te llevar谩s algo para ti como lector.
Muy buena rese帽a, Federico! 馃憢鈽猴笍


message 29: by Federico (last edited Oct 11, 2022 05:06PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Axl Oswaldo wrote: "Una historia que siempre he querido leer, a pesar de que he visto la pel铆cula y he le铆do art铆culos sobre la tragedia, siempre me llam贸 la atenci贸n este libro, pienso que es de esas historias en las..."

Gracias Axl! Tiene partes muy horribles y dif铆cilles de digerir, pero bueno tambi茅n tiene su lado inspirador de una tremenda lucha por la vida. Hay otro libro "Milagro en los Andes" escrito por el mism铆simo Parrado, tal vez te interese tambi茅n. No lo le铆 pero escuch茅 que es bueno :)


message 30: by Kay (new) - rated it 4 stars

Kay Terrific review! I'm going to read this in winter.馃槄


Federico DN Kay wrote: "Terrific review! I'm going to read this in winter.馃槄"

That is truly chilling. Thank you Kay xD


message 32: by Lynn (new) - rated it 3 stars

Lynn Great review of this one, Federico!


Federico DN Lynn wrote: "Great review of this one, Federico!"

Thank you Lynn :)


message 34: by Sarah (last edited Oct 11, 2022 11:36PM) (new)

Sarah I always wonder about the aftermath of surviving something like this. Like, how does one wake up, have morning coffee, and drive to the office without constantly thinking... I... ate... a... fellow... airplane... passenger?!

Tough stuff. Interesting review!


message 35: by Federico (last edited Oct 11, 2022 11:56PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Sarah wrote: "I always wonder about the aftermath of surviving something like this. Like, how does one wake up, have morning coffee, and go off to the office without constantly thinking... I... ate... a... fello..."

Thank you Sarah! I don't think it's something you can forget but I'm positive it is something you can live with. There are a bunch of interviews of Nando Parrado in Youtube. Haven't watched them so don't know if they would shed some insight on that subject. He also wrote a book "Miracle in the Andes", dunno if that would help either. I think he is also a motivational speaker, so you know, even after surviving something like that, life goes on it seems :)


message 36: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Yeah, I hear you. I think it was Robert Frost who said: 鈥淚n three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on.鈥�


Federico DN Sarah wrote: "Yeah, I hear you. I think it was Robert Frost who said: 鈥淚n three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on.鈥�"

Didn't know he was the one that coined that phrase. Wonderful to learn that :D


message 38: by Rowan (new) - added it

Rowan Fantastic review, Federico! I have this one on my TBR list. This amazing survival story has always fascinated me! I need to read this and see the movie.


Federico DN Rowan wrote: "Fantastic review, Federico! I have this one on my TBR list. This amazing survival story has always fascinated me! I need to read this and see the movie."

Thank you Rowan! It's a tough one but I think it's worthy. The movie is much more easier to watch. Hope you like them both when you get to it :)


message 40: by Karen (new)

Karen Excellent review. 馃檪 I read this so long ago and I had remembered it as more uplifting than I expected, but maybe that was wishful thinking on my memory鈥檚 part.


message 41: by Federico (last edited Oct 12, 2022 07:19AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN Karen wrote: "Excellent review. 馃檪 I read this so long ago and I had remembered it as more uplifting than I expected, but maybe that was wishful thinking on my memory鈥檚 part."

Thank you Karen! I read plenty reviews and found many people find it uplifting, while others find it gruesome. I think it depends how and when you read it. Personally, I read it while still in my teens and found the book kinda traumatizing, but maybe that happened because I was too young and not ready for something like this. I did however find the movie very uplifting and watched it many many times on tv over the years :)


message 42: by Rosh (new) - rated it 3 stars

Rosh Amazing review, Federico! I had read this almost two decades ago! Your review reminds me to update it on GR. :D
It was a shocking story and yet so full of grit. I understand why they did what they did - if you want to survive, you sometimes need to lose your inhibitions. I've watched the movie as well but somehow, it didn't impress me as strongly as the book.


Federico DN Rosh [semi-hiatus in October] wrote: "Amazing review, Federico! I had read this almost two decades ago! Your review reminds me to update it on GR. :D
It was a shocking story and yet so full of grit. I understand why they did what they ..."


Thank you Rosh! Of course it's totally understandable what they did and I believe anyone would have done the same. It was either that or everyone slowly die, not much of a choice if you want to live. Besides they were already dead, it's not like they had to kill people to stay alive. Oh well. Glad you liked too :)


message 44: by A (new)

A Mac Sounds like a fascinating but somewhat gruesome read - I'll have to save this one for when I'm in a certain mood. Great review!


message 45: by Federico (last edited Oct 16, 2022 06:30AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Federico DN A wrote: "Sounds like a fascinating but somewhat gruesome read - I'll have to save this one for when I'm in a certain mood. Great review!"

Totally, you should be in the right mood for non-fiction cannibalism. Thank you Mac ;)


message 46: by Thibault (new)

Thibault Busschots Definitely sounds like a fascinating true survival story. The setting is quite cool, but also very dangerous I can imagine. Good review, Federico.


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