The greatest strength this book has is that it is a true story. Read did a superb job of reminding you of this throughout the book by presenting accurate facts at all times. This helps to remind the reader that it is a true story. This in turn adds to the suspense and helps to portray this astounding story of human survival. The story is one that makes the reader stop a evaluate what he is placing first in his life and what he should be placing first. Read also does a good job of explaining the more immediate effects on the survivors and their families as well as the long-term effects on their lives. The maps that he added about the area searched by the SAR, Southern South America, the area of the crash, and the last expedition were very helpful in visualizing what happened where.

Though this is a strong story, it did lack vivid enough description. This was especially evident in the descriptions of the mountains. The beauty and splendor was mentioned several times, but unfortunately the reader was never provided with a description with which they could gasp in some way its immensity. This is also a problem with the emotions of the survivors and their families. Their outward actions were described, but it would have added considerably to the novel to have had some insight into their thoughts. Normally one could assume what they were thinking but for this novel the reader has no past experiences to draw on and therefore can make only vague guess as to their thoughts. This cannot be blamed on the author, though, because he admits that it lacks an accurate depiction of their thoughts but explains it in this way, “It was never my intention to underestimate these qualities, but perhaps it would be beyond the skill of any writer to expr

Some topics in this essay:
Chile Soon, Search Rescue, South America, Paul Read, Mendoza Argentinean, Planchon Pass, Santiago Reports, plane hit, hit air pocket, plane hit air, true story, found tail, survivors families, air pocket, expeditionaries set, hit air,