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Touching the Void

             I read Touching the Void by Joe Simpson.
             One of his positive traits was that he loves mountain climbing. A negative trait was that he takes too many risks. The most significant change he undergoes was he lost some of the use of his legs. This change was caused because he fell of the cliff and broke his leg. When this incident occurred, he had no treatment and was unable to visit a doctor for a week.
             Another important character was Simon Yates. He was a best friend of Joe Simpson. He had a significant influence on the main character because he was the one who cut the rope to save himself and not Joe when he was hurt. .
             The setting of the story was May 1985 in the Andes mountain range in South America. It was important to the story because the temperature around the mountains played a role in the rescuing and survival of Joe. The values of society portrayed in this book are the values of friendship displayed by Joe and Simon. The main character fits in because he was the one to narrate the story. .
             The opening scene of the book dealt with the two climbers waking up and getting ready to climb the west face of Siula Grande, which no climber has ever climbed and returned from. It is important to the story as a whole because it tells why the climbers want to climb and risk their lives in this task. The closing scene is when Simon and Richard, another friend of Joe's, hire a truck and a driver to take Joe to the hospital where he undergoes massive surgery to try to save his knee. It is important because it tells the reader Joe's experience and chance of living. .
             Two other important scenes were 1. Simon cut the rope and Joe fell. 2. Joe returned to camp to find Simon and Richard about to leave. The first scene was important because when Simon cut the rope, he wanted to save himself and he knew that Joe wasn't going to survive being lowered down the mountain by rope. The second scene was important because Simon found out that Joe was alive and in critical condition.


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