Customer Reviews

The Beckoning Silence

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having read each of Simpson's five mountaineering books, I walked away from this one with the feeling that Joe has finally reached a certain acceptance of himself, the world he is a part of and the dangers that go along with being a climber. Whereas some of his previous efforts have been dark and devoid of humor ("Storms of Silence" and "Dark Shadows Falling" for example), I found myself frequently laughing out loud at this one. Joe has mastered the art of storytelling and this may be his best effort since his classic "Touching the Void," which of course is in a class by itself.

This book starts off as somewhat of a tribute to a friend of his who gave up mountaineering because of a fundamental war-weariness to its dangers only to be killed in a paragliding accident a short time later. This leads Simpson to vow to give up serious mountain climbing himself ... but not before completing a handful of classic climbing routes (a "tick list" as he calls it). Among these is the 1938 route of the North Face of the Eiger, which is the focus of the second half of the book. There seem to be a few phrases in this one that were ripped off right out of Heinrich Harrer's "The White Spider" and Joe tacidly acknowledges some unintentional plagarism at the end of the book, explaining that he's read so many books on the North Face of the Eiger that he doesn't even know where much of his knowledge had its origin. A little lame, but I bought it. And fear not, the reader who has come to expect Simpson (the "Mr. Magoo" of the climbing world) to be in a precarious situation will not be disappointed.

I've enjoyed every one of Simpson's books that I've read. It's hard to say why -- maybe it's because his books seem more personal than others or maybe it's because his books tend to ramble in a personal way that cover a lot of ground -- from personal to philosophical and then to the side of the mountain. At any rate, this book starts with a climb in the Andes and a near call with a collapsing serac and Simpson's increasing sense of his own mortality. For some people, this would be called a mid-life crisis and Simpson explores the impact of this realization on his own endeavors. Unlike other people, though, Simpson decides to climb the classic route up the North Face of the Eiger. As he prepares for the climb, he reflects on some of the historic efforts in the 1930s -- and then as he details his climb, he relates the stops and efforts to the history. In fact, he revels in the history as he ticks off some of the stops on the route. I get the sense that we haven't heard the last of Simpson yet.

This should be the second of Simpson's books to read after Touching The Void.

The Eiger Nordwand comes to life as Joe Simpson describes the attempts he and Ray Delaney made on it in 2001. At the time, this route was the big item on the tick list Simpson had worked up as his fortieth birthday loomed and he considered retiring from serious climbing. Simpson's writing and climbing are bold, clean, and done. Touching the Void, is a single story, whereas The Beckoning Silence is a set of stories and ruminations - on climbing, on danger, and on aging. Simpson seems to have been of the "Live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse" school of living. As he hit forty, he discovered his body no longer seemed indestructible and he saw very competent friends get killed. The phrase "wrong place, wrong time" recurs in this book. Time to move to Plan B, cut the hazard, and figure how to live to a sedate old age.

If you have stuck your neck out on rock, snow, or ice, you will resonate with Joe Simpson's descriptions here. It rings true, evokes the spirit and feelings of the crags and mountains. Simpson is a professional climber, but even moderately ambitious weekend climbers will feel a frisson of vicarious fear as Simpson describes his unease as "Tat" Tattersall swings up the crux of Alea Jacta Est on dodgy smears of ice over rock with unreliable protection. At 68 I am looking for interesting though less challenging climbing objectives. Given Simpson's remarkable record of achievement, I expect him to be around for many further climbs, especially if he pulls in his horns a bit, as he says he intends to in this book.

I wish him the best, possibly including a full ascent of the Eiger Nordwand under ideal conditions - and with some long-time climbing partner. Let's hope his writing remains at this standard, too.

Joe Simpson's writing is compelling, lucid and interesting. As in his previous writing he is refreshingly honest in his story telling of both facts and feelings.

The book deals mostly with the 1938 route on the North face of the Eiger. The historical details alone make this book a must read for mountaineering buffs. But, more importantly Simpson explores the interplay between mountaineering experience and the objective dangers of climbing in big mountains. The balance he contrasts is between the extreme satisfaction of being in the mountains and climbing at standards that challenge, with the feelings of those involved, including concerns over route conditions internal motivation and personal performance.

In days when we are increasingly fed a diet of what I call "Dare and Scare", or "Mountaineering Rubbernecking Exploitation" books, Simpson had written a sensitive personal account that anyone who has ever had the urge for adventure will relate to. I couldn't put it down. Bravo Joe!

If you haven't read Touching the Void...read it first as Joe makes several references to it. I read Touching The Void...and couldn't put it down - outstanding book, and a must read for any climber!

I bought this one hoping for the same. The book was good by all standards but Joe seemed to lose focus on what he was writing about in several places. I think it would have been better if this were divided into two books: one about the flying and one about climbing.

If you're in doubt, buy it...its worth the cover price just for the Eiger history and Joes attempt on it; and Joe is such a talented writer that he can make some mistakes and still create a great book.

I've been reading a ton of mountaineering books lately, and this is quite possibly one of the best. Up until now, I've really liked Mark Twight's writing, mostly becuase he's really funny. But this book has really made me think about why I like to climb, and if it's really worth it. I think that Simpson's writing also does an excellent job of making you feel as though you are right there, if not belaying him, then standing at the belay watching. In the first chapter, there is a good account of his attempt(s) at Alea Jacta Est (a difficult mixed climb in France) and I could really feel the tension. Not quite the same feeling as you get when you are really running out a lead yourself, but not too far from it.

Anyways, I would heartily recommend this book to the climber and non-climber alike. It isn't so esoteric that non-climbers would feel intimidated, and it really makes one think about the whole point of climbing.

I loved this book even more the second time around! I read it twice within a year. Last month I read Heinrich Harrer's classic "The White Spider" for the first time. Once I became even more familiar with the mountain's features (particularly the Heckmair route), I felt compelled to re-read other accounts I'd read before, like the Eiger accounts in Jon Krakauer's "Eiger Dreams," Gaston Rebuffat's "Starlight and Storm," and finally, "The Beckoning Storm." All are excellent books, but Simpson touched me on a deeper level. It's not easy putting existential thoughts and feelings into words, but I think he does an excellent job of it. The last 10 pages of the book left me spellbound. I'd be tempted to read this again sometime.

Joe Simpson is consistent in delivering high quality writing in his books, which are always hard to put down. Simpson questions here his passion and drive for his sport, and how fatigue, close calls, and fears have begun to take their toll. Not just for mountaneers, anyone involved in a sport that threatens to cross the thin line between thrill and death can relate to it. Thanks Joe!

I have been climbing mountains for 29 years. Been there done that... first climbs, awesome views, friendship, more close calls than I can remember. Yes, I have explored caves and rafted mightly rivers and gone on a winter expedition to the Arctic. But climbing mountains is the most beautiful of them all. Very often people ask me why I climb. I have a very stressful and time-consuming job enclosed most of my days in a building working with computers, and friends tell me that vacation time is to go to a warm place to relax and recharge rather than going somewhere dangerous to get even more tired and stressed. How boring that seems to me. It is very hard to explain why I find climbing so wondeful... and so humbling. I like Joe Simpson's book not necessarily because of the great climbs he describes but rather because he makes a great job in writing about the fragility and the humility... and the awe, the passion, and the intensity with which we love. It is that which wraps a mountaineers heart. We don't believe we are supermen or immortal... we are not arrogant. This book may help non-mountaineers understand us better, and will allow us mountaineers see in written words things we know all too well in our hearts.

I have been climbing mountains for 29 years. Been there done that... first climbs, awesome views, friendship, more close calls than I can remember. Yes, I have explored caves and rafted mightly rivers and gone on a winter expedition to the Arctic. But climbing mountains is the most beautiful of them all. Very often people ask me why I climb. I have a very stressful and time-consuming job enclosed most of my days in a building working with computers, and friends tell me that vacation time is to go to a warm place to relax and recharge rather than going somewhere dangerous to get even more tired and stressed. How boring that seems to me. It is very hard to explain why I find climbing so wondeful... and so humbling. I like Joe Simpson's book not necessarily because of the great climbs he describes but rather because he makes a great job in writing about the fragility, the humility, the awe, the passion, and the intensity with which we love being up there. It is that which wraps a mountaineers heart. We don't believe we are supermen or immortal... we are not arrogant, au contraire, we fully understand the fragility of human life. This book may help non-mountaineers understand us better. It allows us, mountaineers, to see in written words things we know all too well in our hearts.