Stuff I’ve Been Reading

Posted on October 22, 2013 by sheila

— I read Joe Simpson’s Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man’s Miraculous Survival in one utterly horrified sitting. I was afraid to put it down because my terror was so great I thought I wouldn’t be able to pick it up again. His description of the crevasse – first seen as he dangled above it, and then experienced from within it – is the stuff of nightmares. I had seen the film and found it overwhelming, one of the best survival stories I’ve ever seen. My cousin Kerry sang the praises of the book so I bought a copy. It’s tremendous. Up there with Endurance.

— I’m finally reading The Richard Burton Diaries, which are just as amazing as everyone has said. Yes, it’s great to have the glimpses of famous people and his relationship with Taylor. She’s extremely amusing and sweet. But I love even more the philosophical entries, the entries when he discusses literature, poetry, the books he’s reading. He rarely discusses films. He was a voracious (and fast!) reader. The alcoholism is acute, and he is highly aware of it. He talks about it in nearly every entry. It’s extremely disturbing. But what a mind he had. What a curious and open and also cantankerous mind.

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11 Responses to Stuff I’ve Been Reading

  1. bybee says:
    October 22, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    When you mentioned Endurance, I knew that I must read Touching the Void. I want The Richard Burton Diaries as well. All in all, a good visit to The Sheila Variations.

    Reply
    • sheila says:
      October 23, 2013 at 7:15 am

      Endurance is classic! The difference here is that it is written by the survivor of said disaster – and turns out, Joe Simpson is a phenomenal writer. What a story. The other day, I had a kind of annoying commute – crowded bus, long wait time, whatever, and I caught myself getting annoyed. In that petty everyday way that is so common. And Joe Simpson in the crevasse came into my mind, and what he went through to save himself, and it was like my annoyance vanished in a pouf of smoke. Instant perspective.

      Reply
  2. Todd Restler says:
    October 23, 2013 at 5:16 pm

    At least you weren’t drifting through space! Yeah, Touching the Void is probably even more remarkable than Gravity since it was a true story. Just an amazing portrait of human courage and will to survive.

    My favorite part of the film was towards the end, when he was walking over the jagged rocks and kept falling, and for some reason a stupid pop tune starting going through his head, and he was annoyed that if he had to die, why did it have to be with this lousy song going through his mind? Just a funny and human moment in the midst of all that drama and terror. Now I want to read the book even though I’ve seen the movie several times.

    Also, apropos of nothing, I just saw a documentary called Kingdom Come on The Movie Channel (TMC) about the struggles of two guys to get their independent film called Broken Kingdom made, and I think it’s one of the best documentaries about filmmaking I’ve ever seen. Just the will and passion and commitment, and perhaps insanity, that these guys had to get their movie made was awe inspiring to me. Interviews with famous actors are plentiful, but the filmmakers themselves will break your heart. Well worth checking out.

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2043893/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3

    Reply
    • sheila says:
      October 24, 2013 at 6:40 am

      Yes, that pop song! Amazing. He was tormented by it. That crawl across the glacier and then the boulders … and I kept forgetting that the two guys at base camp might have already left. But they happened to hang around for a couple of days, recovering. But Joe didn’t know that … he was making his way across that terrain just hoping that they would still be there.

      It was really the decision to go deeper into that crevasse that saved his life – and was the scariest thing ever. He was diagnosed with PTSD after doing the film. He was having these ominous flashbacks – as though 20 years had not passed. Tough tough guy but that crevasse stalks his dreams. The way he describes his first vision of it, dangling over it … It sounds like the gaping maw of a giant beast from the sea. Horrifying.

      Thanks for the documentary rec – haven’t seen it!

      Reply
      • sheila says:
        October 24, 2013 at 8:17 am

        It’s one of those books that you can’t help but try to imagine: “Would I have had what it takes?”

        Because the only thing between him and death was his own will to survive. It’s that simple. He almost gave up in that crevasse – he talks eloquently about how he tantrum-ed out for the first night, crying and screaming his rage. But then … he made that decision to go deeper into the crevasse, despite his terror.

        That’s the moment. That’s the key.

        There’s a new climbing film out now – I’ve heard all kinds of reactions, but mainly, “It’s okay, but it’s not Touching the Void!” I can’t remember the title off the top of my head.

        Reply
  3. Todd Restler says:
    October 24, 2013 at 9:24 am

    Yeah, I wonder myself how I would react to that. I’d like to think I’d be as strong. willed as Joe, but who knows. I hope I never have to find out! Im not surprised he is still haunted by the experience, you don’t just ” get over” something like that.

    The doc I recommended is great, I still can’t decide if its inspirational, or will make anyone thinking of getting into the movie biz have major second thoughts. A little of both.

    Reply
  4. Todd Restler says:
    October 24, 2013 at 10:52 am

    Actually I haven’t though I feel like I have, I know all about it. I will check it out, thanks.

    Reply
  5. Todd Restler says:
    October 24, 2013 at 12:01 pm

    Yeah I think I did read it, I’ve read most of his reviews the last 15 years,whether iplannedtosee the movie or not. Also seen the star of American Movie interviewed, etc.But I will watch it, finally, I know its supposed to be great.

    Reply

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