BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE by Aron Ralston

I loved this book! (Your suspense is over – I’m recommending it.)

Aron Ralston writes of his experience of being trapped in a slot canyon for five days with minimal water and food. An experienced climber and hiker and over-confident adventurer, he set off on an easy solo day hike and ended up knocking a boulder loose which trapped (smashed) his right hand between the boulder and the wall.

He writes about his time trapped in the canyon, how he rationed his food and water and used his climbing equipment to keep warm at night. Every morning, a slice of sunshine reached down in the chasm and warmed slightly the tip of his leg for a few minutes. He logically thought through all escape and possible rescue options before coming to the conclusion that he was going to die in the canyon. Several times during his entrapment, he videoed himself talking to his family, explaining his predicament and saying good-bye.

I won’t spoil the book for you by telling you how he manages to live. If you have heard of or have seen the movie 127 Hours, you already know something about this book, on which the film is based.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place is beautifully written, with raw emotion and a passionate description of a ridiculously unbelievable situation. Aron Ralston includes painstaking details of climbing terminology, most of which I did not understand. And he weaves into the narrative many other aspects of his life, from his family to how he gave up an engineering job to work in the climbing industry to some of his many near death experiences, like almost drowning and getting caught in an avalanche.

His fresh and meticulous writing make his story riveting. I can’t wait to see the movie and am sad to place this book back on the shelf at the library.

JJ