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In the Shadow of the Mountain
“In climbing the Seven Summits, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado did nothing less than take back her own life―one brave step at a time. She will inspire untold numbers of souls with this story, for her victory is a win on behalf of all of us.”―Elizabeth Gilbert
Endless ice. Thin air. The threat of dropping into nothingness thousands of feet below. This is the climb Silvia Vasquez-Lavado braves in her page-turning, pulse-raising memoir chronicling her journey to Mount Everest.
A Latina hero in the elite macho tech world of Silicon Valley, privately, she was hanging by a thread. Deep in the throes of alcoholism, hiding her sexuality from her family, and repressing the abuse she’d suffered as a child, she started climbing. Something about the brute force required for the ascent―the risk and spirit and sheer size of the mountains and death’s close proximity―woke her up. She then took her biggest pain as a survivor to the biggest Everest.
“The Mother of the World,” as it’s known in Nepal, allows few to reach her summit, but Silvia didn’t go alone. She gathered a group of young female survivors and led them to base camp alongside her. It was never easy. At times hair-raising, nerve-racking, and always challenging, Silvia remembers the acute anxiety of leading a group of novice climbers to Everest’s base, all the while coping with her own nerves of summiting. But, there were also moments of peace, joy, and healing with the strength of her fellow survivors and community propelling her forward.
In the Shadow of the Mountain is a remarkable story of heroism, one which awakens in all of us a lust for adventure, an appetite for risk, and faith in our own resilience.
Endless ice. Thin air. The threat of dropping into nothingness thousands of feet below. This is the climb Silvia Vasquez-Lavado braves in her page-turning, pulse-raising memoir chronicling her journey to Mount Everest.
A Latina hero in the elite macho tech world of Silicon Valley, privately, she was hanging by a thread. Deep in the throes of alcoholism, hiding her sexuality from her family, and repressing the abuse she’d suffered as a child, she started climbing. Something about the brute force required for the ascent―the risk and spirit and sheer size of the mountains and death’s close proximity―woke her up. She then took her biggest pain as a survivor to the biggest Everest.
“The Mother of the World,” as it’s known in Nepal, allows few to reach her summit, but Silvia didn’t go alone. She gathered a group of young female survivors and led them to base camp alongside her. It was never easy. At times hair-raising, nerve-racking, and always challenging, Silvia remembers the acute anxiety of leading a group of novice climbers to Everest’s base, all the while coping with her own nerves of summiting. But, there were also moments of peace, joy, and healing with the strength of her fellow survivors and community propelling her forward.
In the Shadow of the Mountain is a remarkable story of heroism, one which awakens in all of us a lust for adventure, an appetite for risk, and faith in our own resilience.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2022
310 people are currently reading
22809 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 629 reviews
June 19, 2022
Have you ever done a read/listen where you read along while an audiobook is read to you, or alternate between reading and listening the same book? I did a combo of both of those things with this book, and wow, was it ever engaging. The author, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado narrates the audio, which, of course, added to the experience.
Silvia is a survivor in many ways, and she organized a group of fellow female survivors to climb Everest together. This book includes that journey but so much more, as Silvia shares her life story, including her own journey to healing after abuse, assault, alcoholism, and tremendous pain. The narrative goes back and forth from the past to the present climb filled with adventure, danger, and wonder. I enjoyed that progression, and it felt natural.
In the Shadow of the Mountain is inspiring, raw, deeply intimate and honest. I loved all I learned about the cultures of Peru and the Himalayas. It’s an amazing story, and one I think everyone should read or listen.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Silvia is a survivor in many ways, and she organized a group of fellow female survivors to climb Everest together. This book includes that journey but so much more, as Silvia shares her life story, including her own journey to healing after abuse, assault, alcoholism, and tremendous pain. The narrative goes back and forth from the past to the present climb filled with adventure, danger, and wonder. I enjoyed that progression, and it felt natural.
In the Shadow of the Mountain is inspiring, raw, deeply intimate and honest. I loved all I learned about the cultures of Peru and the Himalayas. It’s an amazing story, and one I think everyone should read or listen.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
February 1, 2022
The majority of my reads are fiction but occasionally I need an inspiring nonfiction read. When I started reading In The Shadow of the Mountain I had no idea the epic adventure that I was in for.
The Shadow of A Mountain is a nonfiction memoir by Sylvia Vasquez-Lavado. Sylvia was working in the male-dominated Silicon Valley when her mother called her home to Peru. At the time Sylvia was hanging by a thread and struggling with alcoholism, hiding her sexuality and repressing the horrific abuse that she suffered from as a child.
Sylvia’s trip home changed her life forever when she started climbing. Something about the high altitude and the risk woke something in her. Sylvia gathered a group of young female sexual assault survivors and together they decided to tackle the biggest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest.
Get ready for an emotional, awe-inspiring, tale of heroism and adventure! Not only is this is a story of a grand expedition but it's also a story of healing after a lifetime of pain. I immediately connected with Sylvia’s story and thoroughly enjoyed reading every single page of In The Shadow of the Mountain.
While writing this book, Sylvia shared the most intimate parts of herself with raw honesty. Not only did I find Sylvia’s strength to be inspiring but I also found her compassion and selflessness for others awe-inspiring.
In The Shadow of the Mountain would be a wonderful selection for book clubs and would make an excellent gift. I feel like this book is a must-read for many, not just women but men as well. I highly recommend this book and I feel like it will inspire so many readers.
A massive thanks to Henry Holt Books for a gifted copy of this amazing book!
The Shadow of A Mountain is a nonfiction memoir by Sylvia Vasquez-Lavado. Sylvia was working in the male-dominated Silicon Valley when her mother called her home to Peru. At the time Sylvia was hanging by a thread and struggling with alcoholism, hiding her sexuality and repressing the horrific abuse that she suffered from as a child.
Sylvia’s trip home changed her life forever when she started climbing. Something about the high altitude and the risk woke something in her. Sylvia gathered a group of young female sexual assault survivors and together they decided to tackle the biggest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest.
Get ready for an emotional, awe-inspiring, tale of heroism and adventure! Not only is this is a story of a grand expedition but it's also a story of healing after a lifetime of pain. I immediately connected with Sylvia’s story and thoroughly enjoyed reading every single page of In The Shadow of the Mountain.
While writing this book, Sylvia shared the most intimate parts of herself with raw honesty. Not only did I find Sylvia’s strength to be inspiring but I also found her compassion and selflessness for others awe-inspiring.
In The Shadow of the Mountain would be a wonderful selection for book clubs and would make an excellent gift. I feel like this book is a must-read for many, not just women but men as well. I highly recommend this book and I feel like it will inspire so many readers.
A massive thanks to Henry Holt Books for a gifted copy of this amazing book!
March 5, 2022
I was completely thrilled to win this book in a giveaway for my honest review (thanks so much, Henry Holt & Co) because I’d read books about men climbing various mountains but no women. And no woman like Silvia Vasquez-Lavado. Spoilers: Climbing to the Summit in the last pages through her description of the event literally takes your breath away. Silvia is so brutally honest about everything happening or that has already happened in her life that at each chapter you feel like she’s personally telling you her stories, some which make you cry, some laugh, some feel her pain. Beautifully and brutally honest written. A book everyone should read because we can now all climb Mt Everest together and overcome, through this amazing book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2021
"What if everything I've been looking for is not just in the shadows but is the shadow itself?" - Silvia Vasquez-Lavado.
What if everything you've been looking for in a "memoir of courage" is right here in this book? This story moved me to tears in every chapter. It is heart-wrenching and well-written, sad and dark and also light and beautiful. Full of shadows the author is courageous enough not only to walk through, but to become. Silvia does not conquer her fears, or conquer Everest; she ascends and becomes at peace in these shadows, in these narrow paths, in the pain of climbing and the pain of living. It's a marvelous book for the #metoo narrative, for the feminine mountaineering narrative, and for the sobering up and finding wholeness narrative. I loved the feminine point of view of climbing Everest. The way she gives homage to prayers and the power of women. It's just an all-around fantastic memoir.
Look for it in February 2022! And have a box of tissues at the ready.
Thank you to ABA and Henry Holt & Company for giving me the chance to read this early copy for Indies Introduce.
What if everything you've been looking for in a "memoir of courage" is right here in this book? This story moved me to tears in every chapter. It is heart-wrenching and well-written, sad and dark and also light and beautiful. Full of shadows the author is courageous enough not only to walk through, but to become. Silvia does not conquer her fears, or conquer Everest; she ascends and becomes at peace in these shadows, in these narrow paths, in the pain of climbing and the pain of living. It's a marvelous book for the #metoo narrative, for the feminine mountaineering narrative, and for the sobering up and finding wholeness narrative. I loved the feminine point of view of climbing Everest. The way she gives homage to prayers and the power of women. It's just an all-around fantastic memoir.
Look for it in February 2022! And have a box of tissues at the ready.
Thank you to ABA and Henry Holt & Company for giving me the chance to read this early copy for Indies Introduce.
dnf
March 10, 2022I read up to page 200, but found myself not enjoying the story. Therefore, I am stopping here and adding this book to my dnf file.
January 7, 2022
If you read and enjoyed Eat Pray Love you would enjoy reading In the Shadow of the Mountain.
Solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ highly recommend!
Solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ highly recommend!
April 29, 2022
My rating mostly reflects my expectations for the book vs reality. The author is a woman (the 1st openly lgbtqia woman) that completed the Seven Summits, the tallest mountain on each continent. I expected some real climbing stories and I think that was a reasonable expectation. Instead, it was really about the author's molestation as a child (fairly graphic in parts) and the impact that trauma had on her life. The majority of the book is the molestation, her unhappy (but sheltered) childhood/dysfunctional family, and then stories about her promiscuity and alcoholism. There's very little about her efforts to actually heal her trauma, and even less about her efforts to bring women together to heal. I don't give guys a pass when their books drone on about how hard they messed around and Silvia doesn't get a pass on her bad behavior either.
July 19, 2022
Silvia Vasques-Lavado is known as "the first Peruvian woman to scale Mount Everest" - but as her memoir reveals, her life has been so much more.
"In the Shadow of the Mountain" is told across two alternating timelines, the first focusing on Vasquez-Lavado's attempt to scale Mount Everest with a group of female survivors. She covers not only the grueling and dangerous progression, and the life-threatening encounters they face on a daily (and even hourly) basis, but reveals each of the women's stories and the previous lives of abuse and trafficking they managed to escape in Indian and Nepal.
The second timeline covers Vasquez-Lavado's personal history, starting from when she was a child growing up Peru. Even from a young age, she experiences some truly terrible crimes, and is sexually abused by a close family friend and physically abused by her own father. Her few attempts to speak up are ignored or suppressed by her family - an infuriating, but all-too-common situation for girls to be in. When she gets older, she's able to escape to America, but once again finds herself in a dangerous environment working for an alcohol company, where she succumbs to alcoholism in attempt to fit in and work her way up the corporate ladder. Vasquez-Lavado also covers the difficult topics of discovering and accepting her own sexuality, made even murkier thanks to her childhood, and how grief and loss can both hinder and help the progress made.
This was such a fascinating and well-written read, and I applaud the vulnerability that Silvia Vasquez-Lavado displayed in sharing both her triumphs and her struggles with us.
"In the Shadow of the Mountain" is told across two alternating timelines, the first focusing on Vasquez-Lavado's attempt to scale Mount Everest with a group of female survivors. She covers not only the grueling and dangerous progression, and the life-threatening encounters they face on a daily (and even hourly) basis, but reveals each of the women's stories and the previous lives of abuse and trafficking they managed to escape in Indian and Nepal.
The second timeline covers Vasquez-Lavado's personal history, starting from when she was a child growing up Peru. Even from a young age, she experiences some truly terrible crimes, and is sexually abused by a close family friend and physically abused by her own father. Her few attempts to speak up are ignored or suppressed by her family - an infuriating, but all-too-common situation for girls to be in. When she gets older, she's able to escape to America, but once again finds herself in a dangerous environment working for an alcohol company, where she succumbs to alcoholism in attempt to fit in and work her way up the corporate ladder. Vasquez-Lavado also covers the difficult topics of discovering and accepting her own sexuality, made even murkier thanks to her childhood, and how grief and loss can both hinder and help the progress made.
This was such a fascinating and well-written read, and I applaud the vulnerability that Silvia Vasquez-Lavado displayed in sharing both her triumphs and her struggles with us.
December 5, 2022
Silvia's gone through an insane amount of hardship and comes out in an inspirationally resilient way. If you're already a fan then the book is likely to connect well.
I didn't like this book. I knew about two pages in that it wasn't my kind of book, that I wasn't going to like it. But I kept reading and after a while, I felt mostly focused on trying to piece apart why I didn't like the book.
And the best I can guess is that I'm much more of a character-driven reader and the focus was so much more on stressing events that are emotionally charged on their own. I suppose as well there were just parts of the style that rubbed me the wrong way. Like continuing to call this one group of people "girls" even after noting that one of them went by the neutral pronoun, even after writing "We just have to allow her—them—to be" about that person.
Maybe I'm a bit upset because I feel like a jerk for not liking a book about someone who's experienced so much tragedy. Maybe.
I didn't like this book. I knew about two pages in that it wasn't my kind of book, that I wasn't going to like it. But I kept reading and after a while, I felt mostly focused on trying to piece apart why I didn't like the book.
And the best I can guess is that I'm much more of a character-driven reader and the focus was so much more on stressing events that are emotionally charged on their own. I suppose as well there were just parts of the style that rubbed me the wrong way. Like continuing to call this one group of people "girls" even after noting that one of them went by the neutral pronoun, even after writing "We just have to allow her—them—to be" about that person.
Maybe I'm a bit upset because I feel like a jerk for not liking a book about someone who's experienced so much tragedy. Maybe.
February 26, 2022
In the Shadow of the Mountain is one of those books that you weren't expecting and that will stay with you for many years resonating with all the things you learn and making you feel alive. this is the case of the Memoir of Silvia Vazquez a book that will change your life and will stay with you forever.
Silvia Vazques was living in Peru her home town when she was just a kid, she was a happy child until someone betray the trust of her parents hurting her in the most terrible way, sabotaging her mind and her life in a way she didn't understand until she had the notion of it. she grew up thinking she was trash, that she didn't have any value, because that's what this man-made her believe.
Silvia left her home, as soon as her mother knew what had happened to her she was a force of light in Sylvia's life the only one who love her fiercely. Silvia's father was the typical Latin macho, thinking his word was the only thing that counted, immerse in his work he didn't care about anything else, he hurt Silvia and her mother in many ways, physically and verbally making them feel like they didn't have any choice in this matter only to receive the blows and the hurt.
In the shadow of the mountain is the story of many young children who are taken against their will and trafficked and abused around the world this is the case of India, Nepal and many countries who treat and see women as a mistake as a burden and they opt to sale them like a piece of meat. I've heard many stories, especially from India and China how they treat women and how young girls are sold and trafficked because they're unwanted or their religion and culture see them as weak as if they don't have any saying or opinion in any matter. this is so sad and at the same time enraging that we still live like if we were in the 1800's
Silvia move to the US with her siblings and started a new life working trying to forget what happened and trying to find out who she was. in the meantime, her sexuality and her preferences are changing she is finding herself in the middle of her chaos and her new life. she falls in love hard with a beautiful soul Lori only to lose everything in a blink of an eye..
Everything was lost when the love of her life was no longer walking on this plane.
Silvia is ready to conquer her own demons and finally see the light. she decides to guide other women to Everest, women from all over the world Mexico, Nepal India, and many other places, women who suffered the same abuse and are searching for meaning and to find themselves after they lost so much. Silvia is determined to finally quiet those voices in her mind that kept following her around, with sad and past memories, she knows by climbing "The Mother, Chomolungma" aka Everest will help her to see and understand herself more.
I really didn't like Segundo, Silvia's father he really was the real stereotypical macho man, I still don't understand how he never realizes what was happing in his own home but I know is because as Silvia says he was always so immersed in his work not caring what was happening around.
Silvia's mother was a beautiful soul, I have to say that this is the first time I read a story of a survivor who still has a beautiful relationship with her mother and that was not eclipsed or ruined by the evil perpetrator of the terrible pain Silvia was going through. she was a wonderful woman just by reading Silvia's words makes you feel like she was a star 🌟
This is going to be one of my favorite books of 2022, this book showed me so much, many things that I didn't know but also made me understand what is happening all around us. Silvia's story made me cry and laugh, made me care, and feel the need to help to do something that will help others.
I can keep going but I don't want to give more away, overall it was mindblowing, earth-shattering, and super start bright
Thank you, Henry Holt & Company, Henry Holt and Co, Netgalley, and Silvia Vazquez for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Silvia Vazques was living in Peru her home town when she was just a kid, she was a happy child until someone betray the trust of her parents hurting her in the most terrible way, sabotaging her mind and her life in a way she didn't understand until she had the notion of it. she grew up thinking she was trash, that she didn't have any value, because that's what this man-made her believe.
Silvia left her home, as soon as her mother knew what had happened to her she was a force of light in Sylvia's life the only one who love her fiercely. Silvia's father was the typical Latin macho, thinking his word was the only thing that counted, immerse in his work he didn't care about anything else, he hurt Silvia and her mother in many ways, physically and verbally making them feel like they didn't have any choice in this matter only to receive the blows and the hurt.
In the shadow of the mountain is the story of many young children who are taken against their will and trafficked and abused around the world this is the case of India, Nepal and many countries who treat and see women as a mistake as a burden and they opt to sale them like a piece of meat. I've heard many stories, especially from India and China how they treat women and how young girls are sold and trafficked because they're unwanted or their religion and culture see them as weak as if they don't have any saying or opinion in any matter. this is so sad and at the same time enraging that we still live like if we were in the 1800's
Silvia move to the US with her siblings and started a new life working trying to forget what happened and trying to find out who she was. in the meantime, her sexuality and her preferences are changing she is finding herself in the middle of her chaos and her new life. she falls in love hard with a beautiful soul Lori only to lose everything in a blink of an eye..
Everything was lost when the love of her life was no longer walking on this plane.
Silvia is ready to conquer her own demons and finally see the light. she decides to guide other women to Everest, women from all over the world Mexico, Nepal India, and many other places, women who suffered the same abuse and are searching for meaning and to find themselves after they lost so much. Silvia is determined to finally quiet those voices in her mind that kept following her around, with sad and past memories, she knows by climbing "The Mother, Chomolungma" aka Everest will help her to see and understand herself more.
I really didn't like Segundo, Silvia's father he really was the real stereotypical macho man, I still don't understand how he never realizes what was happing in his own home but I know is because as Silvia says he was always so immersed in his work not caring what was happening around.
Silvia's mother was a beautiful soul, I have to say that this is the first time I read a story of a survivor who still has a beautiful relationship with her mother and that was not eclipsed or ruined by the evil perpetrator of the terrible pain Silvia was going through. she was a wonderful woman just by reading Silvia's words makes you feel like she was a star 🌟
This is going to be one of my favorite books of 2022, this book showed me so much, many things that I didn't know but also made me understand what is happening all around us. Silvia's story made me cry and laugh, made me care, and feel the need to help to do something that will help others.
I can keep going but I don't want to give more away, overall it was mindblowing, earth-shattering, and super start bright
Thank you, Henry Holt & Company, Henry Holt and Co, Netgalley, and Silvia Vazquez for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2022
3.5 rounded up
I love a mountaineering/climbing book however I haven't read too many by female authors (except for the amazing A Line Above the Sky: On Mountains and Motherhood by Helen Mort), so this stood out to me as a new perspective on the genre.
Vasquez-Lovado's book is ostensibly about her Everest climb in 2016, but interwoven into this is her own life story which helps to explain what has brought her to climb the world's highest mountain. I should warn that some of the themes (addiction, suicide and abuse) are pretty heavy at times.
I wanted a bit more introspection at times and some parts of the author's backstory felt kind of skirted over but this was a largely satisfying read, and I found the climbing sections to be the most engaging - so if that is what brings you to this book too then hopefully you won't be disappointed.
Thank you Netgalley and Octopus Publishing for the advance copy, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.
I love a mountaineering/climbing book however I haven't read too many by female authors (except for the amazing A Line Above the Sky: On Mountains and Motherhood by Helen Mort), so this stood out to me as a new perspective on the genre.
Vasquez-Lovado's book is ostensibly about her Everest climb in 2016, but interwoven into this is her own life story which helps to explain what has brought her to climb the world's highest mountain. I should warn that some of the themes (addiction, suicide and abuse) are pretty heavy at times.
I wanted a bit more introspection at times and some parts of the author's backstory felt kind of skirted over but this was a largely satisfying read, and I found the climbing sections to be the most engaging - so if that is what brings you to this book too then hopefully you won't be disappointed.
Thank you Netgalley and Octopus Publishing for the advance copy, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2022
This book is about how Silvia Vasquez-Lavado braved a climb up Mount Everest with a group of beginner climbers she gathered together. To escape her sexuality, alcoholism, and the sexual abuse she endured as a child, the author started climbing. Eventually, she set an ultimate goal to climb the Seven Summits. This book was not as much about her rigorous climbing trip up Mount Everest as it was about her emotional journey to restore herself after allowing shame to consume her life. It is a very raw, vulnerable, and very human story.
This is the most powerful memoir I've read in a long time. I loved the intersection of climbing, getting through hardships, and how it all came together so beautifully at the end. It was so immersive, I felt like I went on a journey with her. I think, more than anything, this book will give some power back to survivors of abuse, including girls, women, men, and boys. I believe that sharing this story was a generous act by the author, especially in how she opened up and shared this much of herself with the world in such a beautiful way.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
This is the most powerful memoir I've read in a long time. I loved the intersection of climbing, getting through hardships, and how it all came together so beautifully at the end. It was so immersive, I felt like I went on a journey with her. I think, more than anything, this book will give some power back to survivors of abuse, including girls, women, men, and boys. I believe that sharing this story was a generous act by the author, especially in how she opened up and shared this much of herself with the world in such a beautiful way.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
February 26, 2022
I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out exactly what I want to say about this book. It’s an amazing memoir. Silvia Vasquez-Lavado takes the reader on a journey to Mount Everest and the grueling climb to the summit. But it’s so much more than that. The story takes on so many difficult themes and blends them together so well in the short amount of space that the narrative is told. It’s the story of a little girl being sexually assaulted and believing it’s what her parents want for her. It’s the story of a woman struggling with alcoholism and relationships, both familial and sexual. It’s the story of a climber, leading a group of sexual assault/human trafficking victims to the base camp of Mount Everest in a spiritual quest. By the end, there is an understanding of why the memoir was written. Why this story needed to be told. There’s so much pain, but there’s also triumph and a measure of acceptance. It’s a wonderfully done book. Five stars.
January 16, 2023
Dieses Buch hat einige Probleme, vor allem der phrasenreiche Stil hat mich oft geärgert. Trotzdem drei Sterne, weil die Frauenperspektive auf das Extrembergsteigen interessant war und einige Dinge über die körperlichen Aspekte von Trauma-Bewältigung drinstehen, die ich noch nirgends gelesen habe (ok, habe auch nicht danach gesucht, vielleicht steht es überall, aber mir war das jedenfalls neu).
February 16, 2024
This was en amazing story, even more because it’s nonfiction. The book is pure and honest, and bcs of that ofc very emotional. Silvia is een amazing writer too. Enjoy the reading <3
June 25, 2024
Silvia’s story is true and painful. In truth, I had hoped it would give me more actual hiking motivation but it was quite dark.
I started to get annoyed at the end, not sure why. Maybe I understood her addictive tendencies too well, especially given her trauma history, and it scared me. Or maybe I just don’t know enough about Sherpa culture and worried the mountaineering community is taking advantage of Sherpas and unfairly continuing to hike Everest despite huge climate change impacts. I’ll have to look into this to learn more.
I started to get annoyed at the end, not sure why. Maybe I understood her addictive tendencies too well, especially given her trauma history, and it scared me. Or maybe I just don’t know enough about Sherpa culture and worried the mountaineering community is taking advantage of Sherpas and unfairly continuing to hike Everest despite huge climate change impacts. I’ll have to look into this to learn more.
February 8, 2022
So inspirational, thrilling and heartbreaking. This memoir was all love. RTC
September 22, 2025
Is the book good? Yes. Excellent, actually!
Did I like it? Umm….
I said to myself “ooh a memoir about climbing Everest, this will be inspiring and not depressing” and then…..
To be fair to the book, I obviously skimmed the blurb incorrectly!
Looking through the reviews on goodreads it is clear that the only people who didn’t like this book are those who did t finish it or who were not down for a traumatic journey through some fairly graphic descriptions of childhood sexual abuse. I am the second category.
Did I like it? Umm….
I said to myself “ooh a memoir about climbing Everest, this will be inspiring and not depressing” and then…..
To be fair to the book, I obviously skimmed the blurb incorrectly!
Looking through the reviews on goodreads it is clear that the only people who didn’t like this book are those who did t finish it or who were not down for a traumatic journey through some fairly graphic descriptions of childhood sexual abuse. I am the second category.
March 5, 2022
In this memoir, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado weaves her life stories in with her experience in climbing Mount Everest. Vasquez-Lavado is known as one of the few women who have climbed to the summit of Mount Everest. She is also known as an advocate for victims of sexual abuse and an LGBTQ rights advocate. She tells stories of her childhood in Peru, her immigration to America for college, of her crazy partying early adult years, and of climbing Mount Everest.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book because I thought it would be like Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Although I liked that book, I didn't love it. @bookrecsbymel spoke highly of this book so I decided to dive in.
I am in awe of Silvia Vasquez-Lavado! She is a survivor of child molestation and rape. She has also had tremendous loss in her life. She has struggled with alcoholism and her queerness has caused rifts between her and her family. She has had many reasons to succumb to the depression and trauma that have accumulated as result of her experiences, but she has triumphed in spite of it all. I love that she is a beacon of strength to others who have had traumatic experiences.
I am highly impressed by Vasquez-Lavado's writing in this autobiographical book. She has a background in business but you wouldn't guess it based on her adept writing skills. This book is beautifully written with rich and detailed prose. As intense and heartbreaking as her stories are, she delivers them with positivity and humor that had me chuckling out loud.
Although her personal life stories were what captured my attention the most in this book, I enjoyed the parts about her climb more than I thought I would. I was worried that those parts would be bogged down with details and technical information about climbing that wouldn't interest me, but she kept the story moving and provided just enough detail to give you an idea of what the experience was like. My favorite part of those chapters were her connections with other climbers and her recounting of her internal dialogue through those several weeks.
This book includes insights into Peruvian culture, Himalayan culture, and mountain climber culture. It's an amazing story of a woman who perseveres despite the constant destruction of the men on her life.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the Vasquez-Lavado herself, and I highly recommend it! Hearing an autobiographical book read by the writer and the person who experienced those events themselves is a special experience.
⚠️: child molestation & rape, domestic violence, child abuse, mention of murder, human trafficking, rape, kidnapping, assault, driving under the influence, alcoholism, suicide, death of a loved one, cancer, misogyny, sexual harassment.
I received a complimentary audiobook from the publisher via libro.fm.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book because I thought it would be like Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Although I liked that book, I didn't love it. @bookrecsbymel spoke highly of this book so I decided to dive in.
I am in awe of Silvia Vasquez-Lavado! She is a survivor of child molestation and rape. She has also had tremendous loss in her life. She has struggled with alcoholism and her queerness has caused rifts between her and her family. She has had many reasons to succumb to the depression and trauma that have accumulated as result of her experiences, but she has triumphed in spite of it all. I love that she is a beacon of strength to others who have had traumatic experiences.
I am highly impressed by Vasquez-Lavado's writing in this autobiographical book. She has a background in business but you wouldn't guess it based on her adept writing skills. This book is beautifully written with rich and detailed prose. As intense and heartbreaking as her stories are, she delivers them with positivity and humor that had me chuckling out loud.
Although her personal life stories were what captured my attention the most in this book, I enjoyed the parts about her climb more than I thought I would. I was worried that those parts would be bogged down with details and technical information about climbing that wouldn't interest me, but she kept the story moving and provided just enough detail to give you an idea of what the experience was like. My favorite part of those chapters were her connections with other climbers and her recounting of her internal dialogue through those several weeks.
This book includes insights into Peruvian culture, Himalayan culture, and mountain climber culture. It's an amazing story of a woman who perseveres despite the constant destruction of the men on her life.
I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the Vasquez-Lavado herself, and I highly recommend it! Hearing an autobiographical book read by the writer and the person who experienced those events themselves is a special experience.
⚠️: child molestation & rape, domestic violence, child abuse, mention of murder, human trafficking, rape, kidnapping, assault, driving under the influence, alcoholism, suicide, death of a loved one, cancer, misogyny, sexual harassment.
I received a complimentary audiobook from the publisher via libro.fm.
February 11, 2023
This is a tough one to review because if it had been fiction, I would have abandoned it somewhere between raging against white men and the pronoun they for a woman. I refuse to tolerate this in the books I choose in order to calm my mind from the madness of today's society. But I wanted to read this book specifically because it is a memoir and I have had a lifelong fascination with Everest and Nepal.
Well, the parts that are about that are generally great, especially the guiding of the sex trafficking and sexual assault survivors to Base Camp. I adored the girls, well, mostly the Nepali girls and their horrific realities are worth far more than 370 pages. One should discuss less spiritual bullshit and more how the world could pressure the disgusting corruption in a country basically maintained by the obsessive deadly Everest tourism. But yeah, in the end, we are all toxic and I agree with this statement.
The parts about Peru were good. I have a strong stomach so I just accepted Silvia's horrendous assaults as the reality of so many children. Just do 5 minutes of digging online and you will get to know far worse, supported and defended by grotesque politicians which go through extreme lengths to unman themselves and protect the unprotectable. So I was not shocked when a toxic family did nothing for their daughter's rape. This is common throughout Latin America during those times as it is common throughout Eastern Europe where I am from even now. What was incomprehensible to me was her decision to continue staying in contact with her family, her respect for a weak mother and her thanking of a violent, incapable of love father in the acknowledgements at the end. To me this is devoid of sense and while obviously a personal thing, I find it invalidates much of the earlier chapters post the trauma.
The parts about America, especially San Francisco are expectedly lame. Not her sexual orientation, I don't care about that, because in my simple brain we are more than what we fuck, despite what is being drilled into kids today. But the audacity for raging against white men, who obviously are all portrayed as lowlife scum, while choosing to delve as deep as possible in being an addict and a fuckboy of the highest degree. People who mindlessly fuck should not judge others who do. People who have more empathy for made believe pronouns than for their life partners should really address their decision making skills.
In the end, it was too little mountain, too much oh woe is me, too much hypocrisy and too little depth. At the same time too long and too short. I love Everest, I love Peru, I love people who overcome trauma but I don't like how this story was chosen to be told. 7 summits were climbed but more was written about gay bars, drinking, mean corporations and invented racial issues.
3 stars because of Everest.
Well, the parts that are about that are generally great, especially the guiding of the sex trafficking and sexual assault survivors to Base Camp. I adored the girls, well, mostly the Nepali girls and their horrific realities are worth far more than 370 pages. One should discuss less spiritual bullshit and more how the world could pressure the disgusting corruption in a country basically maintained by the obsessive deadly Everest tourism. But yeah, in the end, we are all toxic and I agree with this statement.
The parts about Peru were good. I have a strong stomach so I just accepted Silvia's horrendous assaults as the reality of so many children. Just do 5 minutes of digging online and you will get to know far worse, supported and defended by grotesque politicians which go through extreme lengths to unman themselves and protect the unprotectable. So I was not shocked when a toxic family did nothing for their daughter's rape. This is common throughout Latin America during those times as it is common throughout Eastern Europe where I am from even now. What was incomprehensible to me was her decision to continue staying in contact with her family, her respect for a weak mother and her thanking of a violent, incapable of love father in the acknowledgements at the end. To me this is devoid of sense and while obviously a personal thing, I find it invalidates much of the earlier chapters post the trauma.
The parts about America, especially San Francisco are expectedly lame. Not her sexual orientation, I don't care about that, because in my simple brain we are more than what we fuck, despite what is being drilled into kids today. But the audacity for raging against white men, who obviously are all portrayed as lowlife scum, while choosing to delve as deep as possible in being an addict and a fuckboy of the highest degree. People who mindlessly fuck should not judge others who do. People who have more empathy for made believe pronouns than for their life partners should really address their decision making skills.
In the end, it was too little mountain, too much oh woe is me, too much hypocrisy and too little depth. At the same time too long and too short. I love Everest, I love Peru, I love people who overcome trauma but I don't like how this story was chosen to be told. 7 summits were climbed but more was written about gay bars, drinking, mean corporations and invented racial issues.
3 stars because of Everest.
February 26, 2022
If you only read one memoir in 2022, let it be this one.
But prepare yourself, because this book is anything but easy. Within these pages, we read about loss, death, rape, child sex abuse, emotional trauma, child sex trafficking, discrimination (against LBGTQIA in particular), racism, and so much more. So yes, the topics are tough. But the powerful way Vasquez-Lavado tells her story will keep you breathless and turning the pages.
I picked this book up mostly because I have an obsession with Mt. Everest and books about climbing it. And although this book bounces between chapters on the journey to/on Everest and the author’s life between youth and young adulthood, this is not a “hiking stories” book alone.
The power in the worlds that Vasquez-Lavado uses as she shares the stories not only of her own life - which are haunting- but those of the women she leads to Base Camp as part of her journey on to Everest are palpable. I loved (and sometimes hated, simultaneously) every single page.
This is also a story about mothers, and the parallels between them. I’ll leave it to you to read the book and see them for yourself.
I cried, I raged, and I loved through every bit of this. This memoir will stay with me forever.
But prepare yourself, because this book is anything but easy. Within these pages, we read about loss, death, rape, child sex abuse, emotional trauma, child sex trafficking, discrimination (against LBGTQIA in particular), racism, and so much more. So yes, the topics are tough. But the powerful way Vasquez-Lavado tells her story will keep you breathless and turning the pages.
I picked this book up mostly because I have an obsession with Mt. Everest and books about climbing it. And although this book bounces between chapters on the journey to/on Everest and the author’s life between youth and young adulthood, this is not a “hiking stories” book alone.
The power in the worlds that Vasquez-Lavado uses as she shares the stories not only of her own life - which are haunting- but those of the women she leads to Base Camp as part of her journey on to Everest are palpable. I loved (and sometimes hated, simultaneously) every single page.
This is also a story about mothers, and the parallels between them. I’ll leave it to you to read the book and see them for yourself.
I cried, I raged, and I loved through every bit of this. This memoir will stay with me forever.
February 1, 2023
The way that Silvia translates trauma into a story of hope in her memoire is at least to say inspiring. I would almost compliment her on the way which she so vividly describes what she has been through and how she uses metaphors - in the shadow of the mountain being the most obvious one - beautifully, completely forgetting the fact that this is a memoire and everything she described has actually happened to her. How she is able to put things into perspective and take comfort in her religion shows how brave she is. Still, it needs to be said that her writing is incredible.
In her memoire, Silvia is extremely vulnerable and lays bare her whole soul. It was hard for me to put the book away, I really enjoyed reading it and I am sure that I will be giving it a second read someday.
In her memoire, Silvia is extremely vulnerable and lays bare her whole soul. It was hard for me to put the book away, I really enjoyed reading it and I am sure that I will be giving it a second read someday.
February 12, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive a physical copy of this from Henry Holt and the audio from Libro.fm and split time between them. This is definitely an emotional read and written with such raw openness and honesty while diving into some very difficult subjects. It alternates chapters between Sylvia’s past and her time climbing Mt. Everest. It’s a story of healing, strength and hope, as heartbreaking as it is inspirational. I’ve included trigger warnings in the comments, but highly encourage you to pick this one up when you are looking for a powerful memoir. This is being developed into a film starring Selena Gomez and I can’t wait to see it!
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February 21, 2022I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I enjoy reading memoirs and find them very inspiring.
I apologize to the author of this book.
I know she was sharing her deepest pain, but I just. Couldn’t. Keep. Reading.
Climbing Everest at the start had me on edge, as falling from a great height is one of my deep fears.
When Silvia’s childhood story was unfolding, I had to stop reading.
A courageous author trying to be read by a not so courageous reader.
I enjoy reading memoirs and find them very inspiring.
I apologize to the author of this book.
I know she was sharing her deepest pain, but I just. Couldn’t. Keep. Reading.
Climbing Everest at the start had me on edge, as falling from a great height is one of my deep fears.
When Silvia’s childhood story was unfolding, I had to stop reading.
A courageous author trying to be read by a not so courageous reader.
February 22, 2023
Gdyby Silvia opowiadała jedynie o górach, swojej miłości do nich i wysiłku, który uczucie to kosztuje... Wtedy już byłaby to dobra książka. Autorka daje czytelnikowi jednak znacznie więcej. W końcu to historia o jej życiu, o dorastaniu w ogarniętym chaosem państwie i trudnej relacji z ojcem, o byciu obcym w nowym miejscu, ukrywaniu swojej seksualności i traumie z dzieciństwa. I o innych kobietach, które doświadczyły wiele. Rewelacyjny tytuł, choć nie należy do lektur łatwych.
January 19, 2023
This is a raw and vulnerable memoir. It was a good memoir to read at the beginning of the year, that's for sure. Because you will gain your own sense of strength to overcome pretty much anything, as she shares how she overcame (or learned to live with) her own shadows. And as she describes her feat to climb Everest.
As she tells her story of climbing Everest, she tells the story of her life, as well. But fair warning, this memoir is not for the faint of heart. It is INTENSE. But I loved that about this memoir. She doesn't hold back and really tells the most monumental moments in her life, most of which aren't easy to relive let alone admit to another person. I respect her for that.
[Note: There are a lot of mentions of child abuse, sexual abuse, and alcohol abuse in this book.]
The only reason why I didn't rate this memoir five stars had to do with the book's format and style. I found the dual narratives of past and present hard to follow at times, and they didn't always flow into one another seamlessly and weren't always related in a way that allowed the overall narrative of the memoir to flow. I wish the dual narratives were either separated by chapters or that each chapter started with a flashback OR Everest narrative, consistently throughout the book.
As she tells her story of climbing Everest, she tells the story of her life, as well. But fair warning, this memoir is not for the faint of heart. It is INTENSE. But I loved that about this memoir. She doesn't hold back and really tells the most monumental moments in her life, most of which aren't easy to relive let alone admit to another person. I respect her for that.
[Note: There are a lot of mentions of child abuse, sexual abuse, and alcohol abuse in this book.]
The only reason why I didn't rate this memoir five stars had to do with the book's format and style. I found the dual narratives of past and present hard to follow at times, and they didn't always flow into one another seamlessly and weren't always related in a way that allowed the overall narrative of the memoir to flow. I wish the dual narratives were either separated by chapters or that each chapter started with a flashback OR Everest narrative, consistently throughout the book.
January 31, 2023
This is about so much more than just climbing Everest. Listening to Silvia recount some of her trauma was honestly difficult at times, but that was also what made her story so powerful.
July 6, 2024
Ik verwachtte een boek over bergbeklimmen (een van mijn favoriete onderwerpen) maar dit boek gaat - behalve over een beklimming van de Everest - eigenlijk over iets heel anders, namelijk het helen van een trauma. Mooi verhaal, maar niet waar ik naar op zoek was.
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January 23, 2023I'm opting not to leave a rating for this book. Memoirs are always tough to rate, because what can I take issue with? I didn't like the characters -- well the author didn't have much say in that. Same is true for plot, her story is her story. But it really didn't work for me.
December 17, 2022
I don’t even know where to begin with this. It was everything. Unlike the men who climb Everest and the world’s other highest summits to conquer them, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado discovered climbing could be a way for her to heal from trauma. Using many of Bessel van der Kolk’s teachings from “The Body Keeps the Score,” the author goes back and forth between her early life and her Everest attempt in 2016 (which involves both her own summit push as well as her experience leading young survivors of sexual violence on a trek to base camp), tying together her experiences and growth to everything she still has left to learn.
My love for this is definitely helped by my connection to the material, both in terms of the overall themes but then also in little things here and there that had me like, are you in my head?! My therapist laughed at me once (in a fun way, don’t worry) when she was like “how do you relax?” and I said “spreadsheets” as if it is a very normal thing to keep multiple Excel files and Google Sheets with tens of thousands of lines of information about things, because there’s something about being able to just zone out of life via hardcore data entry that feels both productive and also calming. The author here refers to using spreadsheets as her way to keep calm on multiple occasions, and I was so excited for someone else in the world to share this weird ritual. I also really connected to how she talks about sleep, and needing to push past the point of physical exhaustion just to turn your brain off, and both her description of this and her revelation as to why this is hit me super hard. Anyway, SPREADSHEETS AND DATA ENTRY ARE THE SAME AS MEDITATION! There were lots of these little things sprinkled throughout that just stopped me in my tracks as I either understood something new about myself or could put the author’s very eloquent words to a feeling I had never been able to articulate. Also, when she leaves a certain picture at the summit with "Mother" I choke-sobbed in a way I truly didn't know I was capable of. I just don't know what to say.
I’ve only rarely come across books that have grabbed me and pulled me in the way this one did. I picked it up because I am an Everest junkie and love reading about climbers’ journeys and struggles and triumphs, but this one was all of that and a million things more. I devoured it in one sitting, and it will stay with me for a very long time.
My love for this is definitely helped by my connection to the material, both in terms of the overall themes but then also in little things here and there that had me like, are you in my head?! My therapist laughed at me once (in a fun way, don’t worry) when she was like “how do you relax?” and I said “spreadsheets” as if it is a very normal thing to keep multiple Excel files and Google Sheets with tens of thousands of lines of information about things, because there’s something about being able to just zone out of life via hardcore data entry that feels both productive and also calming. The author here refers to using spreadsheets as her way to keep calm on multiple occasions, and I was so excited for someone else in the world to share this weird ritual. I also really connected to how she talks about sleep, and needing to push past the point of physical exhaustion just to turn your brain off, and both her description of this and her revelation as to why this is hit me super hard. Anyway, SPREADSHEETS AND DATA ENTRY ARE THE SAME AS MEDITATION! There were lots of these little things sprinkled throughout that just stopped me in my tracks as I either understood something new about myself or could put the author’s very eloquent words to a feeling I had never been able to articulate. Also, when she leaves a certain picture at the summit with "Mother" I choke-sobbed in a way I truly didn't know I was capable of. I just don't know what to say.
I’ve only rarely come across books that have grabbed me and pulled me in the way this one did. I picked it up because I am an Everest junkie and love reading about climbers’ journeys and struggles and triumphs, but this one was all of that and a million things more. I devoured it in one sitting, and it will stay with me for a very long time.
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