Could not finish

Narrator lacks depth when reading as in same tone. Way, way to much detailed information using metaphors and Exaggeration. I think with the right narrator it could have been a lot better as the story line is there. Could not finish!

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3 people found this helpful

Couldn’t stop listening ... fan of those adventure!

I have always been interested in wild adventure but never had the guts to do so... some people are saying there are too much details but for me, I felt like I was living the adventure with them.

It took me a few minutes to get used to the tone of the reader and sometimes you can hear the cuts in the recording but that’s not really bothering.

What a story of courage and resilience!

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3 people found this helpful

I felt like I was there with him

Surprisingly well written with a good pace, and excellent first-hand account of obviously beautiful places and challenging environments. Well worth the listen.

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Bearbait

As a fellow grizzly bear mauling survivor, this story brought back so many memories. The authors description of his brief, violent encounter was super realistic and accurate.

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Beautifully written

Yes the narration is a bit monotone but the story is one of courage and compassion. I loved it!

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Bearly Got Through It.

Yes, the narration really is as bad as others suggest. One would think that a person reading their own book of their own experience would have a very good understanding of the tone that is intended. To give the sense of excitement, of danger, of pain, to really put the listener in that moment. But no, there is none of that. He is monotone, and not in any way excitable. Like if you had to do inventory in a warehouse and read the report to your boss at the end of each day, this is the voice you would use to read that report at the end of the week. It's not simply poor, it is really, really, really bad.

(Spoilers ahead)
If you can get past the narration, which is a challenge all by itself, then you are left with what feels like a millennial survival story. Alex, I am not putting you down on this part. You went through a horrifying event and I cannot imagine going through such an experience. I am certain that I would be traumatized for the rest of my life, and I think writing a book was a very good idea. That being said, it was not the type of survival book that I thought it would be. The author was able to walk away from the attack on his own. He had a group of people with him. They were in a very remote area, but they had a satellite phone and were able to communicate with the outside world (including a doctor). They had first aid supplies and food and shelter and transportation. It is a good story to be told, but I thought I would be reading a story that was at another level.

Unless you are deep in meditation, or on a mind altering substance (seriously), I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere. Mawson's Will, Endurance, Labyrinth of Ice, Ada Blackjack, 438 Days and Jungle are all wonderful options.

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great book and even better narration

so happy I came across this book and the incredible journey of survival that Alex was able to overcome.

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Really Enjoyed

An excellent novel. A great account of the adventure these young explorers under took and the harsh reality of being attached by a grizzly bear.

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Amazing!

What a great audiobook. The author, Alex Messenger, narrates it himself. He has such a calm and mesmerizing voice, it was a pleasure to listen to him.

This is the story of Alex Messenger, who - at the age of 17 in 2005 - went on a six-week canoe trip in the Yukon and was attacked by a grizzly bear on the 29th day.

For the first half of the book he takes us through the first four weeks of his canoeing trip. Initially, I thought “seriously, we need to hear about these entire four weeks?” But it’s actually important. Messenger sets the scene perfectly, taking us along with him on this insightful journey. He describes the landscape, flora and fauna of northern Canada. The wilderness there is largely untouched by most except indigenous people. His mesmerizing voice lulls you into a dreamy state as he helps you smell the air and water and makes you feel like you’re with him in the tent or canoe. It is calm, peaceful, beautiful, zen.

So when he is attacked by the grizzly bear, the scene is all the more jarring in its intensity. How does such violence exist in such calm beauty? Messenger makes you feel the bear’s claws, teeth and power. It’s a horrifying scene that had me grimacing in imagined pain and holding my breath at times.

Messenger continues after the bear scene, his voice more intense, less dreamy, definitely ‘in the moment’ as he describes his injuries, the improvised medical care by his teammates and his eventual evacuation by helicopter and subsequent events.

I love survival stories and Messenger’s was excellent. I was impressed by his bravery and resilience during this life-changing event. I appreciated that it wasn’t overly sentimental. I think it was a story perfectly told.

Recommended for people who enjoy wilderness/ survival stories.

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Birding narrator stole the delight of the book.

This was a very interesting story. Unfortunately the narrator was so monotone that it was painful to listen. I found it very miserable to listen to a potentially wonderful story be drawn out with such a boring narration.

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