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Title details for In the Shadow of the Mountain by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado - Available

In the Shadow of the Mountain

A Memoir of Courage

by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado
Silvia Vasquez-Lavado
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available

"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
This audiobook is read by the author.
"Through her narration, Vasquez-Lavado, whose first language is Spanish, conveys a lifetime of warmth, humor and steely determination."- Bookpage
"Complex and compelling, Vasquez-Lavado's quest to heal herself from the deep wounds of patriarchy is also a vibrantly feminist celebration of female resilience."—Kirkus Reviews
"Making history is nothing new for adventurous mountaineer, explorer, entrepreneur, author, and activist Silvia Vasquez-Lavado."—Out Magazine
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 following 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 mountain: 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.
A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    February 1, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781250840097
      • File size: 447589 KB
      • Duration: 15:32:28

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a Latinx heroine for our time. She narrates her journey of self-discovery and mentorship as the leader of a group of novice female climbers to the world's highest base camp on Mount Everest with a zest that is addicting. Vasquez-Lavado draws us in from the first moment of this gripping memoir. For adventurers, this is a familiar story of pushing to higher and higher altitudes, told from a unique angle in a strong feminist voice. Listeners learn of Vasquez-Lavado's hard-won success in the technical world and of her experience hiding her sexuality and a past assault from friends and family. Her journeys--both metaphorical and actual--are spellbinding through her very last chapter. M.R. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      Starred review from September 1, 2022

      Humanitarian and mountaineer Vasquez-Lavado's debut memoir centers on trauma and all the fallout that surrounds it. In this inspirational tale, Vasquez-Lavado tells the story of how mountaineering helped her process the traumatic events that shaped her life, including childhood sexual abuse, destructive alcohol use, and owning her identity as a queer woman. As they immerse themselves in Vasquez-Lavado's piercing narration, listeners will trek alongside the author as she navigates both her life and the peaks she climbs. Vasquez-Lavado's narration is serious and poetic, as she bravely shares details from her harrowing childhood. Above all, however, her message is that healing is possible. This book is described as a "memoir of courage," and courage is certainly an important part of Vasquez-Lavado's story. Even so, listeners may feel that the word "conquer" better captures her spirit, as she proves that she and others like her can conquer their fears, their trauma, and any mountain standing in their way. VERDICT This beautiful and important audio is highly recommended, particularly for listeners seeking stories of empowerment, resilience, and strength.--Anna Clark

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Publisher's Weekly

      November 29, 2021
      As an adult dealing with the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, Vasquez-Lavado looks to the mountains for healing in her triumphant debut memoir. She recounts a trek guiding a group of abuse survivors on a mountain-climbing expedition, finding catharsis together as they share their stories, and immediately afterward setting out to climb Everest. Interspersed with the account of her ascent, chapters cover growing up in an emotionally fraught family in Lima, Peru; being sexually abused for years by a family friend; coming to the U.S. for college; scaling the corporate ladder in Silicon Valley while secretly exploring San Francisco’s queer scene; struggling with alcohol abuse and heartbreak; and finally beginning to confront her buried traumas. Vasquez-Lavado recasts mountaineering, contrary to its macho reputation, as a feminist act: “Everest has many names, but they all mean mother. Sagarmatha—Mother of the Sky; Chomolungma—Mother of the World, stands witness where our own mothers could not.” She concludes, “We do not conquer Everest, just like we do not conquer trauma” but must yield to the “chasms” it opens to cross. Vasquez-Lavado’s story of struggle and survival is elevated by its faith in the power of women’s solidarity. Fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild should take note. Agent: Lara Love, Idea Architects.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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