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The Calling: A Life Rocked by Mountains Hardcover – October 7, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Blanchard writes as the young alpinist climbed: passionately, full of heart. These stories are raw and superbly entertaining. Blanchard chronicles the “I hurt, therefore I am” era of mountain climbing. Steve House, alpinist, author, Training for the New Alpinism and Beyond the Mountain
Blanchard describes the essence of an era when climbing was dangerous and sex was safe. Like listening to classic rock music, Barry’s writing is just something I couldn’t stop reading; it makes me feel good. Keep rockin’. Marko Prezelj, alpinist, photographer
Blanchard is a great storyteller, and through his vivid characters and dramatic adventures he takes us on a journey through his early climbs in the Canadian Rockies to his later alpine-style ascents in the Himalaya. It’s a compelling book – I couldn’t put it down. – Steve Swenson, alpinist
Told through raw dialogue and striking images, what shines throughout is the respect and love Barry bears for his climbing partners. For Barry, sharing a rope on a mountain is emblematic of a deeply lived friendship. – Raphael Slawinski, alpinist
Conservative librarians are going to hate this book. The rest of us will love it. Sex (first time), drugs, (oxygen deprivation and others) and rock and roll (OK, more punk than pure rock, but definitely full volume), all against a backdrop of hard climbing on the world's wildest peaks. This is a story of brothers putting it all out there together, to a soundtrack of full-bore punk, sex and wild mountains. – Will Gadd, climber, host of documentary series Fearless Planet
Blanchard describes the essence of an era when climbing was dangerous and sex was safe. Like listening to classic rock music, Barry’s writing is just something I couldn’t stop reading; it makes me feel good. Keep rockin’. Marko Prezelj, alpinist, photographer
Blanchard is a great storyteller, and through his vivid characters and dramatic adventures he takes us on a journey through his early climbs in the Canadian Rockies to his later alpine-style ascents in the Himalaya. It’s a compelling book – I couldn’t put it down. – Steve Swenson, alpinist
Told through raw dialogue and striking images, what shines throughout is the respect and love Barry bears for his climbing partners. For Barry, sharing a rope on a mountain is emblematic of a deeply lived friendship. – Raphael Slawinski, alpinist
Conservative librarians are going to hate this book. The rest of us will love it. Sex (first time), drugs, (oxygen deprivation and others) and rock and roll (OK, more punk than pure rock, but definitely full volume), all against a backdrop of hard climbing on the world's wildest peaks. This is a story of brothers putting it all out there together, to a soundtrack of full-bore punk, sex and wild mountains. – Will Gadd, climber, host of documentary series Fearless Planet
About the Author
Barry Blanchard is one of North America's top alpinists, noted for pushing the standards of highly technical, high-risk alpine climbing in the Canadian Rockies and the Himalayas. Blanchard is a Patagonia Ambassador. He lives in Calgary, Alberta.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
Blackthorne
on September 19, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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This is the kind of climbing book that I can heartily recommend to my non-climber friends (unlike the other 90% of them). Blanchard is a master story-teller, and wraps up lessons learned in the mountains together with lessons learned in life, all told with a compelling edge-of-your-seat style. Everyone will relate to the pedal to the metal lifestyle, which could have been in any context. The stage just happened to be set in the mountains for Blanchard. And what a grand stage it is.
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By
Seth Horowitz
on October 13, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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This book starts out like a James Bond movie starts out. Visually exciting, heart pounding with some funny touches. It only gets better from there. Whether you are a climber or not, this is a page turner. Barry is quite the author.
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