Book Review: Holding Fast

Title: Holding Fast: The Untold Story of the Mount Hood Tragedy

Author: Karen James

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1595551751

Holding Fast tells the story of Kelly James from the perspective of his wife, Karen. In December 2006, three men meet in Oregon near Mount Hood. There plan was very simple- to climb the mountain. Believing they had prepared for everything, they set out on their climb. They were climbing Mount Hood to prepare them for climbing Mount Everest. Little did they realize what lay in store for them at the top of this viscious mountain.

Karen James leads the reader through the ups and downs that accompanied the rescue attempts. She expresses in great detail the hope and the anguish that she, her family and the families of the two other climbers faced. She reveals the minutest of feelings and thoughts as they rushed through this horrendous ordeal.

Although you already know the outcome, you are right there with the author hoping beyond hope that a miracle will occur and the three men will be rescued. While the final result is less than hoped for (they don't survive the climb), the love that the author has for her husband comes alive on each and every page.

Pros: This is a story that will touch you deeply as it sheds light on the pain that is felt with the loss of a loved one.

Cons: For a "Christian" book, I found the somewhat liberal use of profanity to be distasteful (even if it was bleeped out).