Welcome back everyone, this is my last review for the year! OMG! And I’m leaving you with a review that (I hope) will having you running for the bookstore!
Like most people in the world I was following the rescue of 13 Thais from a flooded gave in June/July of 2018. Unfortunately, I’m not very good at following the news and got side-tracked by a whole lot of stuff happening in the Banking Royal Commission in Australia at the time. Other than knowing they got them out I didn’t know what ended up happening.
When I heard Dr Harry (Aussie’s, not to be confused with Dr Harry from Harry’s Practice) talking about his book on The Project it sounded fascinating. Hearing him talk about a couple of his experiences had me going “I have to read that!” The next day when I realised that’d be a great book to use as my final review for the year, the slot I had reserved for a male Aussie author, I just went ahead and bought it.
I’m gonna say it. Best decision ever!
From the moment I started reading the book I could feel both Harry’s and Craig’s personalities in every word I was reading. I could imagine the looks and the tones of voices being used. All of these came together to make me feel like I was right there in the cave with them.
A few times (ok, maybe more than a few times) I forgot that they all made it out alive, so when Harry was describing the issues they were facing (especially when diving them out) I honestly started worrying that they wouldn’t make it. Then I had that realisation that I’d had a blonde moment since this happened in real life and they actually did all make it out alive.
I take that as a testament to the writing and editing skills of all involved that in moments, I was so completely lost in what was happening I forgot the final outcome.
I also found myself pissing myself laughing at some of their antics and Harry’s thoughts. His sense of humour totally aligns with mine and I loved it. Then I’d have this moment where I go “I’m laughing while reading a book about an event that could have ended tragically, have some respect for what they all went through.” Then I’d remember what I’d just read and laugh again.
Some other points that I think really made this book was the way Harry and Craig gave us the truth compared to the media stories. How Elon Musk was brought up and scoffed at. And the inclusions of little facts about every boy, and Ekk, as they were getting them out made them real to me as I was reading about them getting out.
I’m not a crier, yet I found myself tearing up in happiness, sadness and in empathy of what they all went through so much. Whenever this happened, I had to take a moment and remind myself that it was a happy ending and it was ok.
Before finishing this book, I’d recommended it to two people and had been telling my partner what was happening as I went. One of the people I told bought it straight away and the other one said they’d buy it coz them and their husband would probably love it.
SO GO AND BUY IT, AND READ IT NOW!!!
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this review, next week I will be doing my December Wrap Up, but I might do a Christmas post as well… Undecided at the moment. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, whatever greeting is appropriate for you I’m sending that your way!
4 Replies to “Against All Odds – Craig Challen and Richard Harris”
Yay for the final review of the year being able to be such a good one because it was such a fun read! It sounds like this one was so informative, but at the same time it was never boring because their personalities shone through and that it was so funny at moments too. Great review x
Olivia-S @ Olivia’s Catastrophe
That was definitely the case! It’s so great when their personalities come through like they did. I honestly felt like I could just hang out with these guys and have a great time based on what I read.
Great review! I remember following this in the news. Sounds like a great book.
I’m sure I sound like a lion. But I honestly think people should read this! It was SOOOO much better than I thought it’d be!