Awe-inspiring and deep this is an absolute pleasure to read.

On the surface it's about an Everest climb but underneath it's a life story, raw and emotional. It can be triggering at times but this is a book that everyone should read.

Told in alternating timelines, In the Shadow of the Mountain illustrates how Vasquez-Lavado’s traumatic experiences impacted her throughout her life, from her childhood in Peru, to her tech start-up life in San Francisco, to the top of Mount Everest. This format so beautifully shows the constant connection to one’s inner child, although sometimes I did get confused about exactly when certain things happened. But upon finishing the book, I realized that doesn’t really matter. Sylvia’s mother (Theresa), the love of her life (Lori), and her childhood self in her blue track suit are always with her, and always part of her. Their stories are inspiring, heartbreaking, and true examples of resilience, determination, and hope.

finished halfway. i enjoyed Silvia’s history but it was kind of long winded and everywhere. the structure for me kind of took me out of it. it didn’t need to be chronological but i wanted less of the mountain and more of her history and how she got the point of the mountain and her relationship with climbing.

“We do not conquer Everest, just like we do not conquer trauma. Instead, we must yield ourselves to the chasms and unexpected avalanches. Trust in the long, unknowable journey of the climb”

This was a hard but beautiful read. Will stay with me for a long time. It’s cathartic when Silvia reaches the summit and I felt the weight of her journey through the pages.

4.999999 - I had to set the book down at times because of some of the triggers and the emotions this book puts on you and I lost momentum 75% of the way through and then recovered but that’s the only reason it’s not a five star read