Blind Descent, Nevada Barr, G P Putnam's Sons, 1998, 341 pp
Nevada Barr's sixth novel featuring park ranger Anna Pigeon is set in New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns. The location is known to the National Park Service as CACA. The area contains two of the most famous caves in the world, one of which, Lechuguilla, now harbors an injured caver who is also a close friend of Anna's.
I have never once in my life had the desire to explore caves. I am not really claustrophobic but I don't like the idea of being underground. Anna, on the other hand, suffers badly from claustrophobia. If it hadn't been her dear friend Frieda lying 800 feet below the surface with a concussion and a broken leg, Anna would have begged off.
Now, having read the book with all of Anna's terror and all the minute details of how to maneuver down and through the cave's passages, I am well assured that staying out of caves is the best decision for me. I also learned that I have missed seeing some of the most beautiful formations in the world but I am fine with that. Nevada Barr's exquisite descriptions and Google will suffice.
The first part of the book tells about the harrowing rescue effort to extract Frieda and is a heartstopping tale of extreme adventure . When Anna learns that the accident might actually have been an attempt on the woman's life, the tension mounts. Which of the caving team did it?
I just cannot reveal any more about the plot without serious spoilers. Once the rescue team and the original exploration team finally get out of Lechuguilla, there is an unfortunate lull in the action. Just as we all caught our breath though, the stakes are kicked up several notches and Anna finally exposes the culprits.
It is hard to imagine how Nevada Barr is going to top this one.
(Blind Descent is available in paperback by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
I love the sound of this one. Nevada Barr portrayed the caves vividly, and from the little you have said you have managed to do so as well. I would like to read the description of those underground caves.
ReplyDeleteRead it and weep! Also be amazed.
DeleteThis was one of the hardest Barr books for me to read, just because of the claustrophobia. Sometimes I had to get up and go outside, just to remind myself that I wasn't really in a cave. The writing was so descriptive that it really was oppressive at times. I remembered all of that a few years later when we actually visited Carlsbad. It is an amazing geological feature and the bats really, really like it!
ReplyDeleteWow! Did you actually go into the caves? I don't care for bats.
DeleteWe went all the way to the bottom of Carlsbad and took the elevator back to the top. I had to battle my demons, much like Anna, to do it, but I'm glad I did. The bats live near the cave's entrance and the stench when you first go in is overpowering and not for a weak stomach, but you're soon past it and there's no smell except for the dampness. The cave has only minimal lighting and rangers along the way constantly reminding you to be quiet, so it is quiet and dark and damp and big. Very, very big.
DeleteYour experience certainly aligns with the book. I am in awe of you that you did it! Thank you so much for your story. "Very, very big." On my.
DeleteHmm nice details in this one. Sounds good. I too can not go in caves due to claustrophobia. I just about passed out in France once in front of an entire group, sigh, but I got out of the entrance just in time. Ha. Those poor kids in Thailand! I can't imagine. Nevada Barr is definitely on a roll.
ReplyDeleteOne of the more interesting comments I have gotten in a while Susan! So no caves for us.
DeleteI read this and a few of her others years ago on vacation in Aruba. It's funny how we sometimes recall the places were when we read something LOL Glad u enjoyed it as well.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the place and the book we read while there become parts of the whole memory. I love that!
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