In The Shadow of the Mountain

In the Shadow of the Mountain is a memoir by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado that details her journey to climb Mount Everest and confront the trauma she had experienced as a child. She was inspired to climb by the sheer size of the mountains and the proximity of death.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 06 April 2023
Publisher: Octopus Publishing Group

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a warrior. I'm in awe of her strength and courage. - Selena Gomez

An incredibly powerful story, Sunday Independent

In the Shadow of the Mountain has all the elements a great memoir requires: a strong voice, cinematic prose, a hero to root for - in essence, an extraordinary story about an extraordinary woman's life. - San Francisco Chronicle

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a woman possessed of uncommon strength, rare compassion, and a ferocious stubbornness to not allow the trauma of her childhood to destroy her life. - Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

Powerful - New York Times

YOU DON'T CONQUER A MOUNTAIN. YOU SURRENDER TO IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.

Despite a high-flying career, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado knew she was hanging by a thread. Deep in the throes of alcoholism, and hiding her sexuality from her family, she was repressing the abuse she'd suffered as a child.

When her mother called her home to Peru, she knew something finally had to change. It did.

Silvia began to climb.

Something about the sheer size of the mountains, the vast emptiness, and the nearness of death, woke her up. And then, she took her biggest pain to the biggest mountain: Everest.

The Mother of the World allows few to reach her summit, but Silvia didn't go alone. Trekking with her to Base Camp, were five troubled young women on an odyssey that helped each confront their personal trauma, and whose strength and community propelled Silvia forward.

As they climbed higher and higher, the women formed a deep bond, supporting each other through the challenges and triumphs of their journey. Silvia's determination and resilience inspired them, and they in turn found strength and courage in her.

But their journey was not without its dangers. They faced treacherous terrain, extreme weather conditions, and the physical and emotional toll of climbing such a massive mountain.

Despite these obstacles, they never gave up. They pushed each other to their limits, and their determination and teamwork paid off.

Finally, after months of preparation and training, they reached the summit of Everest. The view was breathtaking, and the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming.

But their journey was not over. They had to descend the mountain safely, and they faced many challenges along the way.

But they never gave up. They relied on each other's strength and support, and they made it down to Base Camp safely.

In the Shadow of the Mountain is a remarkable story of compassion, humility, and strength, inspiring us all to find faith in our own heroism and resilience.

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the human spirit. She faced incredible adversity and trauma in her childhood, but she refused to let it define her. Instead, she used it as fuel to drive her forward and achieve her dreams.

Her story is also a reminder of the importance of community and support. The five young women who joined her on her journey to Everest were each facing their own challenges and demons, but they found strength and courage in each other. Together, they overcame obstacles and achieved something that few people ever do.

In the Shadow of the Mountain is a beautiful and inspiring book that will leave you feeling uplifted and empowered. It is a testament to the human spirit and the power of resilience. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story of hope and inspiration.

Weight: 328g
Dimension: 126 x 198 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913183790