The Mountain Between Us

A Novel

By: Charles Martin

Narrated by: George Newbern

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

On a stormy winter night, two strangers wait for a flight at the Salt Lake City airport. Ashley Knox is an attractive, successful writer, who is flying East for her much anticipated wedding. Dr. Ben Payne has just wrapped up a medical conference and is also eager to get back East for a slate of surgeries he has scheduled for the following day. When the last outgoing flight is cancelled due to a broken de-icer and a forthcoming storm, Ben finds a charter plane that can take him around the storm and drop him in Denver to catch a connection. And when the pilot says the single engine prop plane can fit one more, if barely, Ben offers the seat to Ashley, knowing that she needs to get back just as urgently. And then the unthinkable happens. The pilot has a heart attack mid-flight, and the plane crashes into the High Uintas Wilderness - one of the largest stretches of harsh and remote land in the United States.

Ben, who has broken ribs and Ashley, who suffers a terrible leg fracture, along with the pilot's dog, are faced with an incredibly harrowing battle to survive. Fortunately, Ben is a medical professional and avid climber. With little hope for rescue, he must nurse Ashley back to health and figure out how they are going to get off the mountain, where the temperature hovers in the teens.

Meanwhile, Ashley soon realizes that the very private Ben has some serious emotional wounds to heal as well. He explains to Ashley that he is separated from his beloved wife, but in a long standing tradition, he faithfully records messages for her on his voice recorder, reflecting on their love affair. As Ashley eavesdrops on Ben's tender words to his estranged wife she comes to fear that when it comes to her own love story, she's just settling. And what's more: she begins to realize that the man she is really attracted to, the man she may love, is Ben.

©2010 Charles Martin (P)2010 Random House

Slow start great finish

This book got off to a slow start and I couldn't buy why anyone in their right mind would want to fly through a storm. Once the adventure started, I couldn't stop. The ending is a bit unbelievable but it works.

Great narration!

I listened to the audiobook version of this which, in this time, I think made it better than reading would have. The narrator did a great job. I can look over the stilted dialogue if the storyline keeps my attention. I was totally enjoying it, listening the entire day, until we got to the ending and it seemed to arc into a church service. Considering the rest of the story, this felt out of place at the very end. This may be one of those situations where the movie adaptation may be better. I have no regrets though and it was a solid listen.

Audible 20 review sweepstakes entry.

Not so sure

The voice was nice, easy to listen to. Good job flipping between characters. The dialogue is a bit simple. Will be interesting to see if it gets smarter for the movie. I'm not much fon lost in the mountains books and still enjoyed it. Spoiler alert. It's not like they were together for a year. Clearly the author never worked on a political campaign or a long court battle. Or maybe even summer camp. Spending 4 weeks with someone surviving and then to think you are in love is predictable and romantic but not so interesting.

Loved it

Great listen with a great narrator. I highly recommend it, you won't be disappointed. Vivid details, with great story telling. Finished listening within 3 and a half days... Didn't want it to end.

So good

I want to see the movie but I am worried it won’t hold a candle to this book! It was so good!!

Couldn’t quit listening!

This was a great story. It definitely had an unexpected ending. This is my second book by this author. Looking forward to a third.

excellent story and narrator

the book is a very good story and the narrator does a wonderful job of bringing the story to life!

Love!

This book is amazing! I can’t explain how good it is other than amazing! Must read!

pretty good

This story does goes back and forth between the present and the narrator's past. At first, that aggravated me. But quickly I got used to it and it all leads to a great story that all comes together at the end. Great story & I really enjoyed the narrator.

Whoa!

OMG! Just finished and words can not even begin to express my feelings, emotions, and SURPRISE ending. Such a GREAT book!