438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea

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This is an Amazing story of survival. One November 17, 2012 Salvador Alvarenga age 36 and Ezequiel Cordoba age 22 left Costa Azul Mexico in a 25 foot small boat to fish. A storm blew in and pushed the small boat out into the Pacific Ocean. On January 29, 2014 Alvarenga drifted ashore on Ebon, the southern tip of the Marshall Island chain, almost 7000 miles from where he started. Salvador drifted on the ocean current for 438 days. Garbage drifted by some of which he ate and other he found use for such as bottles and barrels to catch water in. There are stories of survival and then there is this story of simply refusing to die. Salvador Alvarenga will forever be the man to tough for the sun to fry and for tough circumstances to thwart. Connor, Tracy (February 4, 2014). " 'Mexican fisherman shore up Marshall Islands castaway's account' ". NBC News . Retrieved February 4, 2014.

438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea

Another unexpected and appreciated surprise for me was that Franklin did not end the story with the rescue, as most authors do. He stayed with Alvarenga as he attempted to readjust to society, both physically and mentally. This is the “rest of the story” that we are usually not given. I also appreciated Mr. Franklin’s deep sympathy and respect for Mr. Alvarenga, which gave the story an emotional impact that is often missing in nonfiction. I can’t imagine a novel exploring the emotional and physical suffering of its hero any deeper than this fine book. Alvarenga believed he didn’t need a doctor to diagnose what was wrong. He was suffering from a yearlong tortilla drought.”

438 Days

This riveting adventure has us in its grip, spellbound and eager to know more about the mysterious Salvador Alvarenga…His story of resilience, ingenuity, and grit is an unforgettable true-life adventure." It was not the magical moment of bonding that either had imagined, but at least it was no longer a fantasy.” I somehow hadn't heard about this! I just stumbled upon the audiobook and I love the narrator(the husby from The Arrangement series lol) and the author. I read Jonathan Franklin's most recent book(co-authored perhaps?) about the COVID cruise debacle and was really impressed. It was one of my favorite nonfiction books of the year. Alvarenga's story was beyond fascinating, but I also really appreciated the interviews with survival psychologist, Dr. John Leach. It was interesting to learn about the ways that humans adapt to these kinds of situations, and what factors might work in someone's favor. For example, being able to create elaborate fantasies to help distract oneself from relentless anxiety and suffering, might mean the difference between life and death. Poladian, Charles (February 3, 2014). "Meet Jose Salvador Alvarenga: Castaway Spent 13 Months Lost At Sea, Survived On Birds And Turtles". International Business Times . Retrieved February 5, 2014.

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They didn’t have enough time to haul in the entire line—instead he would cut it off. He knew it was thousands of dollars’ worth of line and hooks that would float away, with hundreds of dollars’ worth of catch still hooked, but the storm was turning ugly. Alvarenga” He is admittedly a different man. He may be a better man. And Salvador Alvarenga says he is absolutely a grateful man. “I’m happy to be alive. I’m happy to be with my family. I’m proud to be what I am. I am simply glad I’m here.”The best survival book in a decade” ( Outside magazine), 438 Days is the true story of the fisherman who survived fourteen months in a small boat drifting seven thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean. Jonathan Franklin versteht jenes Abenteuer mit Bravour zu erzählen. Das Buch glänzt geradezu mit einem klar und logisch strukturierten Aufbau. Er weiß, was die Leserschaft interessiert und stillt ihre Neugier, ohne Pietät und Takt gegenüber Alvarenga einzubüßen. Seine Erzählweise ist spannend und informativ. So füllt er dessen Erlebnisse mit hilfreichen Hintergrunddaten über Meeresströmungen, charakteristische klimatische Verhältnisse im Pazifik sowie auch medizinische Einschätzungen zu Alvarengas psychischen und physischen Erfahrungen unter diesen extremen Verhältnissen. Tune in to the Radio 2 Arts Show on Friday 27 November to hear an interview with Jonathan Franklin talking about his book. Even now when Alvarenga speaks aloud the number of days he spent on the Pacific Ocean floating in a 25-foot fishing boat without a sail or motor, the number seems too large to comprehend. But he lived through every day of it.

castaway survived 438 days lost at sea | CNN Real-life castaway survived 438 days lost at sea | CNN

We have no anchor,” Alvarenga said. He had noticed it was missing before setting off, but didn’t think he needed it on a deep-sea mission. Alvarenga perfectly describes a process known as "self-mummification" when talking about Ezequiel's death. It's a process that Alvarenga (who could barely read and write) probably didn't have any education on. So despite the odds of it happening to me personally, this is my actual worst nightmare, hence why I chose the book, I have some sort of need to be put completely on edge and scare the shit out of myself. Well done me, because this was accomplished. What this guy and his ship mate endured and for so long is beyond me.Starting out I was a bit worried at first because the earliest chapters seemed a bit dull, and the story wasn’t moving fast enough to suit me. But my fear was unfounded, as the author shortly proved himself a capable storyteller, and it turned into a very good story about a man that I think most people won’t be able to help but like and whose resilience you have to admire.

438 Days by Jonathan Franklin | Waterstones 438 Days by Jonathan Franklin | Waterstones

In the end, it was not a boat, but land that saved Alvarenga. After 438 days of floating on endless water, he saw mountains. When he felt he was close enough, Alvarenga dove into the water, swimming toward what he would later learn was one in the string of the Marshall Islands. The author's youthfulness helps to assure the inevitable comparison with the Anne Frank diary although over and above the sphere of suffering shared, and in this case extended to the death march itself, there is no spiritual or emotional legacy here to offset any reader reluctance. Most sources state that Alvarenga was 37, usually based on his own statements; [3] [4] [5] however, he has been said to be uncertain about whether he is 36 or 37. [6]Thank you for choosing 438 Days as a book to be shared with your many readers. 438 Days is both an easy read and a disturbing look at extreme suffering. The lessons lived by Salvador Alvarenga as he drifted for over a year is the kind of tale that reaches a wide audience. School children and grandparents alike can readily understand the challenges of surviving alone at sea, adrift for months. This is a stunning story. How does a hard-partying, spendthrift illegal immigrant (into Mexico!) who sells his catch for subsistence level pay and has no ambitions actually have the wherewithal to survive so long drifting at sea both physically and mentally?