Can you recommend a good survival story?

Question

I love reading survival stories; they are some of my favorite. Can anyone recommend any good ones? (For adults) I like stories about surviving in the wilderness, stranded on an island, end of the world, run for your life, alien invasions, deadly disasters, survival in just about every aspect. This has been my favorite since I was a kid and read Robinson Crusoe, The Swiss Family Robinsons, and The Hatchet.

Also if anyone has movie suggestions in these same type of genres. I would really appreciate it! I seem to have watched them all!

Zanzibar
I started reading those when I was 7! I'm 24 now! :) The BoxCar Children will always have a special place in my heart!

Great ideas everyone! Please keep them coming! I read a book a week so I can use all the suggestions I can get!

Deep Impact and Day After Tomorrow are my two favorite movies! Along with Blue Lagoon!

Answer 1

"Into the Forest" by Jean Hegland. It's a beautiful story about 2 teenage sisters who must survive on their own after a catastrophic event cuts them off from civilization.
"Woodswoman" by Anne LaBastille. Memoir of a woman who chooses to single-handedly fend for herself in the wilds of the Adirondacks.

Answer 2

With every day pass, our country is getting into more and more trouble. The inflation, unemployment and falling value of dollar are the main concern for our Government but authorities are just sleeping, they don’t want to face the fact. Media is also involve in it, they are force to stop showing the real economic situation to the people. I start getting more concern about my future as well as my family after watching the response of our Government for the people that affected by hurricane Katrina.

According to recent studies made by World Bank, the coming crisis will be far worse than initially predicted. So if you're already preparing for the crisis (or haven't started yet) make sure you watch this video at http://www.familysurvival.tv and discover the 4 BIG issues you'll have to deal with when the crisis hits, and how to solve them fast (before the disaster strikes your town!) without spending $1,000s on overrated items and useless survival books.

Answer 3

When you save a feeder mouse, you're just supporting the mills and stores that support live feeding and neglectful care practices. It's no better than buying a puppy that came from a puppy mill. By doing that, you're subtly telling them, "Mice are selling good, so I need to produce more mice." This brings in more neglected and poorly bred mice into the world. Although, you will make a world of difference to the individual mouse. Generally, you'll have no luck raising a pinky. They need to be fed frequently at odd hours, and thrive on the interaction of a mother mouse. Buy a small, weaned mouse instead. Even better, check your local animal shelter. They often have a few mice sitting around. Then you'll really be saving an animal.

Answer 4

Read about Sir Ernest Shackleton and his incredible survival in Antarctica. There are several books that are excellent. This is one of the most astounding survival stories of all time.

Another really interesting one is the survival of some airplane crash survivors in the Andes. Title is "Alive."

Another that you may not know about is related to the Cain Mutiny. Captain Bligh sailed thousands of miles in a life boat back to England. A lot has been written on this. Check out the web page for Pitcairn Island for some interesting comments by present day descendants of the mutiny.

Answer 5

Miracle in the Andes, by Nando Parrado, about a South American soccer team whose plane crashes in the Andes and aren't rescued for over 70 days. (nonfiction but reads like a novel).

I assume you've seen Deep Impact and The Day After Tomorrow? Those are two of my favorite disaster-survival movies.

Answer 6

You would really enjoy "I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree" by Laura Hillman. She wrote this recently, when she was in her 80s -- it took her that long to be able to summon the emotional strength to tell her story of surviving the Holocaust. It's a marvelous book. She was on Schindler's list and escaped with his help. I had the pleasure of hearing her speak about a year ago -- she is a luminous and saintly woman, with great strength and compassion. Not only is it her story of physical survival in the death camp, but of great spiritual survival because to this day, as an elderly woman, she exhibits tremendous wisdom, peace, and compassion. Good luck!

Answer 7

Island of the Blue Dolphins (don't know who it's by) is very
interesting
about a girl who winds up all alone on an island and has to survive on her own, sounds like what you described

Have you ever read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson? Excellent!!!
trivia--- When Robert Louis Stevenson died, he willed his birthday to his friend because her birthday was Christmas so she always said she didn't have a birthday.
I love that!

Answer 8

Here is a book that will amuse you but it will also convince you that people always do survive after death. People who died are alive and talking through a medium to relatives and friends still here, all through this book. Never worry about loved ones going out of existence again! They don't die like you've thought. Learn the truth!We Don't Die Joel Martin & Patricia Romanowski/ G.P.Putnam's Sons, New York,200 Madison Av. NY,NY 10016

Answer 9

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Survival Antarctica: Reality TV 2083 by Andrea White

Answer 10

The Boxcar Children...lol! Probably not what you were looking for, but it's a survival story. I like stories like that, too, though... so hopefully someone else has some better suggestions.