Perspective

Alive is written from a detached perspective. From the sections titled Dedication and Acknowledgments the reader is aware that the book was a collaboration of sorts. The author, Paul Read, thoroughly researched the events and directly contacted the survivors to hear their stories. Read incorporates conversations among the survivors as well as talk among the parents during their search. While some of the chatter might have come from the recollections of those involved, it is likely that some dialogue was created. This is not said to minimize the validity of the dialog in the story. Indeed these discussions were important in portraying the interrelationships and feelings among the many characters. The author admits that he was given free reign when writing and resisted the temptation to fictionalize the story, but the book is not truly biographical. Read's purpose in writing this book, and the survivors' reason for cooperating...