Eight Feet in the Andes: Travels with a Mule in Unknown Peru

This book has some flaws, but I still love it. The narrative was a little dull at first, and some of the observations about Peruvians - from a person just passing through the culture, who speaks neither Spanish nor Quechu - felt ill mannered at the least. However, I do grant some leeway to Dervla Murphy, who was born in the 1930s.What's great about the book? Well, how can you not enjoy the travel journal of a slightly mad genderqueer Irish mother in her late forties, who transverses the entire chain of the Peruvian Andes by foot during a severe drought, and whose two greatest daily preoccupations are (a) finding enough beer and (b) finding alfalfa for her mule? How can you not enjoy the erstwhile 10 year old Rachael, Dervla's long-suffering daughter, who is apparently cheerful and game for anything? The whole adventure is a refreshing change from today's constant parental whining and anxiety.

Be prepared to step outside your comfort zone, to fall in love with a little girl mule, admire a little Irish human, and be amazed at the brave, maybe foolish Mom. They trek a thousand miles over the Andes. I have to say, as a protective Mom, I was dismayed at this woman for taking her 9 year old daughter along. BUT when I Read what she writes, about her adventures, reactions, I realize this Mom has given this little girl a precious gift. I hope they both continue to write, and I am going to find everything they have written. They are both now, well, my Heroes. Read this book.

SHE IS NUTZ!!!.......There is something truly refreshing about a 47 year old discovering a grassy slope or knoll ...and compelled to turn somersaults. Yes itz true..this girl is delightfully crazy..and she puts her craziness to work in wonderful employ. Handy with a pen and tough as army boots she sets off anywhere it seems...and has a wow of a time...she is over 80 years old now and what an extraordinary life she hath lived. Hard to believe at times is her unfailing self belief...she sallies forth undaunted into unknown terrain. Her robust build helps for sure but this girl is almost fearless..which is where the lines are blurred somewhat...if she is mad or just very brave matters little. This is worth all of 5 stars coz' itz just unique.

It got awfully long, but the writing is excellent. I wonder why anyone would be so masochistic and it seems cruel for her to put her daughter through all that. She should have been arrested for child abuse and endangerment. The mule got the best part of the trip. I'd like to meet Derv's daughter---she must be the best sport in the world. Dervla would get the prize for being the most egocentric.

This is the second of Dervla Murphy's books that I have read. She travels with her young daughter in both of them. She travels very "rough" with few supplies, and depends on the kindness of people she meets along the way. While this seems very dangerous to me, especially with a nine-year-old daughter in this case, it seems to work for her.

I don't know where this woman got the guts and nerve to do this walk but I loved the book. She has written a lot more books and I will be reading as many as I can.

I have very much enjoyed all of her books, but this might be my favorite. I tend to argue political/philosophical perspective as I follow Ms. Murphy on her adventures, but the presence of her young daughter seems to temper that aspect of her somewhat and she spends more time on landscape and immediate situations in this book.

Dervla Murphy, her 9 year old daughter, and a mule walking through Peru makes for great reading. Her encounters with the native Peruvians and her accounts make for worthwhile reading. I am looking forward to read more of her travel books.

I bought this book just before leaving England to spend two weeks in Peru, travelling in luxury compared with Dervla and Rachel's experiences. I was completely absorbed by Dervla's writing. Although I was travelling in 2011 and in luxury, the history, geography and general feel of Peru as so admirably drawn by Dervla, helped me to put into context what I was seeing and experiencing. If you plan to visit Peru (and finances permitting, why would you not?) then please read this book. My visit to Peru was enhanced by the information conveyed by the book, with humour and modesty, and also with erudition and compassion.

I found it very pedestrian in tempo. Hardly surprising when taking into account the author's age and distance travelled . Wow.

Amazing book, just shows what determination and true grit can doWell done Devla and RachelGlad Juana went to a good home

A really enjoyable book although how Dervla managed the trek with just her trusty mule and young daughter is quite beyond me. I bought the book as we are shortly off to Peru but I fear the country she describes will not be on our (probably a bit touristy) itinerary.A great read, well written and Dervla Murphy and Rachel have my undying respect. I shall read more of her travels.

It was my second time to read this great book. As I hope to go trekking in the Andes in May I needed to remember in particular the heroism of Dervla's little daughter Rachel, and the enthusiasm of Dervla herself. it is one of Dervla's best; vivid, engaging and thoughtful, but also suspenseful and thrilling as some of the terrain travelled sound entirely unpassable. What we call solo travel nowadays doesn't touch this. The real deal. Bravo.