The Faraway Mountains

Alex, Dan, and Victor, three good friends, embark on the adventure of their lives in the mountains in a local community in Romania. Set during the communist regime, where freedom is restricted and people live in fear of the authorities, these men must fight for their survival. Living in the mountains was daring, and they had different encounters with dangerous animals, faced terrific weather conditions, scary caves, and interesting locals. Alex had always longed to travel out of his homeland, and since he didn’t feel committed to the place, making future plans was difficult, and he lacked stability. He had just broken up with his girlfriend Dana due to his instability, and living in the mountains with his friends was a great way of distracting himself from reality.

Each man had his battle to conquer. Victor was jittery, as he was getting married soon. His father-in-law was a strict man. Dan wanted to be a doctor like his other family members but soon realized the profession was tougher than he imagined. Alex had just gone through a breakup and was frustrated with his inability to explore the West. Therefore, they all needed an escape from their troubles, and the adventurous trip was a way of freeing themselves from their emotions and finding someone who could relate to their struggles.

The three men were resourceful and creative. Despite the challenges they faced, they had a positive attitude and were determined to weather through. The friends were also there to protect each other and support each other when necessary. Their friendship was beautiful because even though they had faced the worst together, they did not let go. The novel also highlighted the challenges of the locals and foreigners during the communist regime. Alex, who had always wanted to travel out of his country, experienced many difficulties in the process. I realized that while chasing your dreams, you could lose connection to some people who matter to you if you have to leave them behind.

The men had distinct personalities but found a way to stick together despite their differences. While reading the novel, I immersed myself in the story and imagined going on those daring adventures with them. For now, I don’t think I am bold enough to climb mountains and pitch a tent there to stay in. The Faraway Mountains by Radu Guiasu is an interesting book with themes of adventure, politics, the search for freedom, and the reality of communist rule.