Book Review: A Change in Altitude: A Novel by Anita Shreve (156)

A Change in Altitude: A Novel by Anita Shreve

Product Description

Margaret and Patrick have been married just a few months when they set off on what they hope will be a great adventure-a year living in Kenya. Margaret quickly realizes there is a great deal she doesn’t know about the complex mores of her new home, and about her own husband. A British couple invites the newlyweds to join on a climbing expedition to Mount Kenya, and they eagerly agree. But during their harrowing ascent, a horrific accident occurs. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Margaret struggles to understand what happened on the mountain and how these events have transformed her and her marriage, perhaps forever.A Change in Altitude illuminates the inner landscape of a couple, the irrevocable impact of tragedy, and the elusive nature of forgiveness. With stunning language and striking emotional intensity, Anita Shreve transports us to the exotic panoramas of Africa and into the core of our most intimate relationships.

About the Author

Anita Shreve is the acclaimed author of 14 previous novels, including Testimony; The Pilot’s Wife, which was a selection of Oprah’s Book Club; and The Weight of Water, which was a finalist for England’s Orange prize. She lives in Massachusetts. http://www.anitashreve.com/

Product Details
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (September 22, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316020702
ISBN-13: 978-0316020701

I wasn’t too enthralled while reading this, but once I put it down, I realized what a wonderful story it is. Anita Shreve’s books are alway sublime and I never comprehend the real meaning until I read the last page. This would be a wonderful book for a book group since there are so many angles of the tale that can be discussed. The characters are all too human and the author does a good job of painting the details of each character. The only thing that bothered me was that a couple just completely dropped out of the story, but like real life, that occurs to everyone as well.