‘A Change in Altitude’ by Anita Shreve
This is Anita Shreve’s fifteenth book. I previously read and liked all her other books and reviewed Testimony here.
I like Anita Shreve as a writer however this is the first book, I really didn’t care much for. Whilst I read it to the end and was very interested to see how it would actually end, it’s not one of her better ones.
The story is of Margaret and Patrick, newlyweds who set off for a year in Kenya. The year is 1977, with Kenyatta still in power. Margaret realises that there is a lot that she doesn’t know about the culture of this new country, nor indeed about her new husband.
Though with little climbing experience, they eagerly take part in a climbing expedition with friends to the summit of Mount Kenya. During the ascent a horrific accident occurs. The remainder of the book is really the story of Margaret trying to make some sense of the accident which has major repercussions for her and her marriage.
I didn’t like this book because I thought it meandered without any great plot. I felt the story after the incident on the mountain was somewhat disjointed from the earlier part.
My reading of this book wasn’t helped because I actually thought the main character, Margaret was a bit daft, her husband unlikeable, the journalist … whatever.
My ‘rule of thumb’ is to give any book one hundred pages, before I’ll give up on it, if I don’t like it. I was more than happy to read this book to the end, but I wouldn’t be racing to recommend it. Having liked fourteen out of fifteen Anita Shreve books though, I will still be reading her next one, whenever it’s published.
If you haven’t read any of her earlier books, I would recommend them.
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Hi! Lily
I’m not a great reader of fiction but I could be tempted to give Anita Shreve a try.
I wonder if the 50% off was because the book was not a best seller?
I’ve never read Anita Shreve, but I am a major sucker for any book about Africa, especially post-colonial history, so this sounds interesting on paper. Too bad it doesn’t live up to expectations!
(In that line though, I’ve just finished “Half of a yellow sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie… it’s about the Biafran war, loosely, and is really an excellent read…)
Steph, Yes I would recommend Anita Shreve. Her books are always easy to read. I suggest you start with ‘The Pilot’s Wife’
Kirsty, It’s worth reading for the setting alone. I too love books set in different places and different times. Thanks for the recommendation.
Don’t read the Pilot’s Wife if you are nervous of flying and about to head off on a flight though (if I remember correctly!)
I like her books but the few I have read always seem to have an unnecessary death (of a child if I remember) towards the end! Well, that’s my opinion.
Kirsty, I read Half of a Yellow Sun too – thought it brilliant.
Have any of you read any of the Larsson trilogy, I’ve read the first and loved it, daren’t start the second until I have finished all my paperwork cos I know once I start it, I won’t be able to put it down.
PS Loving the recipes Lily plus your opinion on what to add/ take away
Lorna, Maybe the advice should be – don’t marry a transatlantic pilot
My brother also recommended the Larsson trilogy … Reading list growing. Glad hols coming