by Tanis Rideout
It is strange, I don't recall what prompted me to put this book on hold at the library. I don't remember hearing anything about it... perhaps I noticed it in Chapters and just don't recall it.
This is the fictionalized story of the life of George Mallory, who died trying to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The book is told in two parts, one is George's story of the final attempt, and alongside that we get the story and memories of his wife who is sad that he has left her and her children again because of his obsession with that mountain.
The author has done a lot of research including reading the papers and even the letters exchanged between George and Ruth. She has done a wonderful job of telling this story. She does a wonderful job of portraying their lives and relationship. She really gets us into the minds of the two main characters -- especially the maniacal zeal of Mallory to be the one to reach the summit first. Was he too blinded by his desire to make the right decisions at the end? Did the cold affect his ability to think clearly? While we know that the outcome is going to be a bad one, the story leading up to the tragedy is spellbinding. The author has some experience with climbing so she is able to provide great detail as to what the climbers would have faced.
The book is another story that makes you ask why people walk away from a family they love to chase their dreams, face incredible risks. Of course, if some people weren't willing to do this we wouldn't have the discoveries that have been made over the years. But, while it could be said that discovering a new land might be good for the explorer's nation (not usually for the "discovered"), what is gained by someone climbing the highest mountain first? It is certainly a personal accomplishment, but at what cost.... and look at all the lives that have been lost on Everest from other climbers, all the garbage on the mountain.... is it worth it?
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