Above All Things

Mar 24, 2013 Jake rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, everest-lit

You don't need to be a mountain climber to get hooked on the subject, especially when it comes to Mount Everest. Three years ago I read Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air and was hooked. Since then I have read seven more books on Everest, followed online coverage each season, and watched a handful of films. However, Above All Things is the first dedicated piece of Everest fiction I have read. Though I was intrigued by author Tanis Rideout's NPR interview plugging the book, it left me suspicious. Her...more You don't need to be a mountain climber to get hooked on the subject, especially when it comes to Mount Everest. Three years ago I read Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air and was hooked. Since then I have read seven more books on Everest, followed online coverage each season, and watched a handful of films. However, Above All Things is the first dedicated piece of Everest fiction I have read. Though I was intrigued by author Tanis Rideout's NPR interview plugging the book, it left me suspicious. Her qualifications, historical knowledge and mountaineering experience, seemed limited.

Nevertheless, I snatched up my public library's copy and gave it a chance. After all, I find the legend of ill-fated George Mallory as engrossing as any fan of Everest literature does. The chance to experience his story as historical fiction, and the story of his wife Ruth, was irresistable. From page one, I was encouraged by Ms. Rideout's narrative style. The delivery is delightfully straightforward and focused.

The novel's major drawback, initially at least, is the choice to limit Ruth Mallory's plotline to a single day. While it affords readers great insight into the plight of loved ones waiting for news, it means much of the story is excruciatingly stationary. Rideout compensates for this with increasing effectiveness as the novel progresses and the characters develop. In particular, she includes a pivotal supporting character named Will. His turbulent bond with George, revealed in flashback, and the exquisite affection he exhibits for Ruth in the present, provide tension and flow to scenes that would otherwise be nothing but relentless waiting.

After a slow start, I read the latter two-thirds of Above All Things in a single day. This is comparable to my experience with other Everest books. Even readers get summit fever. As Rideout and her characters press into situations undocumented by history, she keeps the novel on task by exploring post-war national angst, as well as the competing pulls of familial commitments and personal quests. By her own admission, Rideout takes some significant liberties with the facts but does so for the sake of effective storytelling. Her depiction of the final summit bid is mesmerizing. At any time, this book is on the verge of plummeting into schmaltzy romance. Yet, through good writing, empathetic characters, and with the help of an irresistible legend, Rideout offers up a novel well worth reading.(less)

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May 20, 2013 Kathryn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Three word review: Romantic, disjointed, slow.

While I liked reading Above All Things, I don’t think it’s a stand-out book or one that I will really think much about again. The characters of George and Ruth really held the book together. The narrative felt flaky but the well-developed characters really drove it along and made me want to keep reading. You can really feel the connection between George and Ruth and understand how in love they are. Their children too, have very sweet personalities an...more Three word review: Romantic, disjointed, slow.

While I liked reading Above All Things, I don’t think it’s a stand-out book or one that I will really think much about again. The characters of George and Ruth really held the book together. The narrative felt flaky but the well-developed characters really drove it along and made me want to keep reading. You can really feel the connection between George and Ruth and understand how in love they are. Their children too, have very sweet personalities and George’s climbing team were also very well-written, each with their own distinct nature.

I liked that the chapters alternated between George and Ruth, thus keeping a balance between them. They had separate voices which suited their characters, helped by George talking in third person and Ruth in first. However, I didn’t like how Rideout played with time throughout the book. George went through weeks – maybe months – but Ruth only through one day. This didn’t seem very natural and bugged me, increasingly so as it neared the climax and time felt so uneven.

I also disliked the points in George’s chapters when the narrative switched to George’s climbing partner Sandy. The book, to me, was about love and the intertwined lives of George and Ruth. Sandy felt like an unnecessary third-wheel whose life I didn’t really care about and who seemed to be getting in the way of the supposed hero.

Perhaps my hopes were too high for this book. Reading the synopsis, I felt excited. The 1920s: in my mind a glamourous decade (maybe because I just watched Gatsby). The setting, too, on Everest sounded exciting and adventurous. However, when I read it I couldn’t connect with the story; with George’s expedition. Interspersed every few pages were flashbacks and memories. While these did build complex characters, it also broke the flow of the story, and detracted from the excitement and building tension. I didn’t want random paragraphs of information about their last ten years. I wanted adventure.

As a result of the disjointed narrative, I didn’t feel as though I was on Everest with George, or in Cambridge with Ruth. I think the book would’ve been enriched by Rideout explaining more about how Everest looked and what it was like to be there, so that I could better imagine what George and his team were going through. The detail and factual knowledge were there, just not necessarily in the right places.

Above All Things was readable and enjoyable at the time but didn’t come without its annoyances. I was so desperate to enjoy it, but I couldn’t. It’s worth a read if you’re interested in 1920s culture and history (it seemed pretty factually accurate) but it was nothing amazing. I’m going to give it 54%. Thinking back over it, all my mind says is “it was okay”. Nothing special or exciting.

This review was originally posted on my blog: http://anabundanceofkathryn.blogspot....(less)

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May 16, 2013 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

A Man Obsessed—A Woman Left Guessing
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, its peak rising more than 29,000 feet. In recent years, increasing numbers of adventurers have tried to scale its summit. Professionally outfitted, often accompanied by Sherpa guides, they make the perilous journey up the mountain.
In the 1920s, an elite English gentleman had none of today’s modern conveniences, other than oxygen in his third attempt — his final, and fatal, quest.
“Above All Things,” a novel by...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Ethel Rohan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tanis Rideout’s debut historical novel Above All Things is skillfully and beautifully written.

Charmed readers will be transported back through time and space, placing them right on the slope of treacherous and majestic Mount Everest and right inside the conflicted hearts of these memorable characters.

Above All Things centers on George Mallory, the real-life, handsome, charismatic, obsessed British explorer who made his third and final attempt to climb Mount Everest in 1924. Especially compelling...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

Above All Things by Tanis Rideout is a historical fiction account of George Mallory’s 1924 attempt to climb Mt. Everest. It is still not known if Mallory’s attempt was successful or not.

In 1924 mountaineer George Mallory and his team tried to conquer Mt. Everest, in no small part to give the war weary people of England something to cheer about. Mallory’s wife, Ruth, is at Cambridge, England restlessly awaiting his return from the dangerous expedition.

Above All Things by Tani...more Above All Things by Tanis Rideout is a historical fiction account of George Mallory’s 1924 attempt to climb Mt. Everest. It is still not known if Mallory’s attempt was successful or not.

In 1924 mountaineer George Mallory and his team tried to conquer Mt. Everest, in no small part to give the war weary people of England something to cheer about. Mallory’s wife, Ruth, is at Cambridge, England restlessly awaiting his return from the dangerous expedition.

Above All Things by Tanis Rideout is an excellent novel which moves at two speeds, slow (Ruth Mallory) and fast (George Mallory). Ms. Rideout succeeded in creating an engaging book filled with excellent descriptions and believable characters.

The parts which I found the most fascinating were the climb on Mt. Everest. The author does not romanticized the climb, I could feel the chills, the heaviness and other ailments which come at being at such a high altitude.

Ms. Rideout brilliantly juxtaposes between Mr. Mallory’s celebrated climb and only a day in the life of Mrs. Mallory. You could not help but feel the helplessness of the couple as they missed, craved and thought about each other but were still supportive from afar.

To the acute reader many intricate details are provided without bringing the story to a grinding halt while providing beautiful descriptions of the Everest expedition while going into the mind of the climbers. The story is contrasted with Mr. Mallory’s obsession with the mountain and his family, while being unable to merge them both.

This is an interesting book to discuss, the story is multilayered, the narrative is poetic and the action is exciting. I don’t know much about mountain climbing or Mr. Mallory’s history, but I couldn’t find any glaring mistakes which took away from my enjoyment of the story.

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com (less)

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Mar 08, 2013 Lori Anaple rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, brave-real-shit, people-who-fascinate-me

I went into this book not knowing that it was based upon a true story. I think that added to my enjoyment of it. It has always interested my, this fascination with Everest, and to combine that with the first expeditions, I was hooked.

Juxtaposed in the story are the tales of George who feels the need to conquer the mountain, and his wife. How does one be married to a man that loves not only her but an object? We read their love story positioned with such grace within each of the protagonists. We...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Heather Pearson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: canadian

I have no idea what prompted me to read this book. I have never had an interesting in climbing nor in the history of Mount Everest. I don't even like to climb to the top of a step ladder, but by the time I had finished the first chapter, I didn't want to put Above all Things down. Some how, author Tanis Rideout has brought to life a story that is almost ninety years old. I wanted to race through this book so I could find out what happened and at the same time, I had to keep myself for searching...more I have no idea what prompted me to read this book. I have never had an interesting in climbing nor in the history of Mount Everest. I don't even like to climb to the top of a step ladder, but by the time I had finished the first chapter, I didn't want to put Above all Things down. Some how, author Tanis Rideout has brought to life a story that is almost ninety years old. I wanted to race through this book so I could find out what happened and at the same time, I had to keep myself for searching about George Mallory on the Internet. That would have been cheating.

This is the story of the third attempt by the British in 1924 to scale Mount Everest. George Mallory was part of the team for each of those attempts. Each time he left at home his wife Ruth and their three children.

I was captivated by this fictionalized re-telling. As I was reading, I watched the snow outside my window and shivered knowing that Mallory and his team had endured much worse. I imagined them in their cotton and leather clothing and realized how inadequate their supplies must have been. Poor nutrition and dehydration must have plagued them through the entire adventure.

Several thoughts stuck with me through out the book. First, the nature of a man. What lengths a man would go to in achieving a goal. What price was George willing to pay to be able to stand at the summit of Everest.

Second, the role of the wife, who was expected to stay at home and support what ever it was that the husband chose to do with his life. Was Ruth given any say in what George did.

A third thing that bothered me was that at that time it was thought to be unsporting if the climbers used oxygen bottles. Who would think it unsporting. Was it the climbers themselves or was it those armchair adventurers sitting safely in their clubs in London whose most dangerous endeavour was crossing the street.

I loved this book. I found myself staying up late at night to finish just one more chapter and then another. I will even admit that I was moved to tears during the final chapters.
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Feb 14, 2013 Kacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a story of love. And it's more than the love between two people, though that is a driving force in the novel. It's also the love of exploration, of seeking a glory that will live beyond you. It's wanting to conqueer something "because it's there". Love doesn't have to be logical or easy; oftentimes it's neither of these things. But you still pursue it, because it's worth the fight.

That's what I feel like this story was all about. Ruth and George faced their own battles as they strived fo...more

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Jan 08, 2013 J. Robinson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think this is an absolutely amazing book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The way Rideout juxtaposes the two narratives has an astonishingly powerful effect on each. The novel is set in 1924, and is based on excellent research that must have taken years to compile and then translate into good fiction. One narrative, first person present tense, is Ruth's--George Mallory's wife at home in England tending to domestic life in all its facets, yearning for her husband's return, upset at his lon...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Doreen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: personal-library

This is a book I hesitated to pick up because it is about mountain climbing, a pursuit in which I have no interest. The many positive reviews it has received changed my mind, and I’m so happy I was persuaded. It’s not just about mountain climbing, and it is a wonderful read.

The book tells a fictionalized account of George Mallory’s third attempt to conquer Mount Everest, in 1924. The expedition is described from two points of view: that of George’s and that of the expedition’s least-experienced...more This is a book I hesitated to pick up because it is about mountain climbing, a pursuit in which I have no interest. The many positive reviews it has received changed my mind, and I’m so happy I was persuaded. It’s not just about mountain climbing, and it is a wonderful read.

The book tells a fictionalized account of George Mallory’s third attempt to conquer Mount Everest, in 1924. The expedition is described from two points of view: that of George’s and that of the expedition’s least-experienced climber, Sandy Irvine. The Everest sections are alternated with one day in the life of Ruth, George’s wife, as she waits for word about her husband. The mountain climbing sections kept my attention because the focus is on the men and their thoughts and reactions and not just the physical obstacles encountered. The other half, with its imaginative rendering of “what it would mean to be married to a man like George Mallory” (352), was equally interesting.

Climbing Mount Everest has become an activity for almost anyone with sufficient funds; none of these tourists face the challenges of Mallory and his contemporaries who “willingly endured the discomfort and pain of freezing temperatures and the many dangers of extreme altitudes dressed in little more than Burberry tweeds” (352) at a time when some viewed the use of oxygen tanks as “unsporting” (254). And, unlike Ruth Mallory, the loved ones of modern-day tourists need not wait “for months at a time with nothing but long-delayed letters, delivered by steamer, to soothe [their] worries” (352). At one point Ruth comments, “’The letter. It is weeks old. Everything has already been decided and there’s nothing we can do to change it’” (299), as she copes with the possibility that her husband might not come home.

One aspect of the summit attempt about which I was curious was the question of why the obsession to climb Everest. Mallory once gave the enigmatic response, “’Because it’s there’” (107), but other motivations are suggested. At one point Rideout has Mallory talking about climbing as an escape (130) and the ultimate adrenaline rush: “’Isn’t that part of why we go out there? The fear, the possibility of it all ending? To really feel alive’” (155). As he tries to explain to a doubtful Ruth that the sacrifices involved are worth it, George argues that “’It’s for something greater, Ruth’” (222) and “’A chance to make it up to all of those in the war’” (271). And then there’s the beauty that Irvine describes: “He was enjoying this – the sweep of the mountains around them, the brilliance of the sky. The total silence . . . There was only the sound of his breath. The swish of his boots through the new snow, the crunch of ice below. He thought he understood why George loved mountains. . . . Everything seemed impossibly perfect . . . “ (166). In the end I still didn’t understand why the great desire, but the author’s speculations gave food for thought.

The role of Everest in the relationship between George and Ruth is fascinating. From the opening page it is obvious that Ruth sees herself as competing with the mountain for her husband’s affections as she asks: “’Tell me about this mountain that’s stealing you away from me’” (1). Clearly Ruth’s views of love change because of her husband’s obsession; she observes, “When I was small I imagined love as something safe, something without sharp edges, only the sweeping, enveloping curves of romance and happiness. But it isn’t . . . There are edges and they cut” (177). She even tells George, “’It feels as though we’ve spent more time apart than together . . . That’s not a marriage’” (222). George realizes that his efforts to reach the summit of Everest have had an impact on his relationship, and he thinks that succeeding at his goal will make things right between him and Ruth: “If he came home empty-handed, all the sacrifice would have been for nothing. . . . Ruth had lived for the past five years on the promise that he would reach the summit and then everything would change for them. Disappointing her would break his heart. And Everest would still be there, between them. The great mass of it and the years it had consumed. For nothing. Only claiming the summit could make things right between them” (222 – 223). Was this his ultimate motivation? Yet I found it impossible to imagine that if he had returned, he would have kept his promise never “’to go away again’” (222).

It is George’s character, of course, that is most interesting. He is not an ordinary man; the book jacket describes him as “a man of uncommon athleticism, passion, and ambition” and that is an apt description. He argues that “’Moderation has never led to greatness . . . No, give me a wild temperament’” (153), although others tell him, “’You’re always so damned rash’” (317). Was he selfish and self-centered and a glory hound: “’As long as everything works out in your favour, . . . it doesn’t much matter what happens to anyone else. As long as we’re still there to play the audience to your adventures’” (313)? There is certainly something both admirable and repulsive about someone so single-mindedly determined to achieve a goal.

The book gives one pause to ponder the idea of sacrifice in the pursuit of a goal. Mallory argues that it is “important to risk something if you believed in the end goal” (30), and Sandy’s father tells his son, “’There’s a cost to pay for something worth doing. Anything worth doing. . . . Sacrifice is the watchword’” (64 – 65). Sandy is, however, also given further advice by another expedition member: “’But you have to decide for yourself what price is too high’” (232). At the end of the novel I wondered whether the price paid by Mallory and Irvine was too high. What about the price paid by Ruth and her three children? Mallory thinks that coming home after a failed attempt would mean that “all the sacrifice would have been for nothing” (222), yet he never contemplates what not coming home would mean? And then there’s the question of whether he reached the summit!

I highly recommend this book. It is an indication of the writer’s skill that she kept me entranced throughout, even about a subject in which I had minimal interest and even though I knew the outcome from the very beginning.
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Sep 18, 2012 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Story Description:

McClelland & Stewart Inc.|June 19, 2012|Hardcover|ISBN: 978-0-7710-7635-0

The Paris Wife meets Into Thin Air in this breathtaking debut novel of obsession and divided loyalties, which brilliantly weaves together the harrowing story of George Mallory’s ill-fated 1924 attempt to be the first man to conquer Mount Everest, with that of a single day in the life of his wife as she waits at home in England for news of his return.

A captivating blend of historical fact and imaginati...more Story Description:

McClelland & Stewart Inc.|June 19, 2012|Hardcover|ISBN: 978-0-7710-7635-0

The Paris Wife meets Into Thin Air in this breathtaking debut novel of obsession and divided loyalties, which brilliantly weaves together the harrowing story of George Mallory’s ill-fated 1924 attempt to be the first man to conquer Mount Everest, with that of a single day in the life of his wife as she waits at home in England for news of his return.

A captivating blend of historical fact and imaginative fiction, Above All Things moves seamlessly back and forth between the epic story of Mallory’s legendary final expedition and a heartbreaking account of a day in the life of Ruth Mallory. Through George’s perspective, and that of the newest member of the climbing team, Sandy Irvine, we get an astonishing picture of the terrible risks taken by the men on the treacherous terrain of the Himalaya. But it is through Ruth’s eyes that a complex portrait of a marriage emerges, one forged on the eve of the First World War, shadowed by its losses, and haunted by the ever-present possibility that George might not come home.

Drawing on years of research, this powerful and beautifully written novel is a timeless story of desire, redemption, and the lengths we are willing to go for honour, glory, and love.

My Review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! The alternating chapters between different days of George’s legendary climb and only one day in Ruth’s life was a brilliant concept on Ms. Rideout’s part. The exhilaration, suspense, and gripping writing is amazing. The vivid descriptions of the bone-chilling cold, the cutting wind, and the glaring ice made you feel as if you were there climbing with the group.

I felt a special affinity for Ruth who waited at home in England to hear word from George, a man she loved very deeply. Ruth did not want George to go on this expedition but knew deep in her heart that it was something George just had to do. The call of Everest was just too much for him to resist.

Above All Things would make for an interesting discussion among book club members or just between two friends. There is so much to review in this phenomenal story. I’ll be highly recommending it for sure.

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Aug 01, 2012 Beatrix rated it 4 of 5 stars

Tanis Rideout transforms the real-life story of mountaineer George Mallory into a sweeping fictional account of his final expedition to Mt Everest in 1924. This storyline alternates with chapters told from the perspective of his wife Ruth who is anxiously awaiting his return in London. I liked the concept of this book as it gives you several perspectives to complete the picture of the characters and the historic events.

The chapters chronicling the expedition to Mt Everest work very well that wa...more Tanis Rideout transforms the real-life story of mountaineer George Mallory into a sweeping fictional account of his final expedition to Mt Everest in 1924. This storyline alternates with chapters told from the perspective of his wife Ruth who is anxiously awaiting his return in London. I liked the concept of this book as it gives you several perspectives to complete the picture of the characters and the historic events.

The chapters chronicling the expedition to Mt Everest work very well that way. I could easily envision the challenges and hardships the men encounter - as well as get a better understanding of what drives them to such extremes. In fact, I was often thinking of a movie I saw recently. “Northface” shows a similarly ill-fated expedition to conquer the most difficult approach to the Eiger Northface in the Alps in 1936. Both, Rideout’s book and this movie, not only describe their characters well but also set the mountaineering experience within the social and political context of their time. Flashbacks to earlier experiences complete the picture. The accounts of the hardships on the mountain, the weather with its icy winds, and the endurance and skill required by the explorers, are told in a very gripping way. Yes, we know about the final outcome but still turn each page full of suspense.

I also appreciated the political connections described in this book. A mountaineering expedition such as this one is not just about a group of men who climb mountains. It is an image of their time, a result of the broader historical situation as much as their own personal interests.

I found the chapters written from Ruth’s perspective less successful. The idea of this additional point of view is great. The account of a single day in her rather cushy life is set in stark contrast to the very different life of the mountaineers. It does make the mountain experience seem even more surreal - which is great. But it just was too much for me. It slows down my reading experience considerably. The descriptions were too lengthy at times and often repetitive. Especially, as the chapters set in the Himalayan mountains also included slower-paced flashbacks to quieter times with Mallory’s friends and family. The pacing doesn’t work out for me.

In conclusion, this was a very unique reading experience. It perked my interest into a different time and got me to google a lot about the real events of the exploration of Mt Everest and the people involved in it. The concept of describing the events from different perspectives is a good one, though in parts not well executed. Tighter editing might have helped to create a better pace for the reader.(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Mara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, explorers

I enjoyed this book about George Mallory's ill-fated final attempt to scale Everest, particularly the scenes towards the end describing his last desperate push towards the summit. The scenes written from the perspective of his long-suffering wife Ruth, left in Cambridge to anxiously await his return, were less successful for me at first. It's hard not to feel a bit bored when you were reading about an exciting mountaineering expedition and suddenly find yourself sitting on the floor of George's...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: literary-fiction

I wanted to savour this book because the story, the imagery, the characters were all so deliciously compelling. I purposefully tried not to read it all at once which I tend to want to do with a really good book and in the end, I failed miserably at that. I couldn't not read it, even though I knew how it would end but was a bit like George I guess. He couldn't not just try for the top one more time.

And even though you know how this story ends, I still wept when it was done. So totally highly rec...more I wanted to savour this book because the story, the imagery, the characters were all so deliciously compelling. I purposefully tried not to read it all at once which I tend to want to do with a really good book and in the end, I failed miserably at that. I couldn't not read it, even though I knew how it would end but was a bit like George I guess. He couldn't not just try for the top one more time.

And even though you know how this story ends, I still wept when it was done. So totally highly recommend to men & women because there is something in this story for everyone.
Tanis is just possibly the next Michael Ondaatje.
I don't know how she'll follow this up but with a new poetry book coming, maybe she'll make poetry cool again (not that it ever wasn't but you know what I mean).

Synopsis, 1920's British adventure team decide they must climb to the summit of Mt. Everest because the US and Norweigans have already claimed the other two "biggies" in the world, but they do this sporting burberry coats, woolies, leather hats, a couple of layers of mitts, silk puttees to keep the snow out of their boots and dear god, Leather boots. I can remember skiing in leather boots in the 1960's and although they looked cool, THEY FREEZE people. So on top of not being able to breathe, think straight to do simple math problems to test their mental acuity , on top of sucking on meat lozenges (UGH, this sounds nasty), freezing their proverbial ***es off, they try again and again AND AGAIN to climb to the top, relying on a rope shared between men. One falls, they all can go. Throw in an avalanche, snow storm, winds ripping you like a flag in a hurricane, what about this sounds remotely fun or even a good idea? I don't like cold tea on a warm day but on a sub-zero windy mountain with about 3000 feet straight down to the next tent? Invigorating? Nope. Not me. That said, I wouldn't want to be Ruth either, waiting, waiting, waiting. Keeping a stiff upper lip, mustn't upset anyone with a public display and didn't they name a tv show after all this called "Keeping Up Appearances"?.
But even though you might know all this, the book is still exceptional. Couldn't put it down.
The undercurrant here is 'read it'. (less)

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Feb 23, 2013 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: canadian, ebook, fiction, historical-fiction

This story follows the last fateful days of the 1924 Everest expedition. Told from the points of view of George and Ruth Mallory and Sandy Irvine and using two narrative styles, it takes a little bit to settle into this book's rythym, but it is a richly rewarding experience. It is evocative and moving, while at the same time being almost voyeuristic in the harsh realities of mountaineering.

It's not without it's flaws, chief among them being this is a bleak book that is about death and failure -...more

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May 03, 2013 Fiona Hodgkin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Fiona by: Sara Wheeler in the New York Times Book Review section

Shelves: fiction

I bought a copy of 'Above All Things' at the Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore after I read Sara Wheeler's review in the April 28 New York Times Book Review section. (Sara Wheeler is one of my favorite authors.)
'Above All Things' is historical fiction based on the attempt by George Mallory and Andrew ('Sandy') Irvine to climb Mount Everest in early June 1924. In her 'Author's Note' at the end of the novel, Rideout says she first learned about Mallory and Irvine while working at an outdoor outfitter stor...more I bought a copy of 'Above All Things' at the Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore after I read Sara Wheeler's review in the April 28 New York Times Book Review section. (Sara Wheeler is one of my favorite authors.)
'Above All Things' is historical fiction based on the attempt by George Mallory and Andrew ('Sandy') Irvine to climb Mount Everest in early June 1924. In her 'Author's Note' at the end of the novel, Rideout says she first learned about Mallory and Irvine while working at an outdoor outfitter store. I first learned of Mallory and Irvine in the summer of 1972 in a tent in the Hindu Kush. My college history professor, the late (and great) George Mayer, told me the story how Odell, from far below on the mountain, saw two dark spots moving up the mountain. Then the clouds rolled in, and of course neither Mallory nor Irvine was ever seen alive again. The story was thrilling to George Mayer, who was cynical on the surface but at heart a hopeless romantic. (I said, "Let's not let anything like that happen to us.")
The only other novel with a mountain climbing theme I can recall is James Ramsey Ullman's 'The White Tower' (1945), although I'm sure there are other novels I've missed. The reason for the relative paucity of mountain climbing novels may be that the classic nonfiction climbing books -- like Heinrich Harrer's 'The White Spider' and Stephen Venables' 'Everest: Kangshung Face' -- are so wildly improbable and exciting that there's not much narrative space left for mere fiction.
'Above All Things' is an ambitious book, and I like ambitious books. It's ambitious because climbing people, like me, are so sensitive to the mystery of what exactly happened to George and Sandy, and we're reluctant to have someone tamper with it. But Rideout -- I guess without knowing that she's not a climber -- brings it off.
As George is dying after falling on the mountain, Rideout writes that: "He crossed his good leg over the broken one and tried to lift his head." Well, of course, we all recall, sadly, the photograph of George as his body was finally found, with one leg crossed over another.
Sara Wheeler, in her review, makes one point I'm not sure I agree with, which is that some characters, including Odell, "never really come into focus." Especially at the end of the novel, I thought Rideout gave us a good portrait of Odell and the leader of the expedition, Norton.
I was surprised that Rideout doesn't list among her resources Wade Davis' 'Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest' (2011), which is the best book about Mallory written to date. Rideout plainly echoes Davis' theme -- quite original and quite correct -- that the attempts on Everest can be understood only only in the context of the trench warfare on the Western Front.
Also, Rideout doesn't speak much to the pathetic clothing and equipment that the climbers used in the early 1920s. When the tweed jacket taken from George's body was displayed at the National Geographic Society in Washington years ago, I put aside my moral objections to disturbing his body and went to the exhibition. I was astounded: I wouldn't walk around the block in Baltimore in January wearing just this jacket; it was unbelievable that George tried to climb Everest wearing it. I stared at it for probably 3 or 4 minutes and then looked up. To my surprise, beside me was the late (and great) Senator Edward Kennedy, just as fascinated by the jacket as I was.
All in all, this is a good novel well worth reading.
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Jan 31, 2013 Melanie Coombes rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a beautifully written book. It takes place in the early 1920s and tells the story of George and Ruth Mallory. George Mallory is the famous British explorer who made 3 attempts to the summit of Mt. Everest.
One of my favorite things about this book, was that each chapter goes back and forth from the point of view of Ruth and then George.
The descriptions and details of the hardships that George and his team endured on Everest is unbelievable. These are the early explorers who set out to c...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Sherri rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tanis Rideout did an outstanding job for her debut novel! I was not familiar with the story of George Mallory so part of the way into the book I was clueless as to the ending. I did some research and was not disappointed even though I now knew the ending. The book is about a man torn between his obsession with reaching the summit of Mt Everest and for his dedication to his wife that he truly loves. Tandis's vivid and very real descriptions put the reader right there on the mountain experiencing...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Eileen Granfors added it · review of another edition

Shelves: families, foreign-countries, grief, highly-unusual, historical-fiction, marriage, medical-issues, men, outdoor-adventure, war, women, friendship, love-story

Tanis Rideout's ABOVE ALL THINGS is a lovers' tale, an adventure, a tragedy and a romance. She researched the early attempts to scale Everest, and in doing so, met the other half of the story: the wives left behind to await the fate of the men.

George Mallory and his wife Ruth are the two main characters. Their relationship began in Venice. When they married, they settled in England. George had huge ambitions as a member of the National Geographic Society. He yearned to be the first man to scale...more Tanis Rideout's ABOVE ALL THINGS is a lovers' tale, an adventure, a tragedy and a romance. She researched the early attempts to scale Everest, and in doing so, met the other half of the story: the wives left behind to await the fate of the men.

George Mallory and his wife Ruth are the two main characters. Their relationship began in Venice. When they married, they settled in England. George had huge ambitions as a member of the National Geographic Society. He yearned to be the first man to scale Everest, not just for himself, but for England. His mountaineering takes him away so often, Ruth feels lonely, abandoned, and neglected. She is raising their three children alone (except for the household staff).

Alternating chapters between Ruth's increasing anxiety about her marriage and George's final attempt to scale the mountain, Rideout builds suspense and pathos. The team with George is well tested except for the brawny youngest member, Sandy. The sherpas know too well what can happen on the mountain. George lost seven of them to an avalanche in his previous attempt. They must throw themselves into this attempt with all they've got in money, skill, coordination of teams, and raw courage. Everest, known as Chomolungma to the Tibetans, is believed to harbor devils that throw men to their deaths.

Oxygen deprivation, frost bite, cracking and blistered lips, ears, faces, the pure exhaustion of putting one foot in front of the other, Rideout carries us to the brink with the two men selected to make the final assault.

Back home, Ruth tries to be the good British wife, stiff upper lip and no nonsense with the children. As the weeks and months pass, she loses a little more of her composure. She leans more on their family friend, Will.

With World War I having taken too many men from English villages, Ruth feels George is sacrificing too much to his quest. George must climb "because it's there."

This is a one-note love story since George is present in memories or flashbacks. The action-adventure tale is fully realized.

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Jan 26, 2013 Dana Schroeder rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1920s, historical-fiction

When I saw the description for this book, my curiosity was immediately piqued. Having recently read The Paris Wife, I couldn't help but be intrigued by another re imagining of another famous adventurer and larger than life personality--George Mallory.

Rideout's debut novel detailing Hillary's third attempt at Mount Everest was an engaging and satisfying read: once I became involved in the story, I didn't want to put it down! Rideout crafts a novel of contrasts transporting the reader between the...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this book was fabulous and by a first time Toronto author. It is a story of deep love, heart pounding adventure and intense obsession.

George Mallory is on his third attempt to counquer Everest for his King, his countrymen(who lost so much in the Great War), his own fame and glory and of course "because it's there". His wife Ruth is at home with their three children wondering why he is jeopardizing his life, why she and the children are not enough and what will happen if he does not return?

T...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Maryanne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There are two reasons I did not give this book 4 stars. One has to do with me and the other has to do with the writing, so you can decide for yourself how that impacts how you feel about this review and what it means for your impression of the book.

I have been fascinated with Everest for many years, which is one of the reasons this book appealed to me. I have read lots of non-fiction books about Everest expeditions (including many of the books mentioned in the Author's Note), and I am already f...more There are two reasons I did not give this book 4 stars. One has to do with me and the other has to do with the writing, so you can decide for yourself how that impacts how you feel about this review and what it means for your impression of the book.

I have been fascinated with Everest for many years, which is one of the reasons this book appealed to me. I have read lots of non-fiction books about Everest expeditions (including many of the books mentioned in the Author's Note), and I am already familiar with lots of Everest lore: the mountain-as-goddess, the taboos, the trekking, the setting up of camps, the names of landmarks. I am also familiar with lots of Mallory's story specifically. Therefore, much of what is in the first half of the book is familiar to me from prior reading and I found myself skimming. If this isn't true for you, you won't have this reaction and you'll enjoy this element of the book more than I did.

From the point the men arrive at Camp IV and begin their summit attempts, the book begins to race. I was turning pages rapidly, wondering how the author would handle the big questions at the end. But what this means is that prior to that - the previous 2/3 of the book - was moving rather slowly. I wasn't grabbed until they got high on the mountain. Meanwhile, back at home, George's wife Ruth gets her own chapters intercut with George's, and she's waiting for news. That's pretty much what she does. She waits. She comes across as such a passive, almost whiny, person that one wonders why the charismatic, engaging Mallory is so much in love with her. After the first chapter or so of hers, I found myself rushing to get back to the men of the expedition. But for Ruth, too, once the end of the book hit and the summit was being attempted, her chapters attained greater passion and urgency.

For me, Sandy Irvine might be the star of the show.

Overall, the writing was good and the book was interesting. If you don't know much about Mallory or Everest, I think you would like it better than I did. But I still can't do anything about Ruth... :) (less)

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Apr 09, 2013 Jenna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"When I was small I imagined love as something safe, something without sharp edges, only the sweeping, enveloping curves of romance and happiness. But it isn't. Not now, anyway. There are edges and they cut."

"Above All Things" is the story of George and Ruth Mallory. He was a British explorer, long debated to have been the first (with Sandy Irvine) to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1924. She was his wife and the mother of his three children. Told from the points of view of multiple charact...more "When I was small I imagined love as something safe, something without sharp edges, only the sweeping, enveloping curves of romance and happiness. But it isn't. Not now, anyway. There are edges and they cut."

"Above All Things" is the story of George and Ruth Mallory. He was a British explorer, long debated to have been the first (with Sandy Irvine) to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1924. She was his wife and the mother of his three children. Told from the points of view of multiple characters, the book mixes historical fact with fiction and speculation that comes together to create perfection.

In 1924, George Mallory is heading back to Everest for a third time. The last time, he promises Ruth, who is heartbroken by his decision to leave her and their children once again. But for as much as he loves Ruth and their three children, George loves the mountain. Well, maybe love isn't the right word. He is taken by her; obsessed with her and the prospect of reaching the summit - a height that no man had ever been to. After two failed attempts, George views this opportunity as his last hope -- his last chance.
Back at their home in Cambridge, the story Ruth tells unfolds over the course of one day in her life; one day in her existence without the man who she loves and craves and longs to be with. And who she feels abandoned by.

I was worried that the novel would would be overly technical when describing the the climb, but author Tanis Rideout does a really great job of painting the picture of the climb and the attempt to reach the summit in the language of someone who has never set foot on a mountain; and an even more outstanding job of portraying the humanity of each character.

Since the outcome of the 1924 attempt to summit Everest is historical fact, I don't bad about including the "spoiler" that Sandy Irvine and George Mallory disappeared on that climb. In fact, Mallory's body was just recently found by some climbers on Everest. (Sandy Irvine has never been found.) Regardless, I felt the loss and the heartbreak in Rideout's novel, and I cried at the end. The narrative in enveloping, the characters are tangible and accessible and the story is 100% unforgettable. Absolutely one of the very best books I've read all year.
I need to return the book to the library, but I'm reluctant to part with the novel and the story. And I'm eager to read more about the Mallory and Irvine expedition. The fact that Tanis Rideout's novel has pushed me toward seeking out nonfiction is truly saying something; it's not my favorite genre to read and I don't do it often. Regardless, you need to check out this book! I promise to return mine to the library so that other people can discover the story and the first novel from this author. (less)

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Mar 07, 2013 Lori rated it 5 of 5 stars

I started this book not knowing the outcome of Mallory's expedition, and, like some other readers here, had no prior keen interest in climbing or Mt. Everest expeditions. After reading this book, however, that has ALL changed! I found myself fascinated with the process of the expedition itself: the planning and preparation and procedures, the extreme attention to detail necessary in every moment, the extraordinary physical and mental challenge posed to all the climbers, the dangers and concerns...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Kim McGee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Being the wife of an explorer is most likely one of the worst situations a woman can find herself in. When they are victorious it had nothing to do with you, when they are defeated you bear their misery and disappointment. This is as true today as it was in 1924. Such is the life of Ruth Mallory whose dashing husband is destined to go on yet one more attempt to climb Mt. Everest and be the first to reach the summit. Ruth will once again be left with the children, her brave face a mask to all the...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Joan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Well done Ms Rideout!

This is a beautifully written book that I didn't want to end. Like others, I read it like a thriller even though I knew how it ended. The author is able to convey her enthusiasm for her subject and help the reader understand that and even feel the same way.

I really liked the way she alternated the voices. The first person intimacy of one day in the life of Ruth Mallory waiting for information of George and the third person, perhaps above all things, detailing just what was h...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Vikki VanSickle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: canadian, adult-fiction

I met the author of this book at en event last year and was thrilled to see it out in stores, and with such a beautiful cover treatment. I loved the dual-narrative of the book, which alternated between an ill-fated climbing expedition by George Mallory and his team and a day in the life of his wife, Ruth, who is waiting for his return with their three children.

I was worried I wouldn't enjoy the George sections because Mountain climbing and traditional adventure stories do not interest me in any...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this story. The book was based on the true events of the 1920's Mt. Everest climbing expeditions of George Mallory. I was so intrigued by this book that after I finished I began looking up pictures and articles on George Mallory and his adventure.

I also love the way the story was written. The author allowed you to follow George's story on the mountain and his wife's story as she waited for his return. Some have commented that the chapters that go back to his wife, Ruth are boring and po...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Lorri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-dynamics, historical-fiction, inspiration, novels

From the first page until the last page, I could not put this book down. It is fascinating on so many levels, and not just regarding the fact of George Mallory's legendary status as an explorer.

Above All Things is an intriguing read, a fascinating look at not only the man, but his wife, Ruth, and his family. The familial dynamics is portrayed with sensitivity, yet with stark reality. The prose is extremely descriptive, affording the reader a look not only into the historical value of the novel,...more From the first page until the last page, I could not put this book down. It is fascinating on so many levels, and not just regarding the fact of George Mallory's legendary status as an explorer.

Above All Things is an intriguing read, a fascinating look at not only the man, but his wife, Ruth, and his family. The familial dynamics is portrayed with sensitivity, yet with stark reality. The prose is extremely descriptive, affording the reader a look not only into the historical value of the novel, but also the interactions displayed within the family unit and the other individuals who chose to seek the glory of reaching the summit of Mt. Everest, along with Mallory.

There are several questions that came to mind while reading this magnificently written novel. How does one leave a wife and children behind while they go on to seek fame and accomplishment? How does a wife cope with her husband's decision to do so, waiting for word of his safety, waiting for correspondence, for any sign of his trek up the mountain? Does love mean that one gives up the comforts of having a husband nearby in order for him to fulfill his dreams? And, what of the children whose father is absent, does the father's goal to summit Mt. Everest mean that his goal becomes their goal? Many thoughts arose while I read this incredible story.

Rideout accomplishes so much within the pages with her magnificent prose and her understanding of human nature and the desire to accomplish what others have not. We are taken on the journey, not only with George Mallory, but his wife and children. Each foothold is told with breathtaking word-imagery, leaving this reader almost breathless reading the story.

The descriptions of the mental and physical suffering endured by George Mallory is brilliant, as well as how Rideout portrayed Ruth Mallory and her emotional and mental suffering, left behind, constantly wondering about the outcome, and left behind to tend to young children, trying to act as if nothing unusual is occurring.

Once you begin this masterfully written novel, you will find it difficult to put down. Tanis Rideout is brilliant in every aspect of writing, creating intrigue, fascination, excitement, inner strength of the characters, and in affording the reader an intense look into George and Ruth Mallory's relationship and the obsessiveness to fulfill one's life-long goal. It is a novel filled with dreams and the courage to succeed, and filled with love and loss. It is a story of poignancy and heartbreak, perseverance and inspiration.

I highly recommend Above All Things, by Tanis Rideout to everyone.

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Nov 19, 2012 Kathy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Above All Things is about the Everest Expedition of 1924. The story is told in alternating voices-those of members of the expedition party and those of the people left at home in England. The main voices are those of George and Ruth Mallory.

It was in interesting book. There was much of the compelling nature of the professional reviews but I did not find it quite as charged as some.

I liked that it opened up a part of history I was not familiar with. I appreciate all the research the author did i...more

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