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.

I read this for my book club and thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew the history of George Mallory, so the ending was not a surprise. But the interweaving of a day in the life of his wife Ruth and the inclusion of sections of the actual letters between them, made for a unique view of the explorers who go off to conquer the world, and those who are left behind. Tanis Rideout came to our book club and talked about how she came to write the book, which took about 7 years, and about the research she did in London and Cambridge. Highly recommended as both an adventure story and a love story.

The book was part of my book club outline and I did not know anything about it or the history until I began to read. It didn't take long to realize that George would not be successful (officially at least) in his attempt to climb Everest (since Hilary clearly claims that feat). This knowledge did not affect my captivation with the book at all. The author does an excellent job of developing the primary characters and 'getting into their heads' so you have a good understanding of what movitates each of them. As in real life, you can like them each, in spite of their flaws. At times, I wanted to kick them both.............equally. The narrative of the climb was so detailed that I felt I was there--I have no climbing experience but could feel the truth behind the words--along with the love for the cruelty which is Everest. I think the book is wonderful--it does an excellent job of portraying the passion that some people have to do the impossible, regardless of the cost to themselves and to others.

I was really excited to get this book, however I just can't seem to get through it. Maybe it's just me, but I find the the switch between the character's story lines abrupt. One sentence George will be talking about his experience on his assent up Everest and then we are back to talking about something in Sandy's past. It takes me a few sentences to realize we switched characters and I have to back track. I love the subject matter of the book, I just can't get past the author's writing style.

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.

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.

Beautifully written with a captivating story. Will keep you turning pages late into the night, especially the last quarter of the book! Also, don't read anything about the main characters until you read the book, it will ruin it for you!