Helpful Score: 6
A Change in Altitude, the newest novel from master author Anita Shreve, offers another glimpse into love, commitment, and the search for self. Following a tragic accident in Kenya , Margaret is forced to reevaluate herself, her marriage, even her understanding of life. While beautifully written, the story fails to fully engage the reader. It feels tired and worn, and with just a change of the setting and the characters' names, this could be one of a number of her novels. A Change in Altitude is classic Shreve, but I cant help but feel Ive read this story before.
Helpful Score: 4
All of us have defining moments in our lives, moments that can change the direction we are traveling in small or large ways. Sometimes we notice those moments and sometimes we don't. And sometimes those moments are so monumental, that they are almost impossible to find a way through them at all. This is the story that Anita Shreve has woven; one woman, one man, one moment and their struggle to find a way through that moment.
This is a quiet story, a tender story, a thoughtful story, not one to rush through. It will not keep you up at night to see who done it, but it will seep into your heart and you will remember those moments in your life that changed you, that turned your path.
This is a quiet story, a tender story, a thoughtful story, not one to rush through. It will not keep you up at night to see who done it, but it will seep into your heart and you will remember those moments in your life that changed you, that turned your path.
The up and downs of this couples relationship in the book seemed understandable at times and then at times ridiculous and I was going to say that is unrealistic but maybe now that I think about the first part of this sentence, I am wrong. It has real moments about a married couple that I dont think many people can understand why they are together. Instead of the starting the story in on the loved affair that brought them together we are brought in on what starts to drive them to different worlds.
It is not a very happy story I would say that is why I didnt like very much. It is the kind of story that will depress you if you think about it to much.
I read this for a book club selection but had a hard time finishing it. In fact I am not even sure if I did.
I liked reading about the joyous parts in the book like the wife starting her career and the couple trying hard to work through there differences. There was much joy in this book though. Maybe that is the altitude it was suppose to be on but it made me not enjoy it.
It is not a very happy story I would say that is why I didnt like very much. It is the kind of story that will depress you if you think about it to much.
I read this for a book club selection but had a hard time finishing it. In fact I am not even sure if I did.
I liked reading about the joyous parts in the book like the wife starting her career and the couple trying hard to work through there differences. There was much joy in this book though. Maybe that is the altitude it was suppose to be on but it made me not enjoy it.
I loved this book! I don't like all of her books but this one drew me in from beginning to end. Its one of those stories that I think about occassionally even after I've finished reading it and wonder where the characters are now.
This book was informative on the life and politics of Kenya, I found the story line weak and lost interest in the marriage of the lead players. It was very good about customs and geography of Kenya and the unbalance of wealth and political power. I do not know how accurate Ms Shreve is on today's Kenya but it is not some where I would want to live.
Ms Shreve is unperdictable in her quality of stories, some are very good, Fortune Rock, The Pilot's, Wife Weight of the Water and some are getting perdictable and not up to her quality. I will continue reading, however, as she is best of woman's romantic fiction.
Ms Shreve is unperdictable in her quality of stories, some are very good, Fortune Rock, The Pilot's, Wife Weight of the Water and some are getting perdictable and not up to her quality. I will continue reading, however, as she is best of woman's romantic fiction.
It's an Anita Shreve book - of course it's good! Enough said!
A whole new and different picture of Africa. I did enjoy the book, but perhaps am now not so eager to travel to Africa.
Based in Africa. Read this book in two days. Not sure I liked the book but was thinking about it days afterwards.
The characters frustrated me in their behavior and actions.
The characters frustrated me in their behavior and actions.
This isn't her best book. Kind of slow.
As always, Anita Shreve's writing excites!
Loved it. Anita Shreve never disappoints. This is an engaging story of how a few seemingly meaningless actions can have have completely unexpected, and even tragic, consequences. This book, like so many of Anita Shreve's has the quick, easy pace of a good beach read, yet is still thought-provoking. I recommend it.
I found the book interesting...the way Africa is described with great detail was nice, the struggles between Patrick and Margaret were real, the ending was good but left a little more to be desired. overall a good read not my favorite.
I found this to be an enjoyable read, however, without giving away the main story of the book, I believe in personal responsibility and not blaming others or placing guilt mainly on others when tragedy happens. I feel the husband may have had reason to feel somewhat guilty, but the object of his attractions did not return his attentions in the way he intended and no one told Diane to be such a go-getter and do what she did.
Margaret, the main character, spends the this book trying to figure out how much of what happens around her she is responsible for. After following her new husband from the US to Africa for his medical career, she finds herself involved in Africa in ways she did not anticipate. The book is bookended with Margaret's two climbs of Mt. Kenya, and it is during these climbs that she finds herself face-to-face with the struggle of how much guilt to take on and how much responsibility actors must assume. As the conflicts between guilt and responsibility circle in ever larger orbits throughout the book, the reader can't help but think about how freeing it is to believe, as the mountain guide tells us to, that "Stupid people do stupid things, and sometimes they have only themselves to blame."
Another good read by Anita Shreve! You are hooked from chapter one as you follow the lives to a married couple living overseas. A little sad at times, but you are hooked as you watch the characters progress.
Different subject matter from my usual reads. Made me glad I never decided to climb a mountain ! While it kept my interest, I thought the ending was a little bit of a let down.
This book was a huge disappointment. I no longer want to read her books. African names ,words in African language etc.
HUGE WASTE OF TIME!
! used to love her books - no longer
HUGE WASTE OF TIME!
! used to love her books - no longer
Anita Shreve is one of my favorite authors. However I was a bit disappointed in this one. For the first half of the book, it seemed the story dragged. Thankfully, I held on because it did get better in the last half. I think part of my problem was that Margaret was as bland as her name (My apologies to those with that name!) I found it hard to not only relate to her, but feel a kinship her to her (which normally makes for a good story for me)
As a fan of Shreve's books, I was somewhat disappointed in the slow pace of this story and the foolish choices. Margaret doesn't question her doctor husband when he announces they will climb Mt. Kenya with people they don't really know and all of them without climbing experience. Some time after the ill fated venture, Margaret delves into her photography in Nairobi and seeks to find some relief from the guilt that haunts her regarding her part in the accident.
Quite disappointed in this book! Expected to love it as I have some of her other books.....but not the case with this one.
A young American couple in Africa face multiple challenges, both cultural and personal. When a recreational climb is marred by tragedy, the rules of the game seem suddenly to have changed.
Not her best effort.
Good Read, her endings are a bit strange for me.
Decent little book. Quick read. Not one of Anite Shreve's best books ever, but decent. I liked it, but didn't love it. 3 out of 5 stars for me.
I liked this book. Good building of characters & interesting things on Africa. Did not like ending. Wanted more. Hopefully there will be sequel!?
