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A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE
BY ANITA SHREVE
Margaret and Patrick have been married just a few months when they set off on what they hope will be a great adventure-a year living in Kenya. Margaret quickly realizes there is a great deal she doesn't know about the complex mores of her new home, and about her own husband.
A British couple invites the newlyweds to join on a climbing expedition to
A Change in Altitude illuminates the inner landscape of a couple, the irrevocable impact of tragedy, and the elusive nature of forgiveness. With stunning language and striking emotional intensity, Anita Shreve transports us to the exotic panoramas of
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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Since Eden Close Anita Shreve has written eleven other novels: Strange Fits of Passion, Where or When, Resistance, The Weight of Water, The Pilot's Wife, Fortune's Rocks, The Last Time They Met, Sea Glass, All He Ever Wanted, Light on Snow, A Wedding in December and, most recently, Body Surfing. In 1998 Shreve received the PEN/L. L. Winship Award and the New England Book Award for fiction
In Anita Shreve's newest work, now out in paperback, A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE, Margaret and Patrick have only been married a short time when they move to Kenya so that Patrick can practice medicine. His area of expertise is that of equatorial medicine that obviously lends itself to the area that they move to. The time period is the 1970s and Anita Shreve is at her always wonderful, narrative best as she tells of the treacherous mountain hike Margaret and Patrick make up Mount Kenya. Margaret's instincts are wary and she doesn't have good feelings about it even before they start.
They plan the climb with their landlord and his wife, Arthur and Diana, and friends of Diana's, Saartje and Willem. Margaret isn't fond of their pretentious landlord or happy when Willem begins to tell of all the possible dangers they will encounter like the physical side-effects and weather problems. They make a trial hike to get used to things and although Margaret is still uncomfortable with it, she does admit the scenery is glorious as they experience the African horizons. Their pleasure doesn't last long, however, as Margaret is attacked by fire ants that leave stings so intense that she actually has to rip off her clothing. Margaret should have taken this as an omen but instead she goes ahead with the climb.
The actual climb is hardest on Margaret and she is always the slowest in the group. You have to give her credit, I guess, but I believe I would have never have gone in the first place. One horrendous thing after another happens making it a tortuous time which ranges from political arguments, to one of their party winding up romantically interested in another, to an event so unexpected and shocking that all the rest seemed insignificant. Following the tragedy, Margaret questions herself as she thinks a small and harmless action on her part may have prompted the whole disaster.
Subsequently, Margaret tries to recover and proceed with a normal life but her life is changed forever. One thing after another seems to happen and it appears as if nothing will ever be the same, and her marriage is effected as a result. The amount of stress Margaret endures give the reader such empathy for her that they will read on if for no other reason than to see what happens to her.
Anita Shreve has given readers another wonderfully crafted story with beautifully descriptive vignettes and scenery especially in Africa. However, although you do feel sympathetic for Margaret, I myself was frustrated with her. Perhaps the time period it took place in had something to do with it, but I could not believe the relationship she had with Patrick. I found him to be difficult to like and thus it made it hard for me to care what happened to him and his relationship with Margaret. In turn, I was puzzled at how she allowed herself to be treated like she was, and how little self-respect I thought she had. I would never have taken a hike I was so set against with all those good reasons she had, let alone go and live in Kenya with him. Patrick didn't endear himself to me personally so I found it hard to care about the whole underlying theme of a woman trying to make a life for herself and her husband while she made such poor choices. I think Margaret and the other characters were well developed enough to make their parts plausible. However, when I put all the pieces together, I was sad that I didn't like the story as a whole more than I did, as I always adore Shreve's writing. This will have to be put on the bottom of the list of my favorite Anita Shreve books. But when you ask would I recommend it? Yes! I say that as I think your own views and feelings enter into how you perceive these characters and that may be in a much different way than I did. So, yes, based on all the incredible books I have loved of Anita Shreve's, and the narrative expertise she uses in this novel, I say give A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE a chance so that you may form your own opinion. It certainly will make for a great book club choice as it invites good discussion. Don't forget to check out the Reading Group Guide Questions or go here to download them yourself.
READING GROUP GUIDE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Questions for Anita Shreve's A CHANGE OF ALTITUDE
1. How would you interpret the novel’s title? Does the concept of altitude have significance in the story beyond its literal meaning?
2. During the drive to Mt. Kenya, Margaret and Patrick talk about whether photography detaches you from the present or helps you immerse yourself in it more fully (75). In your own life, do you find that taking photographs enriches experiences or prevents you from being fully in the moment?
3. When Diana brings Adhiambo to stay with Patrick and Margaret for the night, they disagree about how best to deal with the situation. Margaret seems more concerned about Adhiambo’s emotional well-being, while Patrick focuses on her physical state. In what way do their differing perspectives reflect other aspects of their characters? Do you think Adhiambo would have been better off if Margaret and Patrick had taken her to the hospital that night?
4. Throughout the novel, Margaret is struck by the way Kenyan characters use the phrase “Just all right” (67, 189, 246, 303). How would you interpret the meaning of this phrase? Why is it so surprising to Margaret?
5. How culpable is Margaret in what happens on the mountain? To what extent does the blame fall on others involved in the climb? Should a person be held responsible for the unintended consequences of her actions (124)?
6. Is Patrick right to confront Margaret about what happened on the mountain? Margaret argues that if he loves her and intends to stay with her, he should not have told her his
opinion, while Patrick believes it is most important to be honest (125). What do you think is most important in a relationship, total honesty or sensitivity to the other’s feelings?
7. Why do you think Margaret feels so strongly about taking the photograph of the leopard? Are there parallels between this action and Diana’s behavior on the glacier? Have you ever put yourself in danger because of a momentary impulse? What do you think motivates actions of this kind?
8. What is your definition of infidelity? Does Margaret’s relationship with Rafiq constitute unfaithfulness to Patrick? Is there such a thing as emotional infidelity or is only physical cheating really cheating?
9. How much of a marriage’s success or failure do you think can be attributed to the love between husband and wife, and how much to external factors, such as jobs, finances, location, and other people? Patrick says, “I think couples need projects to keep them together” (271). Is he correct that a couple must put in effort to make their marriage work?
10. If the accident on the mountain had never occurred, do you think Margaret and Patrick’s relationship would have evolved differently? Would anything more have happened between Arthur and Margaret? Between Rafiq and Margaret?
11. Imagine Margaret and Patrick thirty years after the end of A Change in Altitude, looking back on their life in Africa. How do you think each of them would describe the trajectory of their relationship during this time?
12. Describe your response to the novel’s ending. Did you find it sad? Uplifting? Did you feel that things had worked out for the best?
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69 comments:
+1 I follow in gfc.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
Please enter me. I love Anita Shreve. I find it interesting when a story takes place in Africa. The difference in the culture there is facinating.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
I haven't read any of Shreve's work yet, but am interested in doing so. This one interests me becuase of the marriage dynamic and how different things can affect a marriage.
I am a follwer via Google Friend Connect.
I did not that Anita Shreve has also written two nonfiction books.
Please enter me in your contest.
k2reader@gmail.com
+1 - I am a good friends follower!
k2reader@gmail.com
I have read several of this author's books and they have been enjoyable and unique.The relationsip aspect is interesting. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I find it interesting that you didn't really like the story but would still recommend reading the book because of the author's writing. That's enough to make me want to read it!
meah56 at gmail dot com
I'm a current Google friend connect follower :)
meah56 at gmail dot com
I am a current GFC follower.
redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom
I find it interesting that Margaret didn't follow her instincts and her fears were correct.
redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom
GFC follower
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I am fascinated by all things Africa.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Please enter me in the contest - this looks like a great book! I am a follower.
bevsharp@desch.org
I am a google friend connect follower!
candc320@gmail.com
I love how this book places the same issues we have day to day (marriage difficulties, feeling disconnected from those around you, etc.) in a new and interesting climate. You have to wonder if this couple would have gone through the same issues eventually anyways, even without the new and strange surrounding.
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com
I find it interesting that you as a reviewer would reccommend a book that is only okay, but would say go ahead and read it due to the writing style and how good her past works were. I don't fault you for it, I have done the same thing myself. I would still like to read it though.
debp
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I am a new follower.
debp
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I find it very interesting that author wrote stuff while a school teacher and also I am very interested in the story taking place in Africa. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I am a GFC follower
aksimmo at brainerd dot net
I love stories of adventure and stories of tragedy. Please enter me!
aksimmo at brainerd dot net
follow .....dor
dorcontest at gmail dot com
Sounds like more than changes in attitude. I would love to read the struggles this lady goes through.
dorcontest at gmail dot com
follower
melacan at hotmail dot com
I've heard such great things about this book. In fact, a friend of mine said that she's spent time in Kenya and found the descriptions to be accurate.
melacan at hotmail dot com
I lived and worked in Kenya so anything w/Kenya is a good read for me.
I'm a GFC follower
chirth7@yahoo.com
I usually prefer to read books that are mostly what I call "Happy". The tragedy in this book is something I'm not use to reading, but I'd like to give it a try. ALso Kenya is a place I've never read about. I'm intrigued to see how this tragedy affects the couple.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/Romantic73/status/13251456047
chirth7@yahoo.com
I have been hooked on Anita Shreve's books since I read "The Pilot's Wife." A strain of infidelity, man/woman conflict runs through all of her books, and is evidenced in "A Change in Altitude" also.
Please enter my name.
pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com
I follow on GFC
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I haven't read any of her books yet and this looks good. The setting in Africa should make it very interesting.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I like that the book is set in Africa and the relationships of married couples will be interesting
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
I am a google friend follower
reneesuz82(at)msn(dot)com
I like that the book is set in Africa - not a common setting for fiction
reneesuz82(at)msn(dot)com
I am a folllower and I would love to win the Book Thief.
wiseowlreviews@aol.com
I'm fascinated by the location and the time period of this novel.
AlexDean03@yahoo.com
I follow you on Google Connect as MRWriter.
AlexDean03@yahoo.com
I follow through google friend.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love thAt the book is set in Africa and I like the triumph over diversity.cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com
My attention was captured by the fact that you place A Change In Atltitude at the bottom of the author's pile of accomplishment; yet,you still recommend it as good reading.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com
Tweeted.
twitter.com@enylstil#change
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com
I am glad I became a BOOKIN' WITH BINGO II FB fan!
candc320@gmail.com
I am a folllower and I would love to win a book about mountain climibing.
wiseowlreviews@aol dot com
I found it really interesting that this book is set in Kenya. I have never read a book set in this country & would love to learn more about it.
Thanks ~ megalon22 at yahoo dot com
I am glad I became a BOOKIN' WITH BINGO II FB fan
megalon22 at yahoo dot com
Current GFC follower
megalon22 at yahoo dot com
This sounds wonderful. I have always loved Anita Shreve's books, and this one sounds like it'll be up there with the others I've read. She's a great author and I really have never been dissapointed. The plot sounds great in this.
misusedinnocence@aol.com
I"m a new friend connect blog follower too :)
Lisa.2713 at gmail dot com
I would love to be entered in your giveaway. I am a big fan of Anita Shreve and I find it interesting that it takes place in Kenya.
Lisa.2713 at gmail dot com
The location is very interesting.
tiredwkids at live dot com
I like that it says it has "emotional intensity" because I like that in a book!
couponboss at gmail dot com
I follow via google reader
beachlover20855[AT]yahoo[DOT]com
I like that this book is set in Kenya. I enjoy a storyline set in a place I have not visited. I am looking forward to reading the location description.
beachlover20855[AT]yahoo{DOT]com
blog follower
I am most interested in the exotic scenery!!
I find it very interesting that Margaret agrees to make the climb up Mount Kenya, a difficult, frightening & dangerous trek, though it is something she really doesn't want to do. I'm quite intrigued about this book now! Please enter me in the giveaway!
~ Amy
Aimala127@gmail.com
I am a Google Friend Connect follower!
Aimala127@gmail.com
I am a loyal Google Friend Connect follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I think it's interesting that it's set in Kenya.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm intriqed by this book, that fact it's based in Kenya. I've nmever read a book that was placed there.
shundelt@yahoo.com
I'm an old GCF.
shundelt@yahoo.com
http://twitter.com/Grandmamaof10/status/14167020352
shundelt@yahoo.com
Please enter me for this giveaway. I have been having this book in my TBR list for a while now. Being newly wed myself, I would like to read about the marriage dynamics portrayed in this book. Also I have always been wanting to visit Kenya and go on a safari thru Masai Mara and thats one more reason I would love to read this book!!
archanaskorner(at)gmail(dot)com
- arch
I'm a follower on GFC as MarionG.
polo-puppy-fluffy[at]hotmail[dot]com
Hi. I found it interesting Shreve's lived in Kenya. The premise of a women doing everything for and accommodating their husband is something I see even today. It's hard for me to understand but I consistently see it in women who are immigrants and have little self-confidence. I find it a believable premise for a story set in the 70's.
polo-puppy-fluffy[at]hotmail[dot]com
gfc follower
joleehamlin at comcast dot net
The aftermath of living with a tragedy is something I can relate to at the moment, and it sound cathertic and intriguing. joleehamlin at comcast dot net
I am most interested in the group dynamics as well as the relationship between husband and wife. Please enter me in your wonderful giveaway.
debraldufek AT hotmail DOT com
I love that it's set in Kenya. And I'm a real fan of Shreve's other work.
adrianecoros(at)gmail.com
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