A Change in Altitude

Climbing. The most completely developed character in Anita Shreve’s novel, A Change in Altitude, is Kenya, or perhaps Mount Kenya. Set in that country in the 1970s, the protagonist Margaret is an American photographer who has relocated there with her physician husband, Patrick, who is a medical researcher in Nairobi. The tension rises when they decided to climb Mount Kenya with another couple. Events on the climb change the relationship between Margaret and Patrick. I found as I read the novel that I had trouble caring about these or other characters, while at the same time I found Kenya very attractive and appealing. Readers who appreciate a deeply developed sense of place may enjoy this novel, while those who prefer well-developed characters might do better to look elsewhere.

Rating: Two-star (Mildly Recommended)
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