ABOVE ALL THINGS

Emily Gray crisply delivers this fictionalized account of George Mallory's obsession to reach the mysterious peak at the top of the world, Mount Everest, and his third expedition to do so. It's difficult to follow the story as it shifts among the expedition, which focuses on Mallory and his climbing partner, Andrew "Sandy" Irvine; life at home for Mallory's wife and their children; and Mallory's early married life. Gray provides few cues in her reading. Her narration is steady and relentless with few stops to allow the listener to catch up with the plot. In addition, her subtle characterizations are sometimes jarring when recounting the imagined thoughts and actions of the men. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2013]