Mar 15, 2010 02:16 PM
5473 Views
(Updated May 22, 2010 01:43 PM)
From the time I started reading, there are two authors whose creations I have found unputdownable once you start. Ludlum and Archer. Both are just great. But if there is an author, who has given me a feeling of " That was his best novel yet" every single time I have read a novel of his(and not necessarily in chronological order), it is Archer.And unsurprisingly, the streak continues with "Paths of Glory".
A story about George Mallory, and his dream to conquer the Everest. As simple as that. But what is brilliant is the way in which the story is told, each character is described and built( an excellent job since this is a real life story, and you cannot distort things too much). The way his childhood goes, his natural talent for rock climbing and sure footedness, the way his skill, talent and personality blooms through, everything is written in just the best Archer 5 star fashion. Equally well constructed is the character of George Finch, his partner and opponent, and the struggles between two supremely talented men, each of whom does not want to be second to the other( Or to anyone else, for that matter).
The trips to Everest, the thoughts passing through the minds of the climbers when they see Everest, the various attempts made on the peak, everything has you just rush through the pages thinking "What's next?". Brilliant individual portions like the interview of Finch, Mallory putting down his foot to get Finch included in the team, the life of Mallory after the first attempt, his mentor who should have led the expedition losing a foot and hence missing out the expedition, just stand out. The dialogues, interactions, and exchanges, in typical Archer style are superb.
As we near the end, you actually badly want Mallory to conquer The Everest, and in spite of knowing about Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary(that they were the first to conquer the peak), you just wanna beleive it was done before. By the end of the novel, you actually believe that it was Mallory who climbed the peak first, and are searching Wikipedia and other resources to know all about Mallory, and explore whether he did climb The Everest before anyone else.
All in all, a definite 5 star from me, and a must read for everyone!
PS: Do give your comments and ratings, so that I could make my next review even better!
