EDGE OF THE MAP :: Johanna Garton

A version of this review previously appeared in Shelf Awareness and is republished here with permission.

When chapter one is entitled "Missing," the gut-clenching starts early. Those who follow mountaineering are likely all too familiar with world-renowned alpinist Christine Boskoff, who left a successful career at Lockheed Martin at almost 30, a latecomer to climbing, and rocketed to the top of the sport. Humble and driven, Boskoff is the only American woman to have summited six 8,000-meter peaks.

In Edge of the Map, Johanna Garton (Awakening East) lovingly takes over her journalist mother's efforts to write a book about Boskoff, derailed by Parkinson's disease. She depicts the themes that ran through Boskoff's life: battling the odds, surviving loss and grief, and pursuing dreams.

The climbing community is a close-knit and often tragic one. Boskoff's path is filled with examples that give rise to the adage "If you can't handle death, you shouldn't be in the business of climbing." She and her husband, Keith, took over legend Scott Fischer's Mountain Madness following Fischer's death in the 1996 Everest catastrophe (the subject of Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air). Boskoff ran the international guide service alone after Keith's death, and turned it into a highly successful venture. She unexpectedly found late love and a new climbing partner in the renowned Charlie Fowler; the two later disappeared while climbing in China in 2006.

Garton excels at creating and maintaining interest and tension even when the reader knows the tragic ending. From the unlikely climber's childhood to the trek to bring Boskoff home, Garton captivates readers with an engaging narrative style that gives them a taste of the summit.

STREET SENSE: A tragic yet lovely memoir of a woman driven to excel in a sport dominated by men, finding an outlet so natural to her that it almost seemed fate that only the treachery of a mountain could stop her. A wonderful read for lovers of the outdoors, climbing, finding your purpose and pursuing it despite the odds.

COVER NERD SAYS: I'm of two minds about this cover. As a painting or piece of art, I love the image. Yet it may not do the book proper service. From any distance it's hard to tell what's depicted and the lack of focus means it might be passed over on a shelf. That being said, the colors and flow are beautiful and the mountain outline at the top and bottom "edges of the map" are a great touch. I appreciate the fonts and sizing differentials, which were a good choice here, though perhaps highlighting Boskoff's name might have helped with identifying the subject and catching the eye of climbers and climbing fans.