In Sight of the Mountain
I was recently blessed by Jamie McGillen and gifted a copy of her beautifully written and captivating book, In Sight of the Mountain. It was a refreshing and heartwarmingly real story. This book spoke to me as soon as I saw Mt. Rainer on the cover. The summer before last my son and I backpacked part of the Wonderland Trail that wraps around this gorgeous mountain, and absolutely fell in love. I’ve posted pictures below.
In the devastating aftermath of the 1889 Great Seattle Fire, nineteen-year-old Anna Gallagher faces considerable pressure to marry well and soon. But she has no intention of giving up her freedom to keep house. She wants to be the first woman to summit Mount Rainier.
Anna's grandfather couldn't disapprove more. And after he discovers that she's befriended a Duwamish woman in the forest, he threatens to disown her completely.
Still, her resolve to summit doesn't waver until she meets a fisherman who seems to love adventure as much as she does. He's not the kind of high society gentleman who could save their family's finances after the fire, but he adores her and treats her like an equal.
Mountaineering through glaciers, avalanches, and frozen temperatures might cause Anna's family to disown her forever. It might even ruin any future marriage prospects. But if she succeeds in reaching the icy peak, she could pioneer the way for women mountaineers, and create a new identify for herself, something she's been longing for her whole life.
In Sight of the Mountain was a breathtaking and cinematic story. It had all the things I love in a historical fiction book - mystery, romance, adventure, culture, and a strong female lead character. It's no secret that I love books with strong women. Women with gumption who inspire me. Anna is a woman who spoke all of that and to my wanderlust heart. Her fierce determination to buck the social norms by putting off marriage to a “social acceptable” man and trailblazing goal of climbing Mt. Rainer had me cheering for her from the very beginning.
Not only did Anna’s story touch my heart, but so too did the stories of Heather, a native Duwamish woman, and June, Anna’s best friend and local prostitute. All three women have different backgrounds and circumstances, but still come together through the bonds of friendship and compassion. I loved how both June and Heather helped support Anna and her quest to summit Mt. Rainer as they dealt with their own struggles throughout the story. Especially Heather as she taught Anna about living off the land and observing nature, all while dealing with the prejudices of the local town.
The romance in the story was incredibly touching. While it may have developed at a very slow ebb, when it came to fruition it was well worth the wait.
I was enchanted with this story, and it quickly became a favorite read of 2020. Thankfully I don’t have to let go of all the amazing characters I’ve fallen in love with as there is an sequel, and I cannot wait to see where Anna’s story takes me next!
