White

by Rosie Thomas

One Love. One Chance. Once Sacrifice.

For Sam McGrath a brief encounter with a young woman, on a turbulent flight, changes his life. On impulse, crazily attracted to her, her vows to follow her - all the way to Nepal.

Finch Buchanan is flying out as doctor to an expedition. But when she reaches the Himalayas she will be reunited with a man she has never been able to forget.

Al Hood has made a promise to his daughter. Once he has conquered this last peak, he will leave the mountains behind forever.

Everest towers over the group, silent and beautiful. And the passionate relationship between Finch, Al and Sam - two men driven by their own demons, and a woman with a dream of her own - begins to play itself out, with tragic consequences...

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Travel, Ebooks, Love, Contemporary Romance

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Janey King, née Morris was born on 1947 in Denbigh, Wales, and also grew up in North Wales. She read English at Oxford, and after a spell in journalism and publishing began writing fiction after the birth of her first child. Published since 1982 as Rosie Thomas, she has written fourteen best-selling novels, deal with the common themes of love and loss. She is one of only a few authors to have won twice the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association, in 1985 with Sunrise, and in 2007 with Iris and Ruby.

Janey is an adventurer and once she was established as a writer and her children were grown, she discovered a love of travelling and mountaineering. She has climbed in the Alps and the Himalayas, competed in the Peking to Paris car rally, spent time on a tiny Bulgarian research station in Antarctica and travelled the silk road through Asia. She currently lives in London.

Reviews

[Lana M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the first 50 pages of this book felt promising so I eagerly kept reading to see if it will actually deliver. And it did.

This book made me ugly cry like hell.
It was love, it was friendship, it was personal growth, it was nature’s inconquerablity, it was strength and gratitude and sacrifice.
All in a very different setting from what I usually read which was very refreshing.

I adored the maturity and realness of these characters, their own individual drives that brought them together to conquer one of nature’s toughest phenomenas and how it ended up affecting them.

I’ve never experienced a love story in a setting such as this one. Mountains, climbing, snow, risk. It wasn’t the typical home/city romance setting, it was an adventure to the max and the reader was on it.

The writing is beautiful yet simple. You know how some people use very simple expressions and yet it’s so captivating? That’s exactly how this book is written.

Then why 4 stars?
If it weren’t for the last 2 chapters, this would’ve been a SOLID 5/5 stars and definitely a 2022 favorite.
The last two chapters felt like they were written by someone else, someone who didn’t really know how to write. They were unnecessary and at times just plain weird especially the chapter before last. Otherwise the story build up from start up to there was beautiful.

⭐️: 4/5

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiquei rendida.

Foi uma agradável surpresa. Tendo lido Íris & Ruby da mesma autora, não estava, confesso, particularmente motivada a ler este. A verdade é que me entusiasmou desde logo.

Gostei muito das personagens no seu geral, gostei do cruzamento das suas vidas, do peso do passado no presente. Das paisagens tão únicas do Evereste, das suas agruras, desvendando um pouco sobre o povo que vive nas imediações e que sobrevive à custa deste fascínio global. Da loucura mais ou menos consciente de quem o quer enfrentar e o porquê.

O trabalho feito na pesquisa de toda a temática é mais do que suficiente para aprendermos e apreendermos a grandiosidade de todo o projecto, da magnitude da maior montanha do mundo da inclemência do clima, da altitude, ao perigo de avalanche, da exposição.

A história prende-nos, pelo suspense da concretização de tal aventura irreverente, assim como das paixões que vão assomando, subtilmente, sem diminuir tudo o resto.

O que se espera depois de ultrapassar tal façanha? O que fica? O que muda?
Tudo!

É de uma profundidade tocante que não nos deixa indiferentes.

Quem viu o filme pode bem ler o livro. São diferentes e quanto a mim ambos valem a pena.

[Nina Draganova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Не разбирам алпинистите, нито пък ми е интересно да чета затова.Не мога да бъда достатъчно съпричастна поради тази причина.
Въпреки , че навремето бях в такава компания и обикалях планините с тях. Разбира се , без да се катеря.

Иначе книгата има своите качества. Явно авторката е в другата крайност и се вълнува от техните саможертви.
Вероятно има смисъл и нужда да бъдат покорявани върхове .

[Blodeuedd Finland]

Goes in the give away pile

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual a good read

I will never understand why someone would want to climb Everest but this book does attempt to explain it from various viewpoints. At times a rather uncomfortable read (the latter stages of the climb in particular) but definitely a page turner once the story has really got going. Ending not too twee either!

[Tracey Keir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking book by Rosie Thomas. The Kashmir Shawl is still one of my favourite books and Iris and Ruby was really good too.

White is all about people's drive, ambition and sometimes obsession. The story is based around an expedition to climb everest. I happened to watch The Last Mountain documentary whilst reading this book which really brought so many aspects of it to life.

[Ingrid · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read about 20 pages and could not continue: the character Sam, who's supposed to be the protagonist and the one we want to end up with the girl in the end, is a total creep and mega stalker. Who takes one look at a woman and instead of understanding that she does not want to talk to you, takes the same flight as her, sits next to her pretending to be her husband and then stalks her all the way to fricking Nepal??

But this is not the worst part. After the 20 first pages I read the the end of the book just to make sure that Sam was outed as a total psycho, but instead, he ends up with the girl! I was so disgusted...

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 25%

The premise is really intriguing and I am very interested to know what happens but there's just this character that ruins it for me. He's one of the three protagonists is creepy and cringy, seeing a woman and immediately wants to sleep with her, and even though she clearly does not want to talk to him, he kind of forces himself on her. Pretending to be her husband to take the seat next to her on an airplane and literally follows her to the Himalayas without her knowing.

[Beth Kelsall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written and a great story, but overshadowed by the fact that one of the characters is simply predatory. I don’t understand why the author has made this out to be a romantic idea….a man meets a stranger in the airport, follows her onto the plane and insists on sitting next to her, continues to try to talk to her even though she has repeatedly shown no interest. He then FOLLOWS HER TO EVEREST and continues to confess his love for her, despite the fact she has multiple times told him no. Really really disturbing and kind of ruined it for me.

[Elaine Silvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah... love Rosie Thomas. Whilst ‘Sun At Midnight’ remains my all time favourite book to read , ‘White’ has similar obvious elements . Her descriptive writing skill will have you reaching for a blanket.
Get a cuppa, get comfy and get reading!

[Chris Waterford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read about an Everest expedition---and romance---and obsession. Beautiful writing and great characters and a good finish.
8.5/10

[Gwendolyn Broadmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie Thomas's novel "White" is powerful. It's a gripping and beautifully descriptive read. The author brings you to Everest with the climbers. During her careful character development, you begin to recognize these climbers. While feeling their pain, almost to the point of touching the penetrating cold, you begin to understand that they will continue. Despite a very real risk to life and limb, in the face of stark fear, their ongoing obsession with reaching the summit will continue.

[LindyLouMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading and enjoying the novels of Rosie Thomas for many years now although it is a few years since I last read one. I must rectify this as I have at least four of her most recent novels waiting to be read. It is the usual excuse, so many books so little time, but listening to White has revived my interest. I had read this previously but decided to listen to the tapes before making them available on Bookmooch. Rosie Thomas is not only an author but a keen traveller and mountaineer which comes over in her writing, especially so in ‘White’ as it is about an expedition to climb Everest.

Her obvious knowledge of climbing adds to the reality of the story which set against the mountain backdrop, makes this novel much more than a complicated love story between the three protagonists. Sam McGrath whose chance encounter on a plane means he ends up in Nepal. Al Hood an experienced climber who has promised his daughter that this climb will be his last and Sam Finch who has signed up as an expedition doctor. Demons and dreams are played out against the dramatic backdrop of Everest.

I actually read this back in October 2007 before I started this blog, but I was already posting reviews on Amazon, my review was entitled Passion and Drama.

This is what I had to say then “This title was actually published in 2000 and it has been sitting on my bookshelf for awhile as I was not sure I wanted to read it! However I have now got around to it and enjoyed much more than expected.
I actually know very little about mountaineering so found the detail fascinating. I do find it difficult to understand why people want to push their body to its limits and beyond though. The experiences of the climbers struggling to climb Everest in this story are horrendous.
I was particularly interested to read about Namche and the trek to Everest Base Camp, as I have a niece who as part of her travels is due to go there.
If you like a good romance with some drama thrown in, you cannot fail to enjoy this”.

[Bowerbird · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a rather slow start, this book becomes quite gripping. In places it is almost too graphic. The descriptions become vivid, traumatic and very real as the party make their attempt on Everest. Al, professional mountaineer, leads the group. Finch,the doctor, is the only woman in the expedition, but she has already tackled other mountains. Sam, after an earlier encounter with Finch follows her out to the Himalayas in the hope that she might develop feelings for him. Everest however dwarfs them all as they battle with lack of oxygen, frostbite and their own inner fears while they negotiate its glaciers, rock faces and crevasses.

Having already read The Kashmir Shawl it is quite apparent that Rosie Thomas has a strong feeling for this part of the world, and understands the hazards.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a condensed book some years ago. It took me a while to get into this time, but then I was hooked. I have enjoyed other Rose Thomas books previously.

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah this so not 'my cup of tea', the pace was too slow and even though i wasn't bored per say, wasn't excited, maybe mildly interested about what was going on and how things would unfold.

For sure didnt identify with the female protagonist - someone who thinks or right out come out and admits that "... there can be too much ease. I have had it easy in the world, but climbing mountains scrapes away all the layers of expectation and assumption. Its a challenge separate from the rest of my life." Leaves me staggering to comprehend this kind of outlook on life, where u r not only born with a silver spoon in ur mouth u spit on it and go looking for dangerous ways to "take aways the taste". Sorry (not sorry) dont get it. Not to mention her relationship with her family or her attitude towards her mother. Spoilt Rotten is something that comes to mind - not a trait i'm looking for in my female lead.

Had another problem with the so called love-story between Finch and Al, like really - who was buying that?!? (and guessing form all the rave reviews here there were many that did. Again mind boggling.
Al just lost his childhood friend and because of his lifestyle and Spider's death he knows that he has also lost his wife, so he's lost figuratively and literally and he finds compassion from a female stranger and male that he is - he needs to celebrate living with sex - what a shocker. And PLZ tell me again that Finch wasn't just convenient?!? no Plz sell me the fairytale.
Even after she made the first move by joining the expedition cause she found love - yeah right. The only thing she found was someone that used her and then moved on, and guessing from how she was coddled and loved this was the first guy to not give a shit, and the experience was so new and unknown, perplexing even that she need to experience it again cause she found another "mountain" she could/would conquer. But let's face it who wants to admit that they were used and then discharged?!?

Well could go on, but anyone reading my review gets that this wasn't for me. The only reason i gave this 2 stars was for Sam and his story, he was a cute, interesting character and he was relatable, made this read bearable.
But his fascination with Finch, yeah not buying it - cause looks can only take u so far, and she isn't worth all the trouble. So - 2 stars.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I relish starting a new Rosie Thomas novel. There is nothing predicable about her books but you know that whatever the subject, it will be well researched and beautifully written.
'White' certainly wasn't a disappointment. I was with the team for every one of their steps on Everest, thanks to Thomas's brilliant descriptions. The love story in this book wasn't straight forward nor was it too sentimental.
'White', is essentially about the motivation that each character has for tackling the climb up Everest; the fears that they overcome and the physical and emotional battles that they fight to get to the summit. The book doesn't end with the final ascent but goes on to follow the 'after stories' of some of the team. This made it a very complete novel that left me wanting to read more about the many men and women who have climbed the world's highest mountain.

[Alastair Carthew]

I picked this book out of my bookshelf because there was little left to read before I replenished the shelves. I'm not really a romantic novel type, but clearly Rosie Thomas is. She writes with a clear, descriptive style and rounds out the characters fairly well. Not being a mountain climber, I found her descriptions of the process as the characters battle their way up Everest enlightening (especially as I am from New Zealand, home of Sir Edmund Hillary the first person to, as he so famously put it, "knocked the bastard off.") The plot has sufficient variation to keep interest, but the ending is fairly predictable. I can see how some readers would enjoy this type of book, but I will not be reading Rosie again. She is a good writer but just not my type.

[Sheleen A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not really enjoy this book at first, I could not seem to get into it as it jumped around introducing the characters and plot. But i kept going and then suddenly my interest changed as I travelled up the mighty Mountain with them and lived through their terrors, pain and realizations of their character strengths.
What a love Finch has for Alyn, they spent such a short time together and yet their love reached beyond their lives. A love and feeling I would love to experience.
The love Sam developed for Finch and then the unity between Sam and Alyn in their regard for Finch. Life teaches you so much in its twists and turns, we can either live on the surface and skim over the hardships and trials or we can live through them and realise the person who comes out the other side.

[Nev Prahova · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was surprisingly beautiful. I felt like I was there with the characters, climbing Everest. It was vivid and poetic. The writer clearly knew very well the topic of mountaineering as she is a prominent adventurer and knows the Himalayas in very great detail. Her knowledge of the places she describes gives a great sense of authenticity. She truly took me to these places. I felt mesmerised at times. The romantic story was a bit slow and maybe the book could have been shorter, but it was beautifully written.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I have enjoyed Rosie thomas books in the past.
For somebody who hates heights , weirdly I enjoy books about mountain climbing and this was a good part of the storyline as the characters were in the Himalayas to climb Everest.
I really liked Finch as a character, she was interesting and determined and I loved her chemistry with Al and Sam. Molly also has an impact as a teenage girl, her character really stood out especially at the end of the novel.
The story was at times heartbreaking, Adrenalin driven and enticing thanks to the characters.

[Anna Baatz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fourth Rosie Thomas book I’ve now read. Loved The Kashmir Shawl and Iris & Ruby. This has been my least favourite. Not aged great in its 23 years since publication. Sam’s behaviour is definitely predatory and very problematic in this era, and I found Finch the least inspiring female protagonist in Thomas novels. She’s fairly passive to the story progress. The descriptions of the Everest climb are nonetheless gripping however. And I did care what happened to the characters. But all in all not one I’ll remember.

[Gemma Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This arrived in a surprise box of books so not normally one I’d have chosen to read, but I was interested by the climbing theme...
Almost abandoned at the start as it was quite slow to pick up and I’m not one for a “romance” story but soon got into the story and found it quite unputdownable. Brilliantly written, really gave you a feel you were in the mountains, and I loved how the story bought everyone together in different ways.
Glad I accidentally stumbled upon this book

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author, she gets real emotion into her stories, the Kashmir Shawl was also a goodie. This book combined Ned two of my lives, a great family drama and Mount Everest. So well written, I found myself re-reading paragraphs because of the images they created in my head. A romantic novel that does not overdo the mush, what an excellent way to spend Christmas morning.

[Julie Thomason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a few of this author's work and enjoyed them. This was hard work, difficult to get into. Thought it dragged on, too long on the mountain and too long dealing with the consequences afterwards. couldn't feel sympathy for the character who died, he wasn't portrayed as was described. Not her best.

[Nicole Petrova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Замисълът на книгата е добър, но е неграмотно написана. Срамота е да се издават книги с елементарни грешки през две изречения. Колкото до съдържанието - вълнуващо и пълно с обрати. Останах доволна, на пазара могат да се намерят много по-лоши книги на по-висока цена. Както корицата не определя книгата, така и цената.

[Fiona Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely warm novel about ambition and relationships. Not my usual genre but I will be looking out for more of this writer's work. She writes with a talent of keeping the reader interested even through mundane everyday moments.

[Dzintra aka Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a rather slow start this book became a real powerhouse of looking into Everest and why people want to climb it....what drove them and feeling like you are right with them cheering them all the way!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read.

Such a different setting to other books I've read and I love that. You feel that you were there alongside them as they climbed everest, felt their struggle, felt that bitter wind.

Great descriptions of the area, atmosphere and a few people to get to know and get attached to.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hotel hardback with no flycover so no idea what I was getting into

Some of this merits very few stars but the Everest expedition makes up for it. Despite the Madeiran heat I wanted a blanket and possibly oxygen as they climbed