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“Dixon, Descending” by Karen Outen

About Blog Post May 16, 2024 by SCLSNJ Staff
“Dixon, Descending” by Karen Outen  Review by Yvonne Selander, collection development librarian Dixon loves his job, his daughter and his life. But he can’t help thinking that something is missing. It all goes back to missing his chance to run in the Olympics by two-tenths of a second. When his older brother Nate comes to him with the absurd idea that they should climb Everest together Dixon, who has some climbing experience, is intrigued, then wrapped up in the idea that they could be the first Black Americans to summit the world’s highest peak together.  I’m not spoiling anything telling you that only one brother, the titular Dixon, makes it down Everest. This novel is about the relationship between the brothers, the drive that motivates them and how one deals with the grief of surviving without the other. The book doesn’t get overly technical about the logistics of the preparation and ascent, but gives you enough detail that as you are reading in your comfortable reading nook you can feel the bone chilling cold and struggle to get enough frozen air in your lungs. Even if you have no desire to climb a hill, nevermind a snow covered peak, you will want to take this journey with Dixon. The focus of the novel is on the after. How your world changes after tragedy and the struggle of trying to understand who can and cannot be saved.