Hannah Blue is stuck in a rut. Although she loves her family, they are high-maintenance. Although she loves her boyfriend, she is not sure she is as ready for a lifetime commitment as he is. And, although she loves her work as an interior designer, she is so far from the top of the corporate ladder that she is often found fetching coffee for her boss. Hannah, the main character of Gwendolen Gross's second novel, GETTING OUT, after feeling pulled in so many directions for so long, has stumbled upon a way out, literally. When she comes across a photo in the office copy room of a man joyfully suspended by ropes and pulleys from the side of a mountain cliff she is enthralled. And when Linda, the photo's owner, catches her staring at it she invites her to the next meeting of the Adventurers' Club.
Hannah's parents divorced years ago but she and her siblings still seem to be suffering because of it. Each, in his or her own way, struggles with issues of responsibility. Hannah herself is caught in a conflict over her responsibilities to others and to herself. Hopelessly unprepared for the physical and mental challenges of the Adventurers' Club, Hannah sets out to conquer the landscape from Massachusetts to Washington State. After her father is diagnosed with a serious illness and her brother's pregnant wife leaves him, Hannah's need for escape grows even stronger. The other members of the club welcome her warmly but test her limits and her faith in herself. And eventually she begins to see in herself the strengths others find so apparent.
In Hannah, Gross has captured much of the spirit of an over-stressed and self-critical generation. Without resorting to predictable characters, setting, or action, she presents a likable and strong female protagonist. Hannah is someone the reader can really cheer for. That is not to say that she is not a realistic character; in fact she is grounded in that all-too-common reality of being torn between the youthful desire to act selfishly and the longing to settle down. Gross also skillfully demonstrates the schism many feel between trying to please family and friends and wanting to seek out their own path to happiness. Hannah learns that these agendas must all be carefully balanced to achieve fulfillment.
GETTING OUT puts a new spin on the adventure story. Hannah's adventures outdoors (from hiking glaciers to crawling though underground caverns) reflect the challenges she faces emotionally. Each conquered mountain is like each resolved dilemma --- a difficult but necessary passage.
While they are all interesting, not all of the characters in the novel are as firmly developed as they could be. The Blue family is written as sweetly dysfunctional, but the problems they face seem to warrant a more serious tone. Hannah's passion for outdoor adventuring is understandable; it seems to be very cathartic for her. However, this is implied rather than clearly stated, and the reader is never really allowed to examine Hannah's deepest motivations. Still, the novel is enjoyable and original in many ways. Gross's appreciation of nature and the lessons it can teach and her dedication to the integrity of her characters are obvious.
--- Reviewed by Sarah Egelman
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