Review of The Altitude Journals
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havillah108
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Review of The Altitude Journals
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]
The mountains were simply battlefields where he fought the demons that had haunted him: his failed marriage, his fear of intimacy, his brother's death, and his relationship with his father. He felt he had won each of those battles, and yet somehow he had not won the war. Will Dave find happiness and regain faith in himself in The Altitude Journals by David J. Mauro?
David chose to risk his life at age forty-four, after living a comfortable, safe life as a financial planner, by suddenly declaring himself to be a mountain climber and taking on the highest summit of each continent (the Seven Summits). Only sixty-five Americans have survived this quest. He is the sixty-fifth person. His first challenge is to reach the summit of Denali, the highest point in North America.
I like how the author included some of his expedition photos in his story, which adds authenticity to the book. I liked the photo of him and his crew digging a four-foot-deep pit with snow bench seats against the walls and an ice island center table for cooking. This made me understand the story a lot better. I was surprised to learn that wounds don't heal at high altitudes and that narcotics of any kind are strictly prohibited. I also admire the author's bravery in expressing his feelings throughout the novel.
There aren't many negative aspects to the book. To begin with, there's a disturbing photo of a half-naked native Puerto Rican chief that could be upsetting to some. Second, I wish the author had gone into greater detail about his relationship with Lin. This minor hiccup, however, will not detract from anyone's enjoyment of the book.
I think it's fair to give this book four out of four stars. As I read through the novel, I only discovered one error. Dave's witty sense of humor appealed to me. I learned a lot about mountain climbing conditions like hypoxic dormancy and Cheyne-Stokes episodes. I travelled with David to various locations, including Punta Arenas, dubbed "the city at the end of the world."
Because of the number and nature of profanities in the book, I recommend it to an adult audience. Fans of autobiographies and memoirs will enjoy this journal. Those experiencing relationship difficulties or grieving the loss of a loved one will find this story uplifting. People who enjoy mountain climbing and plan to climb one or more of the world's seven summits will benefit from this book.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The mountains were simply battlefields where he fought the demons that had haunted him: his failed marriage, his fear of intimacy, his brother's death, and his relationship with his father. He felt he had won each of those battles, and yet somehow he had not won the war. Will Dave find happiness and regain faith in himself in The Altitude Journals by David J. Mauro?
David chose to risk his life at age forty-four, after living a comfortable, safe life as a financial planner, by suddenly declaring himself to be a mountain climber and taking on the highest summit of each continent (the Seven Summits). Only sixty-five Americans have survived this quest. He is the sixty-fifth person. His first challenge is to reach the summit of Denali, the highest point in North America.
I like how the author included some of his expedition photos in his story, which adds authenticity to the book. I liked the photo of him and his crew digging a four-foot-deep pit with snow bench seats against the walls and an ice island center table for cooking. This made me understand the story a lot better. I was surprised to learn that wounds don't heal at high altitudes and that narcotics of any kind are strictly prohibited. I also admire the author's bravery in expressing his feelings throughout the novel.
There aren't many negative aspects to the book. To begin with, there's a disturbing photo of a half-naked native Puerto Rican chief that could be upsetting to some. Second, I wish the author had gone into greater detail about his relationship with Lin. This minor hiccup, however, will not detract from anyone's enjoyment of the book.
I think it's fair to give this book four out of four stars. As I read through the novel, I only discovered one error. Dave's witty sense of humor appealed to me. I learned a lot about mountain climbing conditions like hypoxic dormancy and Cheyne-Stokes episodes. I travelled with David to various locations, including Punta Arenas, dubbed "the city at the end of the world."
Because of the number and nature of profanities in the book, I recommend it to an adult audience. Fans of autobiographies and memoirs will enjoy this journal. Those experiencing relationship difficulties or grieving the loss of a loved one will find this story uplifting. People who enjoy mountain climbing and plan to climb one or more of the world's seven summits will benefit from this book.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Living in Color by Mike Murphy
