Review of The Altitude Journals

Tarie07 · Post by **Tarie07** » 06 Apr 2022, 09:37

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

The Altitude Journals is a memoir by David J. Mauro. Mauro describes how he both metaphorically and literally climbs mountains in his life. He and his wife decide to get a divorce, and even though he knew they had fallen out of love, the divorce takes a toll on him. Going through the motions, his brother-inlaw, Ty, invites him to join his team on a mission to climb Denali. The author sees this as an escape from his pain. Although new to the world of mountain climbing, Mauro manages to summit against all odds. He learns a lot that helps him to get through his divorce. Will he be able to find love again?

What started out as a way to escape pain finds more reasons to become life missions. After Denali, he feels compelled to go to mount Kilimanjaro. He completes summit, and like when he was on top of Denali, he learns how to face his fears. Over the years, he goes on to climb 6 more mountains around the world to complete seven summits. Does he find what he is looking for in completing these summits?

In all honesty, I never thought the author would be able to do the first summit. It was his first climb and he struggled a lot, but he was very persistent. I loved his courage and never-quiting attitude. He stands as an inspirational figure to all the middle-aged men out there or simply family men who think they cannot have a life out of parenting. It is okay to take time off for yourself. I loved how the author managed to discover his adventurous side in his middle age. It is never too late to try new things. Mauro was open-minded in a way I wish I could be. He always followed his gut to find out where it was leading him and it never disappointed. His writing style was captivating. From his first summit, I thought he would fulfill all of the seven summits with the same crew. Changing crews made his adventures more interesting.

The author brings to light how couples sometimes fall out of love but stay married because neither one of them has the courage to leave. This leads to unhappy marriages. It is better to separate than deprive one another of happiness. After separating with his wife, their children would live in between their father's and mother's different apartments. Theirs is an example you can still have a normal life after divorce. I loved how his son, Trevor, felt he could open up to his father about his sexuality. Mauro's response was that of a loving father. He made sure his son knew he loved him regardless of who he chose to be. Most bisexuals are afraid to come out because their families or communities in general may be too judgemental.

The Altitude Journals contained no errors, proof of exceptional editing. The vocabulary was professional but not too heavy to comprehend or disrupt the reading flow. The pace was even throughout, never dropping and never too stiff. The author perfectly described his journey to the last detail. I found nothing to dislike about this book. This is why I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.

I recommend this book to all the fathers out there who think their days to have fun ended when they started families. The author would be a perfect example to show them having a family does not hinder you from enjoying life. I aslo recommend it to those who are going through divorce. The author talks about how he got through it and it could be of help to someone. The Altitude Journals is a perfect read for adventurers. I am no adventurer myself but Mauro had me feeling like I should definitely try mountain climbing. Readers of all religions are welcome to try. There is minimum profanity so it is suitable for young readers.

******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Muna Chizzy · Post by **Muna Chizzy** » 08 Apr 2022, 22:41

I love the message the author is passing across about divorce. It's better to separate than be in an unhappy marriage. Thanks for the insightful review.

Tarie07 · Post by **Tarie07** » 17 Apr 2022, 05:37

Muna Chizzy wrote: ↑08 Apr 2022, 22:41 I love the message the author is passing across about divorce. It's better to separate than be in an unhappy marriage. Thanks for the insightful review.

Trying to force things will cause more damage. Thanks for the comment.