Review of The Altitude Journals

cutemami · Post by **cutemami** » 09 May 2022, 19:48

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

4 out of 4 stars

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The Altitude Journals is a memoir that follows the life of David J. Mauro as he does extraordinary acts. When he was at a particularly low point in his life, he found an escape that became a happy place for him. The first peak he managed to climb was Denali, with the help of fellow climbers. The experience while climbing this peak gave him a new outlook on life. It was a turning point for him as after finishing this expedition, he changed his life for the better. David Mauro would then decide to continue his climbing adventures over six more years. Mountain climbing offered him a place to heal and get a lot of personal growth. Mauro wanted to climb the highest peak on all the different continents. He started with North America and continued to the other continents. This memoir showed his great determination and how truly inspiring his journey was.

The first thing I loved about this book was how David was able to change his life completely and find love as well. It was a powerful message that shows that we should never give up, and also that things can change for the better no matter how bad they seem. Anyone who reads this book while going through a rough patch will get inspired and become hopeful. Another thing I loved was the title of the book and how it is a clever way to say exactly what the memoir is about. It was a well-thought-out title that is not misleading and shows you what to expect in the book.

Another thing I liked about this book is that although it offers some very serious themes, it also has a humorous aspect to it. David made sure to make his journey easier to follow and relatable as he showed a sense of vulnerability to all he decided to share in his memoir. It made me feel like I knew him on a personal level; and gave me more of an emotional attachment to the story. This is an indication that I will not be forgetting this memorable piece any time soon. I felt a sense of great honesty from Mauro. With a memoir, I feel like that is an important element because the writer is talking about something that happened to them. The reader should not doubt at any point that the events being told are true because the memoir would lose all credibility. I never felt like the events portrayed in this memoir were exaggerated or outright lies. I appreciated that about this book, and it made reading it all the more worthwhile.

The last but not least thing I loved about this book were the photos. I cannot fully explain how much I looked forward to seeing the next photo Dave took or was in. These photos painted a very good mental picture of everything I had been reading. They put this memoir on another level of credibility that I also appreciated. The photos were a nice touch, and I would have appreciated seeing many more of them.

The one thing about this book that might negatively affect it is the profanity. I did not mind it as it was used in a manner that was not repulsive to me. To some sensitive readers, this profanity might make them enjoy the book a bit less. The profanity did not take anything away from the overall story or my enjoyment of it. That being said, I recommend this book to young adults and mature audiences. To those looking for an inspiring read or some motivation, this is the book to read. People who find thrill in adventures and daring acts will also love this book. The book was also edited impeccably and I found no errors. Hence I rate this book a well-deserved 4 out of 4 stars.

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The Altitude Journals
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