Review by John Makathimo -- The Altitude Journals
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John Makathimo
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Review by John Makathimo -- The Altitude Journals
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]
4 out of 4 stars
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ALTITUDE JOURNALS - BY DAVID J. MAURO – 4 out of 4 Stars
Review - by John Makathimo
David J. Mauro is a man struggling with what he refers to as personal demons that haunt and chase him from childhood into adulthood. David and his three siblings experience a life of near poverty after their father Don divorced their mother when they are still young. Despite the hardships, his mother tells him he is special and David spends a significant part of his life trying to prove so.
His own divorce and the death of his brother Danny inflicts further damage to his fractured self- esteem but he crafts an amicable arrangement with his wife that shields his own two sons from experiencing the emotional insecurity and financial embarrassment that had plagued his childhood. A financial markets clash with his company implicated in the scandal is the final trigger that drives David into mountain climbing to ventilate his emotional pain.
David’s brother in law Ty encourages him to accompany his TV Crew on climbing Mt McKinley. His weak sports background inspired very little confidence but Ty and his two sisters grant him requisite support. Inexperience and self-doubt almost cause David to abandon his initial mountaineering success but near sub-zero temperatures and hallucinations that laid bare his life in vivid visions that confound reality helped him to face his problems.
David is on a roll henceforth as he embarks on a mountaineering odyssey to crest the remaining six highest mountains in the world. A Lion vision calls him to Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest in Africa, which seems less of a challenge because of prior experience and adequate training. So revitalized is he with this successful climb that he finds confidence to at last confess his love for Lin.In the intervening period, David joins a theatre group in his home town and learns the importance of improvising which resonates with his mountain climbing ordeals where nothing is constant because of unpredictable natural obstacles including his own body metabolism.
As David reconnects with some people from his earlier climbs to crest Elbrus in Russia, the tallest peak in Europe, a climbing couple makes him realize that he was not the only one climbing mountains to deal with their problems and seek release and solutions. The spirit of Lin, his late brother’s ashes which he carries with him like a talisman, his boys and mother all shared with him every triumph and waking moment while his blogs continued to generate a larger following that was fulfilling his longing for recognition of his exploits.
While climbing Aconcagua in Argentina, his brother in law Ty lets him know that he had a similar childhood like his and yet had never let it negatively affect his life. This mountain speaks to his spirit and that manifests in his new found peace with his father who he takes on holiday later. David’s mountaineering experience has also matured and he participates more meaningfully in helping others including fellow climbers.
By the time David joins a team climbing Vinson Massif in Antarctica, he is a man transformed and more resolute in his determination to achieve that which no one can never take away from him. He now feels a sense of duty to share his experiences with the rest of the world, not for personal glory this time round but also for the emancipation of those who may have their own mountain versions that they need to climb irrespective of the hurdles; natural, man- made, spiritual or perceived.
Climbing Carstensz in Papua New Guinea exposed David to real misery of gross exploitation of the populace in the midst of plenty. A 61 year old lady in his climbing team crests her last of the seven highest peaks in the world and then the call of Everest starts intruding to spur him at a time when he feels the climbs had achieved their purpose for his now well ordered life with an all-round loving family and financial stability.
David takes advantage of climbing Everest to raise funds for the Bellingham Boys and Girls Club. He gives talks encouraging the boys and girls that their dreams were valid and all it took was hard work to actualize them. The climb is the toughest for David, where in the midst of near desperation, he reaches out to the spirits of his family members and Budhist spirituality to achieve a first to the earths pinnacle. The mountains taught him to listen, trust and act and always place the interests of others before his own and do everything possible to make a difference in the life of a child.
I like the book because it challenges all of us to work hard irrespective of the challenges that life throws our way and never to trivialize the love and worth of our families and communities irrespective of their human frailties or proclivities.
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport scene where passengers are rushed to board their flight by a running soldier weaving in and out of fully rotating aircraft propellers and jet engines is unrealistic. Also, passengers not having time to fasten their seat belts from the time they board, aircraft is pushed back and taxis all the way to the runway is quite a stretch of imagination (page 92).
Additionally, the scene atop Kilimanjaro of wildebeest migration (the eighth wonder of the world) in January is not factual because migration is between July coming out of Serengeti in Tanzania into Maasai Mara in Kenya and exiting Maasai Mara back to Serengeti in October (page 102 & 103).
However, Altitude Journals is an elevating yarn like no other and very well written. It is a monumental pillar for honesty that David Mauro has adopted to bring out a strong and confident character from the depths of near despair. I confidently give Altitude Journals 4 out of 4 Stars.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
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ALTITUDE JOURNALS - BY DAVID J. MAURO – 4 out of 4 Stars
Review - by John Makathimo
David J. Mauro is a man struggling with what he refers to as personal demons that haunt and chase him from childhood into adulthood. David and his three siblings experience a life of near poverty after their father Don divorced their mother when they are still young. Despite the hardships, his mother tells him he is special and David spends a significant part of his life trying to prove so.
His own divorce and the death of his brother Danny inflicts further damage to his fractured self- esteem but he crafts an amicable arrangement with his wife that shields his own two sons from experiencing the emotional insecurity and financial embarrassment that had plagued his childhood. A financial markets clash with his company implicated in the scandal is the final trigger that drives David into mountain climbing to ventilate his emotional pain.
David’s brother in law Ty encourages him to accompany his TV Crew on climbing Mt McKinley. His weak sports background inspired very little confidence but Ty and his two sisters grant him requisite support. Inexperience and self-doubt almost cause David to abandon his initial mountaineering success but near sub-zero temperatures and hallucinations that laid bare his life in vivid visions that confound reality helped him to face his problems.
David is on a roll henceforth as he embarks on a mountaineering odyssey to crest the remaining six highest mountains in the world. A Lion vision calls him to Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest in Africa, which seems less of a challenge because of prior experience and adequate training. So revitalized is he with this successful climb that he finds confidence to at last confess his love for Lin.In the intervening period, David joins a theatre group in his home town and learns the importance of improvising which resonates with his mountain climbing ordeals where nothing is constant because of unpredictable natural obstacles including his own body metabolism.
As David reconnects with some people from his earlier climbs to crest Elbrus in Russia, the tallest peak in Europe, a climbing couple makes him realize that he was not the only one climbing mountains to deal with their problems and seek release and solutions. The spirit of Lin, his late brother’s ashes which he carries with him like a talisman, his boys and mother all shared with him every triumph and waking moment while his blogs continued to generate a larger following that was fulfilling his longing for recognition of his exploits.
While climbing Aconcagua in Argentina, his brother in law Ty lets him know that he had a similar childhood like his and yet had never let it negatively affect his life. This mountain speaks to his spirit and that manifests in his new found peace with his father who he takes on holiday later. David’s mountaineering experience has also matured and he participates more meaningfully in helping others including fellow climbers.
By the time David joins a team climbing Vinson Massif in Antarctica, he is a man transformed and more resolute in his determination to achieve that which no one can never take away from him. He now feels a sense of duty to share his experiences with the rest of the world, not for personal glory this time round but also for the emancipation of those who may have their own mountain versions that they need to climb irrespective of the hurdles; natural, man- made, spiritual or perceived.
Climbing Carstensz in Papua New Guinea exposed David to real misery of gross exploitation of the populace in the midst of plenty. A 61 year old lady in his climbing team crests her last of the seven highest peaks in the world and then the call of Everest starts intruding to spur him at a time when he feels the climbs had achieved their purpose for his now well ordered life with an all-round loving family and financial stability.
David takes advantage of climbing Everest to raise funds for the Bellingham Boys and Girls Club. He gives talks encouraging the boys and girls that their dreams were valid and all it took was hard work to actualize them. The climb is the toughest for David, where in the midst of near desperation, he reaches out to the spirits of his family members and Budhist spirituality to achieve a first to the earths pinnacle. The mountains taught him to listen, trust and act and always place the interests of others before his own and do everything possible to make a difference in the life of a child.
I like the book because it challenges all of us to work hard irrespective of the challenges that life throws our way and never to trivialize the love and worth of our families and communities irrespective of their human frailties or proclivities.
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport scene where passengers are rushed to board their flight by a running soldier weaving in and out of fully rotating aircraft propellers and jet engines is unrealistic. Also, passengers not having time to fasten their seat belts from the time they board, aircraft is pushed back and taxis all the way to the runway is quite a stretch of imagination (page 92).
Additionally, the scene atop Kilimanjaro of wildebeest migration (the eighth wonder of the world) in January is not factual because migration is between July coming out of Serengeti in Tanzania into Maasai Mara in Kenya and exiting Maasai Mara back to Serengeti in October (page 102 & 103).
However, Altitude Journals is an elevating yarn like no other and very well written. It is a monumental pillar for honesty that David Mauro has adopted to bring out a strong and confident character from the depths of near despair. I confidently give Altitude Journals 4 out of 4 Stars.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like John Makathimo's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: The Warramunga's War by Greg Kater
