Review by Nicoleadrianne -- The Altitude Journals

[Nicoleadrianne]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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I read The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro. I give it 4 out of 4 stars.

This book was incredibly well written and edited, with no noticeable typos and only a light scattering of profanity. It follows the journey of David himself as he summits the highest peaks on each of the seven continents, while also narrating his real-life struggles in between the climbs. It's full of honesty, real accounts of real people, and is absolutely inspirational.

I chose to read this book because I do love hiking and climbing, but I'm confident that anyone looking for an emotional or spiritual pick-me-up would thoroughly enjoy it, regardless of their feelings about mountain climbing. David faces romantic breaks, the challenges of staying close to his teenage children, and the physical brutality of the seven peaks, and comes out on top.

My favorite thing about this book is that he David only writes what happened in detail, but what his thought process was as the events happened. It's genuine, raw, and relatable, even to those of us who spend most of our time indoors.

If I had to pick a least favorite part of the book, it would be the profanity. However, in the long run, it did very little to detract from the overall narrative.

The format of the book alternates between David's normal life and his daring climbs. It starts with David receiving an invitation from an old friend to join a climbing expedition, which he accepts without fully understanding why. Surprised at himself, he begins to train his body and gather supplies, preparing for this climb of a lifetime. Little did he know that the expedition wouldn't be his last.

His wife was a little less supportive of his newfound sense of adventure, and in the early parts of the book, we follow the breakdown of their marriage. But David doesn't give up! He keeps climbing, and views each summit as a representation of a challenge in his life. With every step, he becomes more resilient to grief, betrayal, and those mean voices we each have inside of our heads.

Eventually, David finds new love, connects with his children in a meaningful way, and becomes a local legend, sporting seven tattoos of seven peaks. He never set out to summit the seven peaks, but the call of the mountains was irresistible, and he did the unthinkable with little more than good preparation and strong determination.

Thank you for writing such a wonderful, powerful tale!

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The Altitude Journals
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