Review by MargaretWood123 -- The Altitude Journals
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MargaretWood123
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- Latest Review: The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro
Review by MargaretWood123 -- The Altitude Journals
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]
3 out of 4 stars
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The Altitude Journals by David Mauro
Dave Mauro is a writer very much in command. His ability to create an addictive, smart and strikingly skilful story brings to life an epic adventure of one man taking on the worlds highest and most dangerous mountain peaks.
Mauro challenges the reader with each page, giving surprising insights into the physical and emotional limits of humans at high altitudes. From jungles with treacherous leeches, to blue lit crevices and voicemails at the top of the world, Mauro creates one hell of a gripping adventure. As the author said he accepted the challenge and “set my life on a path through forests and wastelands, over glaciers and clouds, beside cannibals and penguins, and in the company of elephants and gun runners.”
But this story is not just one of freezing frostbitten endurance. It is also the story of Mauro’s life, as a normal financial adviser, a father, a not very athletic child and a lover of comedy improvisation, coming to grips with his divorce and maybe even, love again.
Mauro openly lets the reader into his world, where the reader learns about the man’s fears after divorce such as facing mutual friends of his x-wife, raising his two sons and his own childhood poverty. We also learn about what keeps Mauro ticking, the excitement of planning and studying mountain routes, the physical fitness needed and the exhilaration with being up in the snowy-capped ranges.
This novel leads the reader from page to page around the world, where we learn about the incredible preparation and technical work that goes into high altitude mountain climbing. At the same time Mauro injects laugh out loud moments as he studies what he calls his ‘altitude brotherhood’ teammates struggling to eat freeze dry meals, peeing into bottles in the middle -20 degree nights and negotiating Sherpa strikes.
The novel is highly recommended to mountaineers, divorcees and anyone looking for a story of one mans’ expansive ambitions for a new life against all odds. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The reason for this rating is the novel was very much in the first person and the novel could well have benefitted from other perspectives back home such as Mauro’s family or friends, while Mauro was climbing around the world.
Yet all in all, this novel is a compelling read of mountaineering and a fascinating portrait of divorce in all its labyrinthine complexity and tenderness. A beautiful and hilarious story, this book had me gripped from its very first sentence.
******
The Altitude Journals
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
The Altitude Journals by David Mauro
Dave Mauro is a writer very much in command. His ability to create an addictive, smart and strikingly skilful story brings to life an epic adventure of one man taking on the worlds highest and most dangerous mountain peaks.
Mauro challenges the reader with each page, giving surprising insights into the physical and emotional limits of humans at high altitudes. From jungles with treacherous leeches, to blue lit crevices and voicemails at the top of the world, Mauro creates one hell of a gripping adventure. As the author said he accepted the challenge and “set my life on a path through forests and wastelands, over glaciers and clouds, beside cannibals and penguins, and in the company of elephants and gun runners.”
But this story is not just one of freezing frostbitten endurance. It is also the story of Mauro’s life, as a normal financial adviser, a father, a not very athletic child and a lover of comedy improvisation, coming to grips with his divorce and maybe even, love again.
Mauro openly lets the reader into his world, where the reader learns about the man’s fears after divorce such as facing mutual friends of his x-wife, raising his two sons and his own childhood poverty. We also learn about what keeps Mauro ticking, the excitement of planning and studying mountain routes, the physical fitness needed and the exhilaration with being up in the snowy-capped ranges.
This novel leads the reader from page to page around the world, where we learn about the incredible preparation and technical work that goes into high altitude mountain climbing. At the same time Mauro injects laugh out loud moments as he studies what he calls his ‘altitude brotherhood’ teammates struggling to eat freeze dry meals, peeing into bottles in the middle -20 degree nights and negotiating Sherpa strikes.
The novel is highly recommended to mountaineers, divorcees and anyone looking for a story of one mans’ expansive ambitions for a new life against all odds. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The reason for this rating is the novel was very much in the first person and the novel could well have benefitted from other perspectives back home such as Mauro’s family or friends, while Mauro was climbing around the world.
Yet all in all, this novel is a compelling read of mountaineering and a fascinating portrait of divorce in all its labyrinthine complexity and tenderness. A beautiful and hilarious story, this book had me gripped from its very first sentence.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like MargaretWood123's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro
