Official Review: An Uphill Climb by Jim Santos
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- unamilagra
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: 07 Feb 2019, 22:57
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 120
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-unamilagra.html
- Latest Review: Powerballs by Jimmy Clifton
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Official Review: An Uphill Climb by Jim Santos
Jim Santos was not a likely candidate to hike the Inca Trail. At almost 60 years old, well over 200 pounds, and struggling with a drinking problem, he was in no condition to take on the grueling four-day path through the mountains leading to Machu Picchu. After living through childhood trauma and then the grief of losing his first wife to cancer, Santos was stuck in a cycle of depression and guilt, which he identified as Survivor’s Guilt. He eventually married again and was determined to allow himself to feel accomplished and happy. Santos decided to take on the Inca Trail to prove to himself that he could achieve great things. He was hopeful that setting this goal for himself and working to meet it would help him finally break free of the crushing weight of Survivor’s Guilt.
An Uphill Climb by Jim Santos is a nonfiction book that is part memoir, part travelogue. The book is broken down into two parts. In the first part, Santos switches between his own journal entries from three different time periods: in 2008 leading up to his wife’s death, in 2009 when he attempted to move forward with his life as a widower, and in 2016 and 2017 during the year he trained and prepared for the Inca Trail hike. He also provides insights into his family history and childhood trauma. Switching between these different formative times in his life helps the reader understand where his Survivor’s Guilt came from and why he wanted to take on such an incredible task. Part two of the book follows Santos and his wife along the Inca Trail. He records their ups and downs on their quest to make it to Machu Picchu by sunrise on the fourth day.
I really enjoyed the author’s voice throughout the book. He spoke with raw honesty about his past trauma and his successes and setbacks as he prepared for his hike. He didn’t try to make himself sound better than he was or provide excuses for his weaknesses. He fully owned his choices and mistakes and explained how he would try to do better next time. He spoke with a sarcastic, self-deprecating humor that made me feel like I was swapping stories with a friend.
I also enjoyed that he included photos of his journey. These photos included those taken along the Inca Trail, as well as from his training hikes all around Ecuador, which was his home base during the year he prepared for the hike. The photos were not professional quality, but they were still colorful and nicely done, and it made the book feel even more authentic. His candid descriptions of the hike itself really helped me understand just how strenuous it was. He did not sugarcoat the journey or try to convince others to do the hike themselves. He was honest that it is not for everyone. It should only be done with proper training and equipment.
I can’t think of anything I disliked about this book. I did notice some errors, but they were minor and didn’t take away from the story. I am happy to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. There is some profanity included in this book, as well as some references to abuse, so readers sensitive to that content should proceed with caution. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys travel, especially if they have considered hiking the Inca Trail themselves. It would also be a great read for anyone attempting to overcome past trauma.
******
An Uphill Climb
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
- TCG
- Posts: 416
- Joined: 03 Jul 2020, 18:02
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 93
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tcg.html
- Latest Review: The Jewels Of The Rainbow by H.F. Snyder
-
- Posts: 260
- Joined: 29 Jun 2020, 09:23
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 38
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ify-reviewer.html
- Latest Review: Return to Eternity by Jenni Barnett
- Honest-reviewer
- Posts: 1565
- Joined: 17 Feb 2020, 10:18
- Currently Reading: The Lost Symbol
- Bookshelf Size: 119
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-honest-reviewer.html
- Latest Review: Sip Lake by joseph basara
-
- Posts: 80
- Joined: 12 Jul 2020, 08:43
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 44
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kathy2705.html
- Latest Review: The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
-
- Posts: 80
- Joined: 12 Jul 2020, 08:43
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 44
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kathy2705.html
- Latest Review: The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
- Ada Ling
- Posts: 373
- Joined: 29 Mar 2020, 17:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 21
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ada-ling.html
- Latest Review: Catapulting Commissions by Anthony Garcia
- Ellylion
- Posts: 3249
- Joined: 01 Mar 2019, 15:33
- Favorite Book: The Altitude Journals
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 136
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ellylion.html
- Latest Review: The Islands Tell Of It by Patty Fischer
-
- Posts: 47
- Joined: 09 Jul 2020, 13:10
- Currently Reading: The Demon of the Well
- Bookshelf Size: 15
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-difu.html
- Latest Review: Spirit of the Season by Brian Lamont
- unamilagra
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: 07 Feb 2019, 22:57
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 120
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-unamilagra.html
- Latest Review: Powerballs by Jimmy Clifton
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for stopping by!Ify_Reviewer wrote: ↑29 Aug 2020, 03:15 The review is comprehensive enough to make readers decide whether to read it or not. Thanks.
I hope you enjoy it if you do end up reading it. Thanks for your comment!Honest-reviewer wrote: ↑29 Aug 2020, 04:32 A travelogue is fun to read. This book seems to be informative as well. I would like to read this someday. Thanks for your wonderful review!
I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!
Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for stopping by to comment!
I hope you enjoy the book if you decide to read it. Thanks for commenting!
- Rodel Barnachea
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 1595
- Joined: 24 Jun 2020, 22:16
- Currently Reading: The Unfakeable Code®
- Bookshelf Size: 85
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rodel-barnachea.html
- Latest Review: An Accessible Iliad by Emer Jackson
- Sou Hi
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 2364
- Joined: 07 Sep 2019, 09:06
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 154
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sou-hi.html
- Latest Review: Project Tau by Jude Austin
-
- Posts: 169
- Joined: 20 Aug 2020, 02:36
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 14
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-adhambakry.html
- Latest Review: Divided World by Kenneth Pickering
- unamilagra
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: 07 Feb 2019, 22:57
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 120
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-unamilagra.html
- Latest Review: Powerballs by Jimmy Clifton
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for your comment!
Thanks for stopping by!adhambakry wrote: ↑06 Sep 2020, 06:45 Thanks for the review! The book seems to be engaging and inspiring. I might give it a try!
- Phelicia Gloria
- Posts: 810
- Joined: 10 May 2020, 09:19
- Currently Reading: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
- Bookshelf Size: 119
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-phelicia-gloria.html
- Latest Review: Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren