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48 Peaks: Hiking and Healing in the White Mountains
Floundering in her second career, the one she’s always wanted, forty-eight year old Cheryl Suchors resolves that, despite a fear of heights, her mid-life success depends on hiking the highest of the grueling White Mountains in New Hampshire. All forty-eight of them. She endures injuries, novice mistakes, and the heartbreaking loss of a best friend. When breast cancer threatens her own life, she seeks solace and recovery in the wild. Her quest takes ten years. Regardless of the need since childhood to feel successful and in control, climbing teaches her mastery isn’t enough and control is often an illusion. Connecting with friends and with nature, Suchors redefines she discovers a source of spiritual nourishment, spaces powerful enough to absorb her grief, and joy in the persistence of love and beauty. 48 Peaks inspires us to believe that, no matter what obstacles we face, we too can attain our summits.
320 pages, Paperback
Published September 11, 2018
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1374 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 23, 2018
See this review and many more at: 5171 Miles Book Blog.
As someone who aspires to hike the Appalachian Trail in my lifetime, the White Mountains are oftentimes a part of my research or the videos I watch, with over one hundred miles of the AT traveling through the range. This is one of the most grueling albeit beautiful parts of the hike. When I discovered Cheryl Suchors’ book, 48 Peaks: Hiking and Healing in the White Mountains by She Writes Press on Netgalley, I almost felt as if it was speaking to me personally! I just had to have it, not only because I love a good memoir, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn more about hiking this area of our country.
_______
BLURB:
Floundering in her second career, the one she’s always wanted, forty-eight-year-old Cheryl Suchors resolves that, despite a fear of heights, her mid-life success depends on hiking the highest of the grueling White Mountains in New Hampshire. All forty-eight of them. She endures injuries, novice mistakes, and the heartbreaking loss of a best friend. When breast cancer threatens her own life, she seeks solace and recovery in the wild. Her quest takes ten years. Regardless of the need since childhood to feel successful and in control, climbing teaches her mastery isn’t enough and control is often an illusion.
Connecting with friends and with nature, Suchors redefines success: she discovers a source of spiritual nourishment, spaces powerful enough to absorb her grief, and joy in the persistence of love and beauty. 48 Peaks inspires us to believe that, no matter what obstacles we face, we too can attain our summits.
_____
While this was a slower read for me because of the immense detail and span of years, friendship, and life covered, I couldn’t skip a single word. I had to know what would happen next, almost as if I was reading a fictional novel. I was inspired by something on nearly every page, feeling as if I could accomplish anything after I finished this book. Cheryl’s strength both mentally and physically is awe-inspiring. She battled numerous injuries, cancer, death, and the normal demands one would face in the span of ten years. Simply, this is a tale of a life of a woman determined to accomplish her goal, despite the tremendous obstacles standing in her way.
Being able to learn about the condition of the body, challenges, people, and acts of nature making each individual hike difficult was one of my favorite things about this read. These are things I look forward to learning about this topic and I was happy to see everything I hoped for was covered in this novel.
The biggest thing I took away from reading 48 Peaks was the human ability to accomplish anything we put our minds to, if only we keep trying. Cheryl faced basically every hardship a person can experience in life within the ten-year span of chipping away at her goal. Most people would have given up, no doubt Cheryl felt like she should at times, but after each set-back, her resolve only strengthened. Cheryl Suchors’ impeccable will almost makes me feel a well of emotions, just thinking about it. I want to be a woman with as strong of a mind, unable to accept failure; instead, seeing impediments as another mountain to climb whether those mountains are physical or metaphorical.
I’m so thankful for the chance to have been able to read Cheryl’s story and bear witness to her huge accomplishment, if only in writing. 48 Peaks gets a strong 4-stars from me, only losing one star for the organization of the story as a whole. I can’t recommend this fantastic memoir enough. Even if you don’t find yourself being an outdoorswoman, this book is worth picking up, as it delves into the issues we face as women, motherhood, friendship, and the heartbreaking loss of people we love. I guarantee this book will make readers feel inspired and moved to take action in their own lives, no matter their goals.
Cheryl, you are a superhero!
Get your copy of 48 Peaks on September 11, 2018 or pre-order now!
As someone who aspires to hike the Appalachian Trail in my lifetime, the White Mountains are oftentimes a part of my research or the videos I watch, with over one hundred miles of the AT traveling through the range. This is one of the most grueling albeit beautiful parts of the hike. When I discovered Cheryl Suchors’ book, 48 Peaks: Hiking and Healing in the White Mountains by She Writes Press on Netgalley, I almost felt as if it was speaking to me personally! I just had to have it, not only because I love a good memoir, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn more about hiking this area of our country.
_______
BLURB:
Floundering in her second career, the one she’s always wanted, forty-eight-year-old Cheryl Suchors resolves that, despite a fear of heights, her mid-life success depends on hiking the highest of the grueling White Mountains in New Hampshire. All forty-eight of them. She endures injuries, novice mistakes, and the heartbreaking loss of a best friend. When breast cancer threatens her own life, she seeks solace and recovery in the wild. Her quest takes ten years. Regardless of the need since childhood to feel successful and in control, climbing teaches her mastery isn’t enough and control is often an illusion.
Connecting with friends and with nature, Suchors redefines success: she discovers a source of spiritual nourishment, spaces powerful enough to absorb her grief, and joy in the persistence of love and beauty. 48 Peaks inspires us to believe that, no matter what obstacles we face, we too can attain our summits.
_____
While this was a slower read for me because of the immense detail and span of years, friendship, and life covered, I couldn’t skip a single word. I had to know what would happen next, almost as if I was reading a fictional novel. I was inspired by something on nearly every page, feeling as if I could accomplish anything after I finished this book. Cheryl’s strength both mentally and physically is awe-inspiring. She battled numerous injuries, cancer, death, and the normal demands one would face in the span of ten years. Simply, this is a tale of a life of a woman determined to accomplish her goal, despite the tremendous obstacles standing in her way.
Being able to learn about the condition of the body, challenges, people, and acts of nature making each individual hike difficult was one of my favorite things about this read. These are things I look forward to learning about this topic and I was happy to see everything I hoped for was covered in this novel.
The biggest thing I took away from reading 48 Peaks was the human ability to accomplish anything we put our minds to, if only we keep trying. Cheryl faced basically every hardship a person can experience in life within the ten-year span of chipping away at her goal. Most people would have given up, no doubt Cheryl felt like she should at times, but after each set-back, her resolve only strengthened. Cheryl Suchors’ impeccable will almost makes me feel a well of emotions, just thinking about it. I want to be a woman with as strong of a mind, unable to accept failure; instead, seeing impediments as another mountain to climb whether those mountains are physical or metaphorical.
I’m so thankful for the chance to have been able to read Cheryl’s story and bear witness to her huge accomplishment, if only in writing. 48 Peaks gets a strong 4-stars from me, only losing one star for the organization of the story as a whole. I can’t recommend this fantastic memoir enough. Even if you don’t find yourself being an outdoorswoman, this book is worth picking up, as it delves into the issues we face as women, motherhood, friendship, and the heartbreaking loss of people we love. I guarantee this book will make readers feel inspired and moved to take action in their own lives, no matter their goals.
Cheryl, you are a superhero!
Get your copy of 48 Peaks on September 11, 2018 or pre-order now!
July 3, 2019
48 PEAKS tells Cheryl Suchors’ poignant, inspirational and beautifully written story of loss, illness, friendship, and recovery. Over a decade, she loses her best friend to cancer, nearly loses her own life to the illness, struggles mightily in a mid-life second career, and copes with a long-held crippling need to succeed and be in control. She decides to hike the highest peaks — all 48 — in New Hampshire’s White Mountains with the support of friends and it is this journey into the wild that leads to deep emotional, physical and spiritual healing. A lovely, hopeful narrative that encourages us to keep climbing our own life peaks, no matter the obstacles. Highly recommended!
Pub Date 11 Sep 2018
Thanks to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#48peaks #NetGalley
Pub Date 11 Sep 2018
Thanks to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#48peaks #NetGalley
January 25, 2022
I got so emotionally attached to this book that I saved the last 10 pages for almost 6 months. I loved it so much. This story will be the reason I complete the 48 ♥️ quarterly affirmations are a hiking tip I’ll definitely keep with me!!
July 3, 2023
Loved this book, especially as a hopeful future member of the 4000 footer club! An admirable and inspiring story.
October 2, 2018
As a New England resident who has done a fair amount of hiking in the region in my past, I found instant love with this memoir. Hiking sounds glamorous but as Cheryl Suchors shows us, it can be HARD. But not as hard as some of the challenges and curveballs that life throws us--injuries, cancer and death of those we love. This beautifully written memoir is not just a journey through the mountains, but also the ups and downs of the soul and the body. It is at times heart wrenching and at other times, inspiring, as Cheryl picks herself back up to climb another mountain. When she reaches the top of that last 4,000 footer you almost feel like you are there with her, lost in time, forgetting that there is the down still to go. A wonderful, must-read debut.
August 23, 2018
A memoir of bagging 48 peaks through friendships, deaths, cancer, raising a daughter and dealing with injuries and ageing. A nice balance between the narrative of nature and that of personal anecdote. Inspiring and likable, the narrator works through what life throws at her to be the strongest she can be while meeting her utmost goal.
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
September 5, 2018
In 48 peaks: hiking and healing in the While Mountains, author Cheryl Suchors tells of her personal quest to ascend all 48 of New Hampshire’s rugged 4000’+ peaks. She reached her goal after ten years despite many challenges – both physical and spiritual - including the death of a close friend and hiking partner and her personal battle with breast cancer. Her descriptions of her journey are both poignant as well as inspiring.
Even though this genre is not my usual reading fare, I was drawn by the promise of hiking adventures and Suchors did not disappoint. But she also shared so much more. She expounds on her relationships with family and friends and the difficult road to becoming a cancer survivor, as well as the physical and mental challenges of hiking. All are blended powerfully with her relationship with the beauty and healing powers of the natural world.
An inspiring and rewarding read.
FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Even though this genre is not my usual reading fare, I was drawn by the promise of hiking adventures and Suchors did not disappoint. But she also shared so much more. She expounds on her relationships with family and friends and the difficult road to becoming a cancer survivor, as well as the physical and mental challenges of hiking. All are blended powerfully with her relationship with the beauty and healing powers of the natural world.
An inspiring and rewarding read.
FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2019
I find the author’s journey through loss and illness incredibly inspiring, and she demonstrates real strength in working through the challenges of her life. Those sections of the book I would rate five stars for brutal honesty, beautiful articulation of the struggles, and emotional clarity.
But as someone who is currently hiking the 4000 footers (40 peaks in three summers), with a badly damaged and reconstructed knee, who started older at 59 than the age the author finished, I found some of the discussions on the process of hiking close to whiny. Some hikes are magnificent and some are drudgery. Humidity and bugs will irritate the best of us, but these are the whites. Mostly, it was the processing before and after every hike and describing in great detail the interpersonal dynamics with each hiker that seemed burdensome to me. When I hike with friends, the last thing on our minds is to discuss goals and fears before and after. We all have rules: have a plan, stick together and touch base along the way. Be patient with each other because we all have good and bad days. Full stop. Yes, I snapped a quad muscle descending the Kinsmans and slowed us down; yes, my friend who had kidney surgery 7 months earlier was less improved than we hoped; yes a thunderstorm whirled in hours earlier than expected so I had to ditch my third peak and run below tree line for safety. More often than not, the mountains are majestic, spectacular and awe inspiring.
I know that everyone's journey through the 48 4000 footers of NH is starkly different. There are people who focus on the athleticism. Some of us just try to get our old bodies out there. The author's journey is and was her own and I fully respect that. Regardless of focus of the journey, it's always magical. When in the Whites, for me the most important thing to do is suspend judgement of yourself and your companions because the mountains are fully in control. All you can do is be prepared for every scenario.
And try to finish in book time.
But as someone who is currently hiking the 4000 footers (40 peaks in three summers), with a badly damaged and reconstructed knee, who started older at 59 than the age the author finished, I found some of the discussions on the process of hiking close to whiny. Some hikes are magnificent and some are drudgery. Humidity and bugs will irritate the best of us, but these are the whites. Mostly, it was the processing before and after every hike and describing in great detail the interpersonal dynamics with each hiker that seemed burdensome to me. When I hike with friends, the last thing on our minds is to discuss goals and fears before and after. We all have rules: have a plan, stick together and touch base along the way. Be patient with each other because we all have good and bad days. Full stop. Yes, I snapped a quad muscle descending the Kinsmans and slowed us down; yes, my friend who had kidney surgery 7 months earlier was less improved than we hoped; yes a thunderstorm whirled in hours earlier than expected so I had to ditch my third peak and run below tree line for safety. More often than not, the mountains are majestic, spectacular and awe inspiring.
I know that everyone's journey through the 48 4000 footers of NH is starkly different. There are people who focus on the athleticism. Some of us just try to get our old bodies out there. The author's journey is and was her own and I fully respect that. Regardless of focus of the journey, it's always magical. When in the Whites, for me the most important thing to do is suspend judgement of yourself and your companions because the mountains are fully in control. All you can do is be prepared for every scenario.
And try to finish in book time.
June 12, 2018
I read memoir not just to learn about the author, but also to learn about myself and the world. Cheryl Suchors’ 48 PEAKS offered that and more. While I have no desire to hike mountains or push myself physically as Suchors did, I was with her every step of the way. And on the journey, I pondered friendship, family, loss, and my own place in the universe. As she claimed her courage and overcame both physical and mental obstacles, I acknowledged my own. In addition to being a riveting story, 48 PEAKS is beautifully written and masterfully structured. Suchors definitely has writing chops!
October 21, 2018
I live so close to these mountains. I wanted to love this book. I wanted this book to inspire me to go out and hike. Unfortunately I think this book just wasn't for me. I expected it too be more like Wild by Cheryl Strayed. A good true story but it bogged me down.
October 1, 2018
When I first saw this book shared by Book Sparks, I was really excited. A book called 48 peaks? Could it be about the 48 - 4000 and above footers in NH? It turns out, yes it could, and yet it was. I was surprised to see a memoir about someone who completed them all and was eager to read Cheryl’s experiences. I began hiking the 4000 footers myself in 2009. I took a many year hiatus where I did more of my hiking in VT and locally, and recently got back into NH peak bagging this past summer. I smiled while reading the book at times as she described moments that I remember vividly myself, and also cried… a lot.
Cheryl is an aspiring author (spoiler alert, nailed it with this book :-p). She finds that hiking frees her mind enough to give her the ability to write, and as a Type A personality, she enjoys the goals associated with peak-bagging. The book covers her own medical problems, injuries, and loss of someone close to her. She makes new friends along the way and grows a lot as a hiker and leader in the mountains. I found the story to be inspiring and I’d love to meet Cheryl… or possibly even complete a hike with her. I enjoyed taking this photo from the peak of Mount Pierce (4310’) facing out to Eisenhower (4780’) on my hike this summer (of both peaks) with my friend and fellow bookworm, Liz.
Thank you to She Writes Press and Netgalley for my review edition of the book. All views are my own.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoZ1_svHW...
Cheryl is an aspiring author (spoiler alert, nailed it with this book :-p). She finds that hiking frees her mind enough to give her the ability to write, and as a Type A personality, she enjoys the goals associated with peak-bagging. The book covers her own medical problems, injuries, and loss of someone close to her. She makes new friends along the way and grows a lot as a hiker and leader in the mountains. I found the story to be inspiring and I’d love to meet Cheryl… or possibly even complete a hike with her. I enjoyed taking this photo from the peak of Mount Pierce (4310’) facing out to Eisenhower (4780’) on my hike this summer (of both peaks) with my friend and fellow bookworm, Liz.
Thank you to She Writes Press and Netgalley for my review edition of the book. All views are my own.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoZ1_svHW...
October 7, 2018
This is the story of one woman's quest to climb all 48, 4,000 or over peaks in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It may have taken her 10 years to accomplish, but this she finally did, while battling health issues, family, loss of a dear friend and hiking companion. She had many setbacks which an ordinary person would have given up on.
I found her story to flow beautifully, keeping my interest while climbing those daunting mountains as if I was there with her. She is a person who did everything to overcome her circumstances and more.
We hear about her life, her love of writing which she had been struggling with for awhile, and the unfortunate health issues that arise. She has a backing of good friends and family that do these hikes with her at different times, even her daughters small dog.
This book shows us that anything can be accomplished when one puts their mind to it. I am so glad that I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley and She Writes Press.
This book and her courage will stick with me for a long time.
I found her story to flow beautifully, keeping my interest while climbing those daunting mountains as if I was there with her. She is a person who did everything to overcome her circumstances and more.
We hear about her life, her love of writing which she had been struggling with for awhile, and the unfortunate health issues that arise. She has a backing of good friends and family that do these hikes with her at different times, even her daughters small dog.
This book shows us that anything can be accomplished when one puts their mind to it. I am so glad that I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley and She Writes Press.
This book and her courage will stick with me for a long time.
September 3, 2018
48 Peaks is beautifully written and engaging memoir. Cheryl Suchors doesn’t just describe her journey through the loss of her best friend, her own bout with cancer, and her mountain-climbing adventures – she takes her readers along with her. I was moved to tears in several places and laughed out in just as many. Suchors’ love of language is apparent in her delightful turns of phrase, her evocative imagery, and in her ability to engage her readers emotionally. She includes just enough detail about her treks up mountains to engage fellow hikers and inspire lapsed ones. Even the most committed non-hikers will find her memoir of courage and open-heartedness through loss and illness a compelling read.
December 18, 2018
Inspiring, well-written account of the author's quest to climb the Over-4000-foot mountains in New Hampshire's White Mountains - all 48 of them. She accomplished this over the course of several years, and in the face of numerous injures and physical health challenges, and the death of her beloved first hiking buddy. As someone who has hiked in mountains throughout North America and Europe, but only recently in these White Mountains, I can attest to how surprisingly difficult they are. Suchors's descriptions of the steep, rocky, wet climbs and descents vividly capture their challenging trails. She has a detailed knowledge and appreciation for the wildflowers and other flora of the landscape. I found particularly interesting her account of the interpersonal dynamics between the author and her various hiking companions, as they face decisions about the choice of routes or how to respond to changes in the weather. The author's determination to achieve her goal against all odds is truly impressive.
September 21, 2018
This is a book to savor . It is that rare book that must be bought to kept in the bookcase and that you will recommend for years to come. It will change your life like Eat Pray Love and Wild. It is a heartwarming true account of the author's determination to climb 48 peaks in New Hampshire through cancer and grief. I loved the sheer will she exhibited throughout as she never lost focus on her goals. She is someone to be admired . I enjoyed reading this and plan on giving it out for gifts. I highly recommend this book for those who believe we can overcome illness through faith in ourselves and determination. Very well done !
My opinions are my own. Thank you for the ARC.
My opinions are my own. Thank you for the ARC.
July 7, 2025
I feel guilty critiquing memoirs that deal with such personal and vulnerable content so I am going to mostly keep my lips sealed about this one. 😶 Proud of you Cheryl for your accomplishments but my god was the tone of this book negative, even when recounting the moments that could have been celebratory.
August 31, 2018
While the author is climbing, she's . walking us through her relationships with thoughts and emotions, uncovering an inner peace and freedom. Quite a journey and a precious gift to those of us who are still climbing - and searching -
September 6, 2018
A very good book about overcoming adversity, in this case cancer, and still work towards achieving your goals. Cheryl finds out she has breast cancer but still wants to climb all 48 peaks over 4000 feet tall in New Hampshire. As someone who has climbed a few, this is no small feat. Through dedication and tenacity the author succeeds in her challenge while remaining true to herself and her family and friends. A must read for anyone who likes hiking and finding the determination to succeed against all odds.
August 15, 2018
Cheryl Suchors’ gorgeous and inspiring memoir about her midlife quest to climb the 48 highest mountains in New Hampshire’s rugged White Mountains will leave you both breathless and awe-struck. From the the opening scene when Suchors has climbed yet another peak, this time to spread the ashes of her best friend and former hiking partner who has died of cancer, we know we are in for an arduous but rewarding journey. From there, the story weaves seamlessly back and forth in time as she initially sets her ambitious goal and then attempts to reach it, one peak at a time. Along the way, we deepen our knowledge of her motivations, her history, her family, her changing physical and emotional status, and her friendships on and off the trail, and struggle with her as she faces challenges that would have stopped anyone with less determination. Suchors’ use of the present tense when we are on her hikes allows us to be present with her as she takes time to observe and appreciate nature or to converse with her hiking companions. Her prose is both descriptive and lyrical, and yet, this memoir is a page-turner. It also will appeal to a wide audience, not just those interested in hiking. For me, who can’t imagine doing what Suchors did, it was a story of the importance of friendship and of openness to the lessons of life’s experiences, both good and bad. This wonderful book will make you see your world in ways you never imagined.
March 31, 2023
Maybe 2.5 stars, just because she worked so hard to climb all 48 4Ks ...
I have never been a big fan of memoirs by people who are not famous and haven’t really accomplished anything historically noteworthy. This book is why. It’s one of the few topics that could impel me to read a book like this — hiking the 48 4,000 foot mountains in New Hampshire. 4000 feet doesn’t sound like much, but I assure you it’s way harder than it sounds — I’ve hiked them all, many of them more than once. But here’s the problem with the book — it’s not very interesting or exciting. Sadly for Suchors, cancer strikes both her and her hiking buddy during the quest and that sucks for her and makes her journey tougher … but for me, it adds nothing to the narrative. There’s also a LOT of annoying over-writing … Suchors has given up her career as a consultant to write a novel and boy, am I glad I don’t have to read THAT. Not to be petty, but she’s an awful writer, descending into overwrought metaphors, flowery but not revealing descriptions and the like. Horribly, she envisions her amputated breast as a mountain goddess, a device that definitely does not work and recurs way too much. She also spends numerous pages cataloguing her injuries and such, which is just dull, like describing your dreams or fantasy baseball teams to someone — important to you, but impossible to make engaging. Most egregiously to the hiker in me, for all her obsessive planning and setting of goals, she is not an accomplished hiker at all — I don’t mean physically, but in her approach. For example, for her very first 4000 footer, she chooses one of the tougher ones … OK, challenge yourself, whatever, but then she chooses the much less preferred approach, placing herself and her companions in actual danger. She makes mistakes like this over and over without realizing it or at least commenting on it. Actually, no, she does something even more egregious — one of the “rules” about the 4000 footers is you have to both ascend AND DESCEND the mountain for it to count (I know this, because I had to re-hike one of them after I took a tram down in pelting rain). And she doesn’t do this on the highest and most dangerous one of all, Mount Washington, blithely dismissing it by saying her hiking companions granted her special dispensation. Sorry, it doesn’t work like that! Yes, she goes back and re-hikes MW at a later date, but come the fuck on. Either do it or don’t do it, but don’t minimize the accomplishments of others by claiming you did something that you clearly did not. I’ll give her credit — the book was OK enough for me to finish, but I wanted to throw it against the wall several times.
Grade: C
I have never been a big fan of memoirs by people who are not famous and haven’t really accomplished anything historically noteworthy. This book is why. It’s one of the few topics that could impel me to read a book like this — hiking the 48 4,000 foot mountains in New Hampshire. 4000 feet doesn’t sound like much, but I assure you it’s way harder than it sounds — I’ve hiked them all, many of them more than once. But here’s the problem with the book — it’s not very interesting or exciting. Sadly for Suchors, cancer strikes both her and her hiking buddy during the quest and that sucks for her and makes her journey tougher … but for me, it adds nothing to the narrative. There’s also a LOT of annoying over-writing … Suchors has given up her career as a consultant to write a novel and boy, am I glad I don’t have to read THAT. Not to be petty, but she’s an awful writer, descending into overwrought metaphors, flowery but not revealing descriptions and the like. Horribly, she envisions her amputated breast as a mountain goddess, a device that definitely does not work and recurs way too much. She also spends numerous pages cataloguing her injuries and such, which is just dull, like describing your dreams or fantasy baseball teams to someone — important to you, but impossible to make engaging. Most egregiously to the hiker in me, for all her obsessive planning and setting of goals, she is not an accomplished hiker at all — I don’t mean physically, but in her approach. For example, for her very first 4000 footer, she chooses one of the tougher ones … OK, challenge yourself, whatever, but then she chooses the much less preferred approach, placing herself and her companions in actual danger. She makes mistakes like this over and over without realizing it or at least commenting on it. Actually, no, she does something even more egregious — one of the “rules” about the 4000 footers is you have to both ascend AND DESCEND the mountain for it to count (I know this, because I had to re-hike one of them after I took a tram down in pelting rain). And she doesn’t do this on the highest and most dangerous one of all, Mount Washington, blithely dismissing it by saying her hiking companions granted her special dispensation. Sorry, it doesn’t work like that! Yes, she goes back and re-hikes MW at a later date, but come the fuck on. Either do it or don’t do it, but don’t minimize the accomplishments of others by claiming you did something that you clearly did not. I’ll give her credit — the book was OK enough for me to finish, but I wanted to throw it against the wall several times.
Grade: C
May 27, 2019
Mostly an enjoyable memoir. (Although her solipsism was overwhelming at times.)
Read
August 29, 2018Full disclosure: I met the author of this memoir once, at a Smith College Club of Cambridge book club meeting. We share connections to Smith, Cambridge, the White Mountains, Kripalu, and possibly other places/institutions that I don't know about! The many familiar settings may have amplified my enjoyment, but I believe the narrative would holds its own even for someone with zero connection to the places described therein.
Amid the many pop psychology books currently coaching grit and resilience, and the many memoirs about what an unfortunate benefit race t-shirt in my household refers to as "survivorship," 48 Peaks stands out for its portrayal of the many forms that friendships among middle-aged women can take. I particularly enjoyed the arc of Cheryl's relationship with Ginny, as I have had occasion to ponder the potential of friendships that develop between what the obsolete social media platform Friendster used to call "activity partners." Relationships with bugs, body parts,
A bit more reflection on the privilege that enabled Cheryl to undertake her challenge in the first place - and the continued homogeneity of hikers in the Whites, in spite of the AMC's best efforts - would have been welcome. Otherwise, I can wholeheartedly recommend this memoir to readers of Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, and Truth and Beauty (and, yes, Smith alumnae).
Amid the many pop psychology books currently coaching grit and resilience, and the many memoirs about what an unfortunate benefit race t-shirt in my household refers to as "survivorship," 48 Peaks stands out for its portrayal of the many forms that friendships among middle-aged women can take. I particularly enjoyed the arc of Cheryl's relationship with Ginny, as I have had occasion to ponder the potential of friendships that develop between what the obsolete social media platform Friendster used to call "activity partners." Relationships with bugs, body parts,
A bit more reflection on the privilege that enabled Cheryl to undertake her challenge in the first place - and the continued homogeneity of hikers in the Whites, in spite of the AMC's best efforts - would have been welcome. Otherwise, I can wholeheartedly recommend this memoir to readers of Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, and Truth and Beauty (and, yes, Smith alumnae).
September 3, 2018
48 Peaks by Cheryl Suchors
Full disclosure: I’m grateful to NetGalley for the free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I give this book 4 stars.
This book is meant to be savored with a cup of coffee or tea, and time to relax and hear the story while appreciating the relationships with their strengths and challenges. It is a beautifully blended memoir with honesty, vulnerability, courage and strength. The author is my hero. She is strong enough to demonstrate her strengths and vulnerabilities and how she grew throughout her aspiration of climbing the 48 4,000 footers. I can’t imagine how she was able to persevere through the physical pain to attain her accomplishments, but I’m so grateful she persevered, both through the climbing as well as the writing and publishing.
Some of the formatting seemed a bit confusing, such as starting out at the beginning of the book mentioning Kate’s death, and then backtracking and coming back to it later. While some parts seemed to move slower than others and I had to put the book down and come back to it later, I wanted to see how everything turned out, and I appreciated the epilogue following the story.
I look forward to seeing what comes next for this author, as her books will be at the top of my to-read list.
Full disclosure: I’m grateful to NetGalley for the free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I give this book 4 stars.
This book is meant to be savored with a cup of coffee or tea, and time to relax and hear the story while appreciating the relationships with their strengths and challenges. It is a beautifully blended memoir with honesty, vulnerability, courage and strength. The author is my hero. She is strong enough to demonstrate her strengths and vulnerabilities and how she grew throughout her aspiration of climbing the 48 4,000 footers. I can’t imagine how she was able to persevere through the physical pain to attain her accomplishments, but I’m so grateful she persevered, both through the climbing as well as the writing and publishing.
Some of the formatting seemed a bit confusing, such as starting out at the beginning of the book mentioning Kate’s death, and then backtracking and coming back to it later. While some parts seemed to move slower than others and I had to put the book down and come back to it later, I wanted to see how everything turned out, and I appreciated the epilogue following the story.
I look forward to seeing what comes next for this author, as her books will be at the top of my to-read list.
September 29, 2018
48 Peaks unfurls as a mighty testament to the human spirit in the genre of other classic heroic journey tales among them “Wild,” “The Boys in the Boat,” and “Unbroken.” The uniqueness of Cheryl Suchors’ always fascinating, entertaining and alternatingly heartbreaking, illuminating and humorous quest is the every woman quality she brings to the decade she spent battling not only the body-crushing granite of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, but cancer, the loss of loved ones, professional insecurity and breathtaking physical and emotional setbacks. Yet this diminutive, middle-aged woman prevails in climbing all 48 of the 4,000 Footers in the Whites. Through it all she is relentlessly honest about her fears and limitations _ she’s been too near to death, her own and those of dear friends and family to be otherwise_ while never losing sight of the joys that spring up unexpectedly throughout her odyssey and ultimately reward her with profound grace at the top of the final peak. This book will crack your heart open to all kinds of fresh life possibilities and maybe even send you to the nearest outdoor store for a new pair of hiking boots.
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October 3, 201848 Peaks is an impressive work, and a completely enjoyable read – it was hard to put the book down. The arc of all Cheryl set out to do, and how she did it, was compelling, and she told it very honestly and openly. I was moved by how she handled her many challenges toward accomplishing her 48-peak hiking goal, not to mention her 10-year effort to write about it — her perseverance and determination are noteworthy and downright inspirational. The terrific writing really propelled me through the book -- it was a powerful journey, and it’s fascinating to be inside her head for that journey. Cheryl’s description of the mountains themselves, the forbidding elements and heights, the weather, and also the gorgeous flora she encountered — were all as beautifully described as her internal thoughts and her push and pull interactions with her friends and family throughout. I do believe that this book can convey strength to a reader, as it’s easy to hold on to Cheryl’s own contemplative and ultimately energizing thought process, so clearly articulated.
November 30, 2018
"48 Peaks: Hiking and Healing in the White Mountains" is a clear testament to the proverb, "When there is a will, there is a way." In this well-written, inspiring memoir, Cheryl Suchors tell her stories about how she turns her childhood dream into a fervent pursuit of mountain hiking and climbing because of her love of mother nature and its beauty. As a result, thanks to her unswerving determination, Suchors succeeds in reaching on the tops of the 48 highest mountains in New Hampshire in ten years after overcoming numerous difficulties, some of which life-threatening, and loss of a best friend and relatives. A great book about perseverance, friendships, personal healing and hiking strategies and tactics, from the perspective of a successful businesswoman-turned hiking expert.
January 13, 2019
I received this book as a gift and had hoped to hear Cheryl Suchors talk at one of our local bookshops in the Boston area, but never made it. What an inspiration this woman is! There were times when I truly felt like I was with her; the struggle of climbing some of those White Mountains is daunting, but I love how she broke it up into manageable pieces and had a mantra for each portion. Living through her struggle with breast cancer, the death of family members and friends, and yet seeing the strength that she brought to her family and others, was remarkable. Releasing Kate's ashes on top of Mt. Monroe was so emotional. I rarely cry when reading books but there were portions of her journey that were so powerful, I was brought to tears. Such a powerful read.
March 12, 2022
Cheryl Suchors - I hope you read this! Please keep writing! This book is fantastic. I love the genuine, funny and deeply personal writing style. The momentum of the narrative is just right — intense in spots but comfortable and never sluggish. And even over a wide range of topics it never feels unfocused.
I read more than average (150-175 books every year) and this is a gem. Thank you for sharing your experiences — hiking, friendship, growing up, raising a child, and all of the attendant struggles and achievements, laughter and tears. We stumbled and peaked with you. You trusted your readers with all of it and I thank you.
I hope you realize your goal of writing a novel — or possibly another memoir or a set of essays? Crossing my fingers and toes.
PS - thank you for Matanna :)
I read more than average (150-175 books every year) and this is a gem. Thank you for sharing your experiences — hiking, friendship, growing up, raising a child, and all of the attendant struggles and achievements, laughter and tears. We stumbled and peaked with you. You trusted your readers with all of it and I thank you.
I hope you realize your goal of writing a novel — or possibly another memoir or a set of essays? Crossing my fingers and toes.
PS - thank you for Matanna :)
November 18, 2018
Another book for an "arm chair mountain climber." Although I'm a bit of a hiker and have only climbed Sandstone Peak (Santa Monica Mountains, 3111 feet) I love reading about other more challenging adventures. Never having been to New Hampshire I knew nothing about the White Mountains. The author took me along as we hiked these deceptively difficult mountains. 4000 feet - doesn't sound so high - but the terrain and and weather team to present challenging hiking/scrambling/climbing. Along with the climbs Cheryl is challenged by cancer for both herself and her friend. Ultimately this leads to a story of friendships with friends who ascend the mountains with her. Beautifully written.
October 9, 2018
Carrying a backpack full of personal adversity—the death of a friend, a sister with Down Syndrome, surviving her own cancer—the author of this memoir sets out to scale more than the many peaks of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The reader, wanting answers to questions (Will she succeed? How will she do it?), will find a narrator who does not disappoint. Without exception, this memoir gives insight into the author’s motivation and into her outsized appreciation of the healing powers of the natural world. 48 Peaks is a beautifully rendered tale of grit and persistence.
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