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Reviews tagging 'Cancer'
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
58 reviews
natgeographic's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I’m not hiking the PCT but I am living in Peru for 6 months— this was a good time to read this book. Away from friends and family, living a simpler life, doing hard things every day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Animal death
Moderate: Cursing, Addiction, Grief, Drug use, Cancer, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity
Personally was super turned off by the abortion story but overall I found the book introspective and inspiring.kelsheymarie's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer
kristenreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Abortion
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
There's a lot of heart and vulnerability woven throughout this story of one woman's personal adventure hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The author, Cheryl Strayed, coming off an amicable but heartbreaking divorce, decides to step far outside her comfort zone and challenge herself to take on what initially seems like a formidable but reasonable challenge of hiking solo over a well-known trail that traverses the entire west coast of the United States.
The story begins with Cheryl's back story and the hardships she's experienced over the previous few years of her life. This really allows the reader to get a good idea of who the author is and sets up how she, as a person, will evolve over the course of the book. The book presents a map at the beginning to familiarize the reader with the full length and varied terrain of the PCT. The book is broken up into five parts, with multiple chapters in each part. Each chapter relays the author's most memorable experiences from different sections of the trail. The experiences shared could be about equipment, the hiking experience, people met, camping sites, etc. It's very easy to feel like a hitchhiker on this hike and relate to the various highs and lows that took place, as well as the insights shared.
Alone had always felt like an actual place to me, as if it weren't a state of being but rather a room where I could retreat to be who I really was. The radical aloneness of the PCT had altered that sense. Alone wasn't a room anymore, but the whole wide world. And now, I was alone in that world, occupying it in a way I never had before. Living at large like this, without even a roof over my head, made the world feel both bigger and smaller to me. Until now I hadn't really understood the world's vastness, hadn't even understood how vast a mile could be until each mile was beheld at walking speed.
By the end of the story, the reader feels like a veteran of the PCT and intimately aware of what works and what doesn't work for a first-time long-distance hiker. It's also heartwarming to share in the tales of comradery that occurs between hikers sharing the trail and people who live along the trail, welcoming the hikers into their communities and servicing their needs. Ms. Strayed tells her story with a sense of humor and humility, admitting freely when she realizes her miscalculations and shortcomings as a hiker. But overall, I was impressed with the level of research and preparation completed before she set out on the hike, and how she managed to survive in a very sparing way at times.
This is a well written, informative, and entertaining book. I'd say it's inspiring, and while reading it you wonder if hiking the PCT could be in the cards for you... then reality sets in and you find you're satisfied to have just been given the opportunity to be a voyeur to someone else's bravery in taking on this historical hiking trail. I loved the quotes and song lyrics included at the beginning of each part of the book, and appreciate the extras included in the book: a list of books read and referenced by the author while on her hike and a Reading Group Guide.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator, Bernadette Dunne. Ms. Dunne brought an energy and lightness to her reading of the story that it was even more relatable and like listening to the author share difficult memories and special new experiences as her life expands and evolves.
The story begins with Cheryl's back story and the hardships she's experienced over the previous few years of her life. This really allows the reader to get a good idea of who the author is and sets up how she, as a person, will evolve over the course of the book. The book presents a map at the beginning to familiarize the reader with the full length and varied terrain of the PCT. The book is broken up into five parts, with multiple chapters in each part. Each chapter relays the author's most memorable experiences from different sections of the trail. The experiences shared could be about equipment, the hiking experience, people met, camping sites, etc. It's very easy to feel like a hitchhiker on this hike and relate to the various highs and lows that took place, as well as the insights shared.
Alone had always felt like an actual place to me, as if it weren't a state of being but rather a room where I could retreat to be who I really was. The radical aloneness of the PCT had altered that sense. Alone wasn't a room anymore, but the whole wide world. And now, I was alone in that world, occupying it in a way I never had before. Living at large like this, without even a roof over my head, made the world feel both bigger and smaller to me. Until now I hadn't really understood the world's vastness, hadn't even understood how vast a mile could be until each mile was beheld at walking speed.
By the end of the story, the reader feels like a veteran of the PCT and intimately aware of what works and what doesn't work for a first-time long-distance hiker. It's also heartwarming to share in the tales of comradery that occurs between hikers sharing the trail and people who live along the trail, welcoming the hikers into their communities and servicing their needs. Ms. Strayed tells her story with a sense of humor and humility, admitting freely when she realizes her miscalculations and shortcomings as a hiker. But overall, I was impressed with the level of research and preparation completed before she set out on the hike, and how she managed to survive in a very sparing way at times.
This is a well written, informative, and entertaining book. I'd say it's inspiring, and while reading it you wonder if hiking the PCT could be in the cards for you... then reality sets in and you find you're satisfied to have just been given the opportunity to be a voyeur to someone else's bravery in taking on this historical hiking trail. I loved the quotes and song lyrics included at the beginning of each part of the book, and appreciate the extras included in the book: a list of books read and referenced by the author while on her hike and a Reading Group Guide.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator, Bernadette Dunne. Ms. Dunne brought an energy and lightness to her reading of the story that it was even more relatable and like listening to the author share difficult memories and special new experiences as her life expands and evolves.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Infidelity, Alcohol, Animal death, Drug use, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Grief
caitlinkelly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Cancer
Moderate: Drug abuse, Medical content, and Infidelity
Minor: Addiction, Sexual harassment, Blood, Alcohol, and Abortion
annaofjesup's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Grief, Terminal illness, and Animal death
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Abandonment, Gore, Medical content, Misogyny, Cannibalism, Death, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood, Body horror, Sexism, Abortion, Alcohol, Addiction, Excrement, Sexual harassment, and Pregnancy
sharlapeggy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Cancer, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Drug use, Misogyny, Grief, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Addiction, and Alcohol
sweetjuly_src's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
It says in my ‘read’ history that I’ve read this book three times now (including this last one, in 2023). To be honest, I remember reading it twice (don’t know what happened there - a glitch in the matrix? My memory is not the greatest in the last few years). That said, I don’t know how I could forget it, because I love this book so much, it seems impossible to me I’d forget the experience of reading it. Anyways, every time I read it I get emotional, immersed, inspired by Cheryl and her experience(s) and I just want to put a backpack on and go (and I’d have the same problem with packing, I bet 😅). I haven’t yet - not to that extent (3 months in the wilderness), though I’ve traveled both solo and accompanied, sometimes with a backpack, other times with a carry on, and I always learn something about myself/the place/someone else/… I’ve watched the movie, too, but I don’t like how it takes some of the decisions she made (in the book and her life) away from her and distorted them as suggestions and decisions made for her (I’ve only noticed it this time around). It’s very probable I’ll read it again in the future, to inspire myself to make changes and be bold and adventurous. ‘Till next time. ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Death, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Abortion, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Sexism
skeptic_hecate's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Cherly made one mistake after another, very idiotic and avoidable mistakes, but she is such a charming narrator, I couldn't help but feel for her. I couldn't help but to relate. This book hits very hard, right at the feels. I felt the author's insecurities, the author's fear and shame.
The journey is told in such great detail I couldn't help but to feel there, it only made my want to go there. Although, better prepared. This is not a guide on what to do, this is a guide on what not to do, but also the deep and naked feelings of a woman in turmoil. I felt her anguish, but also her relentless optimism, I felt her ups and downs and her sorrows and laughs.
Reading this book felt almost as cathartic as Cheryl's journey, and it only inspired me to treck the PCT one day, hopefully soon. I highly recommend this book.
The journey is told in such great detail I couldn't help but to feel there, it only made my want to go there. Although, better prepared. This is not a guide on what to do, this is a guide on what not to do, but also the deep and naked feelings of a woman in turmoil. I felt her anguish, but also her relentless optimism, I felt her ups and downs and her sorrows and laughs.
Reading this book felt almost as cathartic as Cheryl's journey, and it only inspired me to treck the PCT one day, hopefully soon. I highly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Cancer
Minor: Sexual assault
applejacksbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.0
Not really sure why this is rated so high. This was chosen for a book club book (I would never read otherwise) and boy was that a mistake. I’m going to need a recovery period of no less than three months before I try another non-fiction book (lbvs tho some of the content in this seems non plausible).
I would not have gotten very far if I had to read a physical copy. The narrator does an alright job (at 2x speed) making this bearable. Cheryl “hikes” the pacific crest trail after losing her mother to cancer and falling into heroine, to find herself. But she was totally unprepared. Her backpack was basically half her weight, she was unprepared for the elements, and basically thinks everyone wants to sleep with her along the trail.
Now while I’ve never hiked something like this, one of my best friends did the Appalachian trail and I can confirm the people doing this get gross and smelly. There’s like half a chapter or two where the author talks about someone stealing her condoms. It just stuck out at a weird thing to focus on and the author focuses on everyone she meets being flirtatious and wanting to sleep with her A LOT. like no, they’re just being friendly.
That being said. I won’t be reading anything more from this author and I don’t recommend this to anyone.
I would not have gotten very far if I had to read a physical copy. The narrator does an alright job (at 2x speed) making this bearable. Cheryl “hikes” the pacific crest trail after losing her mother to cancer and falling into heroine, to find herself. But she was totally unprepared. Her backpack was basically half her weight, she was unprepared for the elements, and basically thinks everyone wants to sleep with her along the trail.
Now while I’ve never hiked something like this, one of my best friends did the Appalachian trail and I can confirm the people doing this get gross and smelly. There’s like half a chapter or two where the author talks about someone stealing her condoms. It just stuck out at a weird thing to focus on and the author focuses on everyone she meets being flirtatious and wanting to sleep with her A LOT. like no, they’re just being friendly.
That being said. I won’t be reading anything more from this author and I don’t recommend this to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, and Animal death