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Reviews tagging 'Animal death'
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
100 reviews
marycage's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
edamamebean's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Abortion, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
5.0
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.
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Grief
sophiastafford's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
annaofjesup's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Medical content, Cannibalism, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Sexism, Blood, Excrement, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
siobhanward's review against another edition
3.5
Anyway, defense of Strayed aside, the book was fine. Some parts were super engrossing, while others were boring. Truly, I don't care about all the conversations you had where people talked about how hot you were and/or brave for doing the PCT. Like, it's great (and frankly, I believe it), but after a while I just didn't care. Sorry. The parts about Strayed's mom were powerful and I loved how those parts were written. Other parts just seemed unneeded.
Also, hiking any huge distance trail just seems terrible. 0/10 will never attempt.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, and Drug use
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
sweetjuly_src's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
applejacksbooks's review against another edition
1.0
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.
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, and Death of parent
vulcanmr's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
emilylovesgoodbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Miscarriage