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jennyhamel's review against another edition
4.0
This story is so well researched and written in a way that keeps you engaged and makes you want to know what happened next. Krakauer took care to dig deep into why Chris never made it out of the Alaskan wilderness, making sure he wasn’t just writing him off as inexperienced and ill prepared. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
Side note: The only part of the book I didn’t care for were the 20 pages or so where Krakauer went into his own story; while it’s interesting that he found Chris’ life to be relatable, I don’t think it added anything of value and I felt myself wanting to skip ahead to get back into the story that was being told.
Side note: The only part of the book I didn’t care for were the 20 pages or so where Krakauer went into his own story; while it’s interesting that he found Chris’ life to be relatable, I don’t think it added anything of value and I felt myself wanting to skip ahead to get back into the story that was being told.
hyunc456's review against another edition
5.0
“Two years he walks the earth. No phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes. Ultimate freedom. An extremist. An aesthetic voyager whose home is the road. Escaped from Atlanta. Thou shalt not return, 'cause "the West is the best." And now after two rambling years comes the final and greatest adventure. The climactic battle to kill the false being within and victoriously conclude the spiritual pilgrimage. Ten days and nights of freight trains and hitchhiking bring him to the Great White North. No longer to be poisoned by civilization he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become lost in the wild."
This book seems to divide people.
Following the life of Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jon Krakauer provides an in-depth exploration of transcendentalist idealism, a movement that finds meaning in nature and oppression in society. Bordering on obsession at times, Krakauer delves into the motivations and journey of Christopher McCandless; in McCandless, Krakauer sees a part of himself, his belief on ideals and overexaggeration of their impact on life. Even after this, however, Krakauer writes of McCandless with a certain innate respect.
From the beginning of the book, Krakauer leaves no speculation for the end of McCandless's story--his death is introduced to the reader on the very first page. This abnormal introduction, however, allows Krakauer to experiment with a rather particular sequencing, creating a diverse narrative in which he implements the cast from McCandless's journey from both before and after McCandless had passed, while also adding bits and pieces about himself as to convey his motivations and relevance in journalizing Christopher's life. Of course, this does not come without bias. But what's interesting about this book is how Christopher's romantic ideals and viewpoints are approached. Jon Krakauer's perspectives and his own accounts of this contributes to the reader's understanding of McCandless, doing just enough to portray him as an eccentric character while also surfacing the realities and essentially delusional aspects of these romantic ideals:
“It is easy, when you are young, to believe that what you desire is no less than what you deserve, to assume that if you want something badly enough, it is your God-given right to have it.”
Yet, McCandless was young. He had a dream of heroism, which for him was to have a taste of living without the bounds of material wealth and society. Fool or not, one can't deny the trail of pure revelation he had exhibited, the product of being able to follow what he believed would change his life.
This book seems to divide people.
Following the life of Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jon Krakauer provides an in-depth exploration of transcendentalist idealism, a movement that finds meaning in nature and oppression in society. Bordering on obsession at times, Krakauer delves into the motivations and journey of Christopher McCandless; in McCandless, Krakauer sees a part of himself, his belief on ideals and overexaggeration of their impact on life. Even after this, however, Krakauer writes of McCandless with a certain innate respect.
From the beginning of the book, Krakauer leaves no speculation for the end of McCandless's story--his death is introduced to the reader on the very first page. This abnormal introduction, however, allows Krakauer to experiment with a rather particular sequencing, creating a diverse narrative in which he implements the cast from McCandless's journey from both before and after McCandless had passed, while also adding bits and pieces about himself as to convey his motivations and relevance in journalizing Christopher's life. Of course, this does not come without bias. But what's interesting about this book is how Christopher's romantic ideals and viewpoints are approached. Jon Krakauer's perspectives and his own accounts of this contributes to the reader's understanding of McCandless, doing just enough to portray him as an eccentric character while also surfacing the realities and essentially delusional aspects of these romantic ideals:
“It is easy, when you are young, to believe that what you desire is no less than what you deserve, to assume that if you want something badly enough, it is your God-given right to have it.”
Yet, McCandless was young. He had a dream of heroism, which for him was to have a taste of living without the bounds of material wealth and society. Fool or not, one can't deny the trail of pure revelation he had exhibited, the product of being able to follow what he believed would change his life.
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
Krakauer is a great author. My issue with this book is the subject himself: Chris McCandless. He was a selfish, uncaring little shit with delusions of grandeur. Did he accomplish survival for a period of time? Sure, and nobody can take that from him. But he also caused his family a huge amount of pain and didn't give a single fuck about that because ✨morals✨ or whatever. Give me a break.
Like Timothy Treadwell, McCandless played stupid games and won stupid prizes. They're the poster children for why men don't live as long. I don't revel in their deaths, and I wouldn't say they deserved it, but both in their own ways brought about their own demises. I think Krakauer idolized his subject a little too much, which frustrated me.
Also I swear I read this before, but maybe I'm confusing this with watching the movie. Idk.
Like Timothy Treadwell, McCandless played stupid games and won stupid prizes. They're the poster children for why men don't live as long. I don't revel in their deaths, and I wouldn't say they deserved it, but both in their own ways brought about their own demises. I think Krakauer idolized his subject a little too much, which frustrated me.
Also I swear I read this before, but maybe I'm confusing this with watching the movie. Idk.
meghancrack's review against another edition
3.0
Just like the other Krakaur books - there's some ego, slightly depressing, curious.
jessi_2000's review against another edition
4.0
“Don't settle down and sit in one place. Move around be nomadic, make each day a new horizon.”
-Chris McCandless
-Chris McCandless
sapphirelain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Not necessarily my genre, but I think it was well written.
rose_123321's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75