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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
I remember reading this at the recommendation of my freshman biology professor in college - great book.
My favorite part about LaBastille's book was learning about the logistics of living in a remote mountain log cabin and being self-sufficient. The nature writing, however, was overwrought and repetitive. I almost set the book down because the over the top nature writing was boring and felt contrived. And the part about the life-forces of trees was a little woo for my taste.
I was also frustrated by how self-righteous Labastille sounded about certain environmental issues. I absolutely believe we should prioritize environmental health, but to go around in a group asking people to let you test their septic tanks, and then turn those people into the Town Pollution officer if they don't get repairs done is a strong vigilante approach. She writes disparagingly about the use of motorboats on Black Bear Lake, but then she is pro-snowmobile. These seem like fine, self-serving lines that are being drawn. I think she could have written about these same issues without sounding so preachy.
I was surprised by how smug she was about cities and the outside world, even towards her friends. After some friends let her live with them for an indeterminate length of time (at least a month?), she wrote what seem to be snide remarks about not getting addicted to their television, the lack of preparation illustrated by the contents of their medical cabinet, and their "fancy little Mercedes". I can appreciate that LaBastille did not enjoy living in the city and much preferred the wilderness. That's fine - a lot of us probably picked up this book because we find living in the wilderness interesting or appealing! But the way she wrote things seemed unnecessarily condescending, and I wish they had been written with a bit more awareness.
AND IS NO ONE GOING TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT MORGAN ASKED HER TO GO CAMPING WITH HIM WHEN SHE WAS 18 AND HE WAS 35? And then he didn't pack her a tent, so her options were to sleep in the rain or spoon with him? And him offering her his tent was supposedly chivalrous and romantic?
Are we just not going to talk about that???
I guess not.
Anyways, I absolutely think Anne LaBastille is an incredible, strong woman who did something amazing, something I could never do. But the way she wrote about it, and the way she wrote about the interactions with others, was a turn-off.
If anyone knows of any other interesting survivalist/log-cabin sorts of stories, I'd love to hear them.
I was also frustrated by how self-righteous Labastille sounded about certain environmental issues. I absolutely believe we should prioritize environmental health, but to go around in a group asking people to let you test their septic tanks, and then turn those people into the Town Pollution officer if they don't get repairs done is a strong vigilante approach. She writes disparagingly about the use of motorboats on Black Bear Lake, but then she is pro-snowmobile. These seem like fine, self-serving lines that are being drawn. I think she could have written about these same issues without sounding so preachy.
I was surprised by how smug she was about cities and the outside world, even towards her friends. After some friends let her live with them for an indeterminate length of time (at least a month?), she wrote what seem to be snide remarks about not getting addicted to their television, the lack of preparation illustrated by the contents of their medical cabinet, and their "fancy little Mercedes". I can appreciate that LaBastille did not enjoy living in the city and much preferred the wilderness. That's fine - a lot of us probably picked up this book because we find living in the wilderness interesting or appealing! But the way she wrote things seemed unnecessarily condescending, and I wish they had been written with a bit more awareness.
AND IS NO ONE GOING TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT MORGAN ASKED HER TO GO CAMPING WITH HIM WHEN SHE WAS 18 AND HE WAS 35? And then he didn't pack her a tent, so her options were to sleep in the rain or spoon with him? And him offering her his tent was supposedly chivalrous and romantic?
Are we just not going to talk about that???
I guess not.
Anyways, I absolutely think Anne LaBastille is an incredible, strong woman who did something amazing, something I could never do. But the way she wrote about it, and the way she wrote about the interactions with others, was a turn-off.
If anyone knows of any other interesting survivalist/log-cabin sorts of stories, I'd love to hear them.
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. I found myself empathising with Anne, especially since she wrote about the trials and tribulations with equal weight of the glory and peace of life in a cabin in the woods. It was an interesting insight into a lifestyle that is somewhat familiar at a time when things were quite different - a young woman who decides to live alone in the forest was extremely unusual in the 70s, whereas today it would be a dream situation (at least for some of us).
The style reads a little dated and some of the dialogue is stiff with Information, but I enjoyed this.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
This was very inspirational. It's conversational and sometimes boring, too. I kept putting it down to add a first aid kit or ax to my wish list, which I think is a great quality in a book.