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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
I didn’t find myself engaged by Redford’s narrative. I have some knowledge of climbing and mountaineering and that’s what I thought the book would be about: her love of the outdoors and how that love led her to the men she married. Instead, she just seemed lost and whiny, hoping a man would heal her. Maybe I didn’t read far enough for her to get to the point where she realizes this. I also am not a fan of people who take dangerous risks in dangerous activities. Mountaineering and climbing are inherently dangerous and she seemingly does things to ‘prove’ her worth, which is not a way to do anything.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
The write-up for this book starts with, “In the tradition of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild comes this funny and gritty debut memoir in which Jan Redford grows from a nomadic rock climber to a mother who fights to win back her future.” This book is NOTHING like Strayed’s Wild, so if you are not a fan of that book like me, you are in luck.
Redford is a talented and experienced outdoor climber, where Strayed knew nothing about the outdoors before heading out on the Pacific Crest Trail to find herself. Redford and Strayed have completely separate upbringings, education, career and personal goals. I could go on and on. Treat this book as a different memoir altogether.
I enjoyed this book, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are a rock climber, alpinist or have lived a dirt-bag life. If you are not interested in these sports, I highly recommend passing on this book.
The book heavily covers climbing-culture references and Canadian logging towns, where the book is set. However, this myopic viewpoint felt dull since I couldn’t relate to life in these places.
This book is filled with outdoor adventure and a solid personal side. Redford’s story is remarkable and heartbreaking, and she sets up the most exciting climactic moments well. However, I believe the book dragged on a bit and fast-forwarded way too quickly towards the end. I don’t regret reading this book, but I believe it only appeals to a limited audience.
Redford is a talented and experienced outdoor climber, where Strayed knew nothing about the outdoors before heading out on the Pacific Crest Trail to find herself. Redford and Strayed have completely separate upbringings, education, career and personal goals. I could go on and on. Treat this book as a different memoir altogether.
I enjoyed this book, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are a rock climber, alpinist or have lived a dirt-bag life. If you are not interested in these sports, I highly recommend passing on this book.
The book heavily covers climbing-culture references and Canadian logging towns, where the book is set. However, this myopic viewpoint felt dull since I couldn’t relate to life in these places.
This book is filled with outdoor adventure and a solid personal side. Redford’s story is remarkable and heartbreaking, and she sets up the most exciting climactic moments well. However, I believe the book dragged on a bit and fast-forwarded way too quickly towards the end. I don’t regret reading this book, but I believe it only appeals to a limited audience.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
*Please note, I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways*
This was quite the story. It details Jan's life, highlighting her semi unstable childhood, growing up with a father who drinks too much, and a mother who followed him from place to place, because she didn't have another option. Unfortunately for Jan, she falls into the same cycle, after going through a bit of a wild phase.
Climbing is the highlight of the book. It's not something I've ever read much about, so those were probably the parts of this I enjoyed most. I've rock climbed up a wall in a gym a time or too, and enjoyed it, but I don't think I'd ever climb an actual mountain.
Though I understood Jan's hesitance about some aspects of climbing, I felt frustrated for her at times. She was powerful and kick ass when she climbed on her own, or with other women, or men who weren't her significant other, but when she climbed with men she was sleeping with, she turned soft, and let them do all the leading and deciding. And not just in climbing either, but in life.
Her deepest relationship was likely with Dan, a boyfriend of hers who got killed in an avalanche.
She was devastated by his death, and goes to his friend Grant for support. He's an emotionally abusive, manipulative person, who makes promises he can't, and simply won't keep, and holds her back. He promises her multiple times that after this or that accomplishment of his, she'll be able to go to university.
Jan is very unhappy with him, and there are times that she tries to assert her independence, like when he wants to take inheritance money and buy a trailer. She doesn't want that, so while he's out of the country on a climb, she buys a townhouse all by herself. It's these moments of willpower and defiance that make me wonder why she bothered to stay with him so long.
But, I know why. Sometimes, a crappy situation that you know is better than the unknown.
Luckily for Jan, her situation eventually works out to where she is in a happier place with more of an equal footing in a relationship. She gets a second chance of sorts, which I won't spoil.
This book is a solid read.
This was quite the story. It details Jan's life, highlighting her semi unstable childhood, growing up with a father who drinks too much, and a mother who followed him from place to place, because she didn't have another option. Unfortunately for Jan, she falls into the same cycle, after going through a bit of a wild phase.
Climbing is the highlight of the book. It's not something I've ever read much about, so those were probably the parts of this I enjoyed most. I've rock climbed up a wall in a gym a time or too, and enjoyed it, but I don't think I'd ever climb an actual mountain.
Though I understood Jan's hesitance about some aspects of climbing, I felt frustrated for her at times. She was powerful and kick ass when she climbed on her own, or with other women, or men who weren't her significant other, but when she climbed with men she was sleeping with, she turned soft, and let them do all the leading and deciding. And not just in climbing either, but in life.
Her deepest relationship was likely with Dan, a boyfriend of hers who got killed in an avalanche.
She was devastated by his death, and goes to his friend Grant for support. He's an emotionally abusive, manipulative person, who makes promises he can't, and simply won't keep, and holds her back. He promises her multiple times that after this or that accomplishment of his, she'll be able to go to university.
Jan is very unhappy with him, and there are times that she tries to assert her independence, like when he wants to take inheritance money and buy a trailer. She doesn't want that, so while he's out of the country on a climb, she buys a townhouse all by herself. It's these moments of willpower and defiance that make me wonder why she bothered to stay with him so long.
But, I know why. Sometimes, a crappy situation that you know is better than the unknown.
Luckily for Jan, her situation eventually works out to where she is in a happier place with more of an equal footing in a relationship. She gets a second chance of sorts, which I won't spoil.
This book is a solid read.
An incredible story about a woman in all forms. A daughter, a sister, a climber, a mother and a student. Jan's story of persevering on the rock and in her life was gut wrenching and emotionally vivid. Her constant battles with herself made her human and her story so compelling, you felt as if she was speaking to you first hand. Very rarely does a book make me emotional, but I couldn't put it down. As a climber myself, it is very humanizing to see someone struggle to become better, whatever that means to that person.
required reading
I hope everyone who is or knows a female climber reads this book. It highlights so many of the double standard that we all navigate even a few decades later.
I hope everyone who is or knows a female climber reads this book. It highlights so many of the double standard that we all navigate even a few decades later.
this book was unexpected. i read it in a day and a half! Jan's writing is so raw and full of unapologetic truth. i appreciated her candor on the rock and off. she made me feel like i wasn't alone in the struggle for having it all.