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cwalsh's review against another edition
3.0
Five stars for each instance Strayed talked about her mother, three stars for the rest. While I find hiking the insanely arduous Pacific Coast Trail to an incredible accomplishment, I felt the book really dragged on for too long.
carahammond's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
kstar902's review against another edition
4.0
If I'd been able to relate to it more, I probably would have given it 5 stars. But I found the book very compelling.
eastcoastchick84's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
bit101's review against another edition
4.0
Struggling with the rating on this one. It's a solid 3.5, but that's not an option, so I'll round up.
I enjoyed the first half or so - maybe 3/4 - of the book. I've seen some reviews where the reader is angry that Cheryl made so many bad decisions and embarked on her walk with so little preparation. This didn't bother me at all. In fact, I identified with it. Her pre-hike life was dealt with fairly quickly but enough to be interesting and give the rest of the book context. When she gets going on the trail, it moves fast. The people she meets and physical struggles were captivating.
The latter part of the book lost me a bit for a couple of reasons. Her encounter with the guy after the concert was described in waaay too much uncomfortable detail for a memoir. Very much out of place and unnecessary for the story. A bit cringe-y. And when she starts getting all emotional about her mom's 50th birthday... OK, I get it. The journey across the trail parallels her journey of healing. The physical pain and the mental pain. It was all just a bit too much for me. I mean, I'm sure she went through that emotional struggle and it was real. But the writing of it so many years later just felt a bit contrived.
Other than that, though, it was a compelling story. There were plenty of points where I was unable to put it down. Impulse read, and I have no regrets, but I won't be seeking out any more of the author's work.
I enjoyed the first half or so - maybe 3/4 - of the book. I've seen some reviews where the reader is angry that Cheryl made so many bad decisions and embarked on her walk with so little preparation. This didn't bother me at all. In fact, I identified with it. Her pre-hike life was dealt with fairly quickly but enough to be interesting and give the rest of the book context. When she gets going on the trail, it moves fast. The people she meets and physical struggles were captivating.
The latter part of the book lost me a bit for a couple of reasons. Her encounter with the guy after the concert was described in waaay too much uncomfortable detail for a memoir. Very much out of place and unnecessary for the story. A bit cringe-y. And when she starts getting all emotional about her mom's 50th birthday... OK, I get it. The journey across the trail parallels her journey of healing. The physical pain and the mental pain. It was all just a bit too much for me. I mean, I'm sure she went through that emotional struggle and it was real. But the writing of it so many years later just felt a bit contrived.
Other than that, though, it was a compelling story. There were plenty of points where I was unable to put it down. Impulse read, and I have no regrets, but I won't be seeking out any more of the author's work.
lil1inblue's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This was a pleasant surprise.
duparker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
2.25
I wanted this to be A Walk in the Woods, but focus on the Pacific Coast. Instead it was a sort of rambling self-help book. The interplay between why the author walked trail and the actual walking the trail was two haphazard. I also felt there was very slipshot on the writing, and in a lot of ways this felt very dated. Also at a certain point I wonder why a model or at least the world's sexiest woman seems to be doing this. It really was interesting but not good in a lot of ways.