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wargortarg 's review for:
Wild
by Cheryl Strayed
It can't be a total coincidence that I get the notification that I have won the lottery for day hike permit to Mt Whitney on the same day I was reading the page of this memoir where Cheryl has reached Mt Whitney Portal. May be the "Queen of PCT" did her little magic on the recreation.gov staff to edge me in.
Jokes apart, one can see the book is a great memoir but not the author's finest work. It is a cautionary tale for impulsive folks and solo hikers, a good reference for way points & local flora-fauna on the route and a solid print ad for REI. You have to remind yourself that she did this in a time when you couldn't flip out a phone to check AllTrails or Google Maps. She relied on a mere printed guidebook, with no "internet research" which makes this feat even more admirable. About her personal life, the book starts out raw -- delving into the gritty details of her complex family , but over time becomes repetitive and doesn't leave a satisfying finish in terms of learned lessons. Maybe I was expecting a bit much about spiritual awakening one might have in the course of 1100 miles.
Overall, it's a decent read but it does fast track the Oregon part of the trail throwing out names of placess more than meandering in them.
Jokes apart, one can see the book is a great memoir but not the author's finest work. It is a cautionary tale for impulsive folks and solo hikers, a good reference for way points & local flora-fauna on the route and a solid print ad for REI. You have to remind yourself that she did this in a time when you couldn't flip out a phone to check AllTrails or Google Maps. She relied on a mere printed guidebook, with no "internet research" which makes this feat even more admirable. About her personal life, the book starts out raw -- delving into the gritty details of her complex family , but over time becomes repetitive and doesn't leave a satisfying finish in terms of learned lessons. Maybe I was expecting a bit much about spiritual awakening one might have in the course of 1100 miles.
Overall, it's a decent read but it does fast track the Oregon part of the trail throwing out names of placess more than meandering in them.