Scan barcode
trywii's reviews
384 reviews
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
2.0
This is the most difficult book I had to review.
At first, I was going to rate it 4 stars- The story of Christopher Knight and his decision to become a bystander of society instead of a participant is harrowing. Knight is a man who prefers solitude and avoidance of human interaction, and while his methods of achieving this is not entirely ethical, it is admirable his ability to survive in the cruelty of nature much to himself.
However, the author is insanely intrusive in how he squeezed information out of both Knight and his family. Knight is quoted repeatedly as pushing the author out of his life, even threatening to call the police, *begging* the author to leave him and his family alone.
While I do think Knight’s story is worth telling and knowing, the author’s stalker behavior is abhorrent. An otherwise incredible story and book is muddied with the author’s grotesque obsession with a man who wants nothing more but stillness in a chaotic world.
If you do read this book, I highly recommend using a library or borrowing a copy elsewhere. Finkel’s exploration of this story should not be rewarded with payment.
At first, I was going to rate it 4 stars- The story of Christopher Knight and his decision to become a bystander of society instead of a participant is harrowing. Knight is a man who prefers solitude and avoidance of human interaction, and while his methods of achieving this is not entirely ethical, it is admirable his ability to survive in the cruelty of nature much to himself.
However, the author is insanely intrusive in how he squeezed information out of both Knight and his family. Knight is quoted repeatedly as pushing the author out of his life, even threatening to call the police, *begging* the author to leave him and his family alone.
While I do think Knight’s story is worth telling and knowing, the author’s stalker behavior is abhorrent. An otherwise incredible story and book is muddied with the author’s grotesque obsession with a man who wants nothing more but stillness in a chaotic world.
If you do read this book, I highly recommend using a library or borrowing a copy elsewhere. Finkel’s exploration of this story should not be rewarded with payment.