Scan barcode
toksyk27's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely one of my favourite reads of this year. Her story is almost unbelievable in many ways. A great account of the natural resilience we all have within us
katrienvancalster's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
smurfolis's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because of Lorelai Gilmore, after I watched Gilmore Girls: A Year In A Life, I put this book on my reading list. Lorelai read the book and found herself inspired to ‘find’ herself and complete the same journey.
Though, I didn’t feel so inspired while reading or even after and I was hoping to. I was hoping this book would make me want to do something extreme and challenge myself to find out more about me, maybe my expectations were too high.
I wanted to like this book and overall I think I did, for the most part. I didn’t find inspiration in it. I didn’t find spirituality. I didn’t even find purpose to it. I am sure Cheryl found hers as she actually did the hike but being only the reader looking in from the outside I thought it was rather mundane.
I don’t like Cheryl, there I said it. She bothered me. She rubbed me the wrong way. I felt she was very smug and arrogant, a kind of I am better than you vibe to her. She has been through some things in her life with her mother’s death, divorce, a horse death, and the heroin but somethings she touched on a lot while others she brushed over like it’s no big deal aka the abortion. Having an abortion I feel is a pretty big deal as is doing a bunch of heroin even the day before your journey, though she brushed it all off like it was just a Tuesday.
I also think she spoke more about the times she was off the trail, hitchhiking or staying in a hostel, than she did when she was on the trail. Yeah, tree after tree, there is probably not too much to say more but that is where I thought the purpose and spirituality would play in. A more cerebral journey.
Overall, I love the concept of the book, the journey, the challenge of finding yourself but I don’t like Cheryl.
Though, I didn’t feel so inspired while reading or even after and I was hoping to. I was hoping this book would make me want to do something extreme and challenge myself to find out more about me, maybe my expectations were too high.
I wanted to like this book and overall I think I did, for the most part. I didn’t find inspiration in it. I didn’t find spirituality. I didn’t even find purpose to it. I am sure Cheryl found hers as she actually did the hike but being only the reader looking in from the outside I thought it was rather mundane.
I don’t like Cheryl, there I said it. She bothered me. She rubbed me the wrong way. I felt she was very smug and arrogant, a kind of I am better than you vibe to her. She has been through some things in her life with her mother’s death, divorce, a horse death, and the heroin but somethings she touched on a lot while others she brushed over like it’s no big deal aka the abortion. Having an abortion I feel is a pretty big deal as is doing a bunch of heroin even the day before your journey, though she brushed it all off like it was just a Tuesday.
I also think she spoke more about the times she was off the trail, hitchhiking or staying in a hostel, than she did when she was on the trail. Yeah, tree after tree, there is probably not too much to say more but that is where I thought the purpose and spirituality would play in. A more cerebral journey.
Overall, I love the concept of the book, the journey, the challenge of finding yourself but I don’t like Cheryl.
clarecg's review against another edition
4.0
I wavered between extreme annoyance with Cheryl and compassion for her. I expected something more from this book, like some kind of epiphany about my own life, but if anything, it did inspire me to be more adventurous. And now I really want to go on a long hike soon.
sloatsj's review against another edition
5.0
Inspiring, open and cathartic. You can't help but root for Strayed on her journey, with her battered feet, her stink, and the hole in her heart. As a reader I felt rather like she did on her hike, happy with the progress I was making but not really wanting the book to end.
I found her experience as a woman interesting, since you expect her to be more threatened by burly men. But late in the book, reflecting with the 'Three Young Bucks' - a group of friendly guys she meets on the trail - Strayed realizes how kind and helpful most people have been to her. The moments of human contact and making friends are some of the more touching in the book. The 'young bucks' claim to have seized on much less sympathy. Of course Strayed is the occasional target of creepy men, and I was so glad she emerged unmolested.
The (imaginary) scenery was wonderful: Crater Lake, the Range of Light, the Bridge of the Gods. I only wanted pictures!
I found her experience as a woman interesting, since you expect her to be more threatened by burly men. But late in the book, reflecting with the 'Three Young Bucks' - a group of friendly guys she meets on the trail - Strayed realizes how kind and helpful most people have been to her. The moments of human contact and making friends are some of the more touching in the book. The 'young bucks' claim to have seized on much less sympathy. Of course Strayed is the occasional target of creepy men, and I was so glad she emerged unmolested.
The (imaginary) scenery was wonderful: Crater Lake, the Range of Light, the Bridge of the Gods. I only wanted pictures!
catsisson's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. It is a memoir of the hike the author took on the Pacific Coast Trail as a last ditch effort to save herself from all of her troubles. It is funny, exciting and sad. The writer Cheryl Strayed made me feel like I was hiking right next to her. I listened to this book and the reader was very good as well.
beckymattord's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a little late to the party on this one but.. I'm not sure how a negative review could be written about this book or the author. I was completely entranced by this story from start to finish. It was raw and real at times, and it shows that the journey isn't always pretty but making it to the end is truly a rewarding experience. The strength that Cheryl showed is honestly inspiring, no matter how low of a point she may have hit to get her there. I really enjoyed this book and I probably could have finished it in a couple of days if my schedule had allowed it.