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jylene_henning's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book and wished it would go on to follow Cheryl's life after the PCT. I have to say that I was totally shocked by some of the negative reviews I read after I finished it. Some were actually scathing! I totally disagree with their criticism and found the writing in this book to be beautifully honest, touching and heartbreaking. It will stay with me for a very long time!
libby_libaryon's review against another edition
5.0
I loved just about every page of this book. Cheryl ist as lost as a person can be, and her journey on the PCT is nothing short of inspiring. It makes me want to take a similar journey.
peppersgirl2010's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book!!! Half the time I wanted to slap the author and the other half the time I wanted to hug her. I read this while staying in Wyoming and most of the other guests at the motel were hiking the Continental Divide Trail, which also runs from Canada to Mexico. Including a young woman hiking the trail alone with her dog. I think that is the main reason I loved this so much. It made all of the people in this book seem so much more real to me. I tried to talk her into writing a book about her experience when she's done and I hope she does. Kelly and Zoe, I'll be watching for your book!
mrs_wheatfall's review against another edition
4.0
Rolled my eyes at Oprah suggesting this book. Not too impressed with Oprah's book club picks, but nonetheless, I am always intrigued at the story of someone finding herself. I related to the author a lot as a codependent person who grew up in typical American dysfunction. I liked the way she wove in stories of her upbringing during her walk.I related to her tangled mixed emotions regarding her mother and death of her mom, which I also experienced.
I also applaud her honesty at telling parts of her past she can not be proud of. I'm not sure I have the kind of courage it would take to list my bad decisions in a book for all to read, or set out as a woman alone on a trail for 3 months. Now that I have finished the book, I find myself thinking about the allure of doing something that daring. Although not a lover of camping or roughing it, this book has compelled me to consider a day or two out on a trail, stinkiness and all.
If you have mixed emotions about your mom, or have ever felt something missing from your life, you may also like this book.
I also applaud her honesty at telling parts of her past she can not be proud of. I'm not sure I have the kind of courage it would take to list my bad decisions in a book for all to read, or set out as a woman alone on a trail for 3 months. Now that I have finished the book, I find myself thinking about the allure of doing something that daring. Although not a lover of camping or roughing it, this book has compelled me to consider a day or two out on a trail, stinkiness and all.
If you have mixed emotions about your mom, or have ever felt something missing from your life, you may also like this book.
maggal16's review against another edition
4.0
I genuinely loved this story and the author's honesty. Great read!
mbee22's review against another edition
4.0
a modern classic. a reminder that the $20 you thought you lost will be coming in the next box
nktabrgla's review against another edition
3.0
By the end it was impossible not to feel a sense of accomplishment for Strayed and her journey, both physical and emotional. Strayed connected her experiences on the trail with an exploration of her mother and her grief in a continuous, forward movement. However, a lot of the book annoyed me. Her descriptions often seemed cliche (there were chapters in which I heard my professors' voices in my head reminding me of the need to show and not tell) and the descriptions of her emotional journey lacked originality. I was consistently disappointed in her involvement of race in irrelevant situations (there really is no need to mention every time someone is not white). Likewise, her inclusion of Indigenous beliefs/thought/people was at times superfluous and failed to add depth to her argument. It seemed like an attempt to acknowledge native communities along the PCT (which as a concept, I appreciate), but it was not done in a profound or seamless manner.
ariajanae's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I hate to rate this when I didn’t technically finish it, but I couldn’t for the life of me get through the last few chapters! The first half is fantastic. And then it just gets kind of flat in my opinion. I just don’t have any interest in picking it up and finishing it, so I decided I won’t!
I hate to rate this when I didn’t technically finish it, but I couldn’t for the life of me get through the last few chapters! The first half is fantastic. And then it just gets kind of flat in my opinion. I just don’t have any interest in picking it up and finishing it, so I decided I won’t!
snukes's review against another edition
4.0
Next stop on my tour of books about people doing insane things in the outdoors. Knew this one was going to be cheerier than the last (Into the Wild) since, y'know, the author lived to write it.
Cheryl Strayed is nothing like me. That we both hail from The Middle and think hiking the Pacific Crest Trail sounds like a good idea are where our similarities end. The biggest difference boils down to her impulsiveness. I am... what's the opposite of impulsive? Constrained? Cautious? Boring? And, of course, this is why she actually hiked the PCT and I just sit around and think about it.
But impulsive, extreme people make excellent narrators. Following Strayed's story - from her family background, to her hike, and back-and-forth through a series of flashbacks - was a fascinating journey. I can't help but be impressed at her perseverance, given how badly the hike started for her. (The chapter about how she packed and then lifted her backpack on the first day of the hike nearly had me in tears with something that was a combination of sympathy and schadenfreude.) She kept at her goal through every turn of physical pain. I feel like I could deal with the emotional stuff, but I am not tough (another reason I just sit here and think about these things) and I cannot imagine continuing on through the back pain, lost toenails, and bruises.
Maybe some of those things are inevitable on an 1100-mile hike. Maybe one could avoid some of them if one has read enough cautionary tails. I'll let you know when I find out. Because I'm gonna. As Strayed said, if she can do it....
Random additional note: that Strayed chose her own last name is a point of particular fascination. My brain is now fixated on wondering what I would choose, if given that option. I'll let you know if I think of it.
Cheryl Strayed is nothing like me. That we both hail from The Middle and think hiking the Pacific Crest Trail sounds like a good idea are where our similarities end. The biggest difference boils down to her impulsiveness. I am... what's the opposite of impulsive? Constrained? Cautious? Boring? And, of course, this is why she actually hiked the PCT and I just sit around and think about it.
But impulsive, extreme people make excellent narrators. Following Strayed's story - from her family background, to her hike, and back-and-forth through a series of flashbacks - was a fascinating journey. I can't help but be impressed at her perseverance, given how badly the hike started for her. (The chapter about how she packed and then lifted her backpack on the first day of the hike nearly had me in tears with something that was a combination of sympathy and schadenfreude.) She kept at her goal through every turn of physical pain. I feel like I could deal with the emotional stuff, but I am not tough (another reason I just sit here and think about these things) and I cannot imagine continuing on through the back pain, lost toenails, and bruises.
Maybe some of those things are inevitable on an 1100-mile hike. Maybe one could avoid some of them if one has read enough cautionary tails. I'll let you know when I find out. Because I'm gonna. As Strayed said, if she can do it....
Random additional note: that Strayed chose her own last name is a point of particular fascination. My brain is now fixated on wondering what I would choose, if given that option. I'll let you know if I think of it.
rachelsbusyreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
Really loved this one!! I’m learning that I just love books about people cross country country hiking lol