Reviews

It's rare that a book makes me cry. But her understanding of the pain I felt/feel after losing my mother and going through her own gamut of torture and healing really matched my own. If you've ever lost someone that was your lighthouse, and/or fallen apart and found yourself, this book will strike a chord.

Also, it makes me really want to spend some time living in the wilderness.

scoutandbexbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Wild is well written. Comparing to the film, although I thought Reese Witherspoon was incredible, I enjoyed the book more then the film. I can't completely put my finger on why I didn't throughly enjoy it. It was interesting to read about how she survived out there in the wilderness but what I thought would be a more emotionally charged book, I only felt something when they had to put the horse down.

jsoakes's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

An interesting perspective. Cheryl has led a "wild" life with a lot of experiences that were pretty unique. She also was continually teetering between brave, persistent, and downright stupid. She definitely has some guardian angel looking out for her. While I didn't personally relate to her or find her revelations particularly insightful, she does communicate well and the story was entertaining.

Don't expect to get the female version of A Walk in the Woods with this one. This was a much more personal journey. While there are great descriptions of the trail, its history, and the experience of being in nature, that is not what this story is about.

armknit's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I loved this book. I have done a lot of hiking and camping and just a few nights of backpacking (not for me!) but I have always been so interested in hearing about it. I love to read these first-hand accounts of these kinds of journeys. I find it fascinating and like to experience it vicariously. (Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods is one of my favortie books ever.) Combine this with the story of a young woman who lost her mother to cancer in circumstances eerily similar to the loss of my own mother and it was an amazing book for me. I highly respect how Strayed took her grief and channeled it into something she could hopefully make peace with and learn from.

onecraftyreader's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

A good read, although I had a little trouble empathizing with the events that preceded her hike. On the other hand, she and I are around the same age, so I could picture people I'd known at that time making those choices and choosing such an adventure. Some parts (such as the incident with Lady, the horse) were vividly drawn, while a few passages suffered from a summarizing tone. Once she got on the trail, it was an engaging adventure.

samannaelle's review against another edition

Go to review page

inspiring

4.25

More...