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A review by snukes
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
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.