In Wild, Jay Griffiths describes an extraordinary odyssey through wildernesses of earth, ice, water, and fire. A poetic consideration of the...
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Dec 11, 2010
Veronica
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I've never read a book quite like this; it's very difficult to describe. Seven years in the writing, like some mythical hero's trials, it's a hymn to the wild, written by a young poet, anthropologist, philosopher, adventurer, and probably manic depressive too. It's divided into sections for each element: Earth, Ice (an element on its own), Water, Fire, and Air, and Griffiths travels the globe in search of unspoiled wildness: the Amazon, the Arctic, Indonesia, Australia, and West Papua (with a br
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Jan 25, 2010
Susan
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While I enjoyed the stories of her global travels and descriptions of other cultures and customs, I was intensely repelled by Ms. Griffiths obvious deep-seated hatred for so many things: white people, western “civilization”, and especially organized religion, which she views as oppressive and murderous. Ms. Griffiths has a way with words and can weave beautiful, poetic images… so why resort to such crude slang when referring to the human body? She has a Freudian-like obsession with sex and vi
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Sep 24, 2009
Heather
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Griffiths's language is beautiful- wildly, unabashedly poetic. Her journey to the world's wildest places- glaciers, deserts, mountains, islands- is a fascinating one, and I am glad I read this book.
However, I did think she was a little too inclined to romanticize the indigenous people, to vilify the western people, and to romanticize the natural world. And there was one Indonesian whom I'm convinced was telling her a tall tale. At one point, she says that animals and nature are ne More...
However, I did think she was a little too inclined to romanticize the indigenous people, to vilify the western people, and to romanticize the natural world. And there was one Indonesian whom I'm convinced was telling her a tall tale. At one point, she says that animals and nature are ne More...
Jun 09, 2010
Jenny
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This is one of those books I just found being given away. Super interesting. I actually learned a lot from this book, as there was a curious dive into words to express the points and subjects. Halfway through I really wanted to know how she would tie it up and end it, so I breezed through chapters which may explain why I felt the end was a bit disconnected and short, BUT I loved the way it ended. I will be referencing this book for awhile, so I'm not sure I can part with it just yet.
Mar 21, 2011
Jayne
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An elemental journey and what a journey! The author uses incredibly rich, lucious language in her attempt to describe her journeys to extremely remote parts of the earth. She is tough, harsh, and irreverent towards those who would compromise wild areas, and creates in the reader a deep appreaciation of 'wildness'. The book is experiential beyond compare, and thoroughly researched by the author.
Nov 26, 2008
Sandy
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One of the best books I've ever read. Part travelogue, part self-exploration, Ms. Griffiths explores how she feels environmental destruction is related to man's inherent fear of other. She's right up there with Terry Tempest Williams in my book.
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Aug 12, 2008
Diane
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I loved it, I hated it. In and out of it I went. I loved the stories she told, hated her self-importance and her overdone prose, which would at times leave Walter Pater in the shade. See my views on her chum Macfarlane.
Are we entering a new era of ichor and tesellated pavements, where everyoen goes for Immediate Impact? If so, get out the Hemingway! If you want wild, read Big Two-hearted River, which I'm willing to bet Griffiths hates because it's about a man and not menstrual More...
Are we entering a new era of ichor and tesellated pavements, where everyoen goes for Immediate Impact? If so, get out the Hemingway! If you want wild, read Big Two-hearted River, which I'm willing to bet Griffiths hates because it's about a man and not menstrual More...
Sep 30, 2009
Loving this so far. Beautifully written, it explore the concept of "wildness" by blending travel, self-discovery, environmentalism, anthropology and philosophy. And more! [keeps reading:]
Jan 09, 2010
My review of this book was published in the Oregonian on January 28, 2007. It disappeared when the paper updated its Web site, but I'll post a new link to the review soon.
Nov 04, 2010
Mick
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Superb, has to be one of the most eloquent and emotive books I have ever read!
Also at times frustrating! It inspired a whole series of emotions, that sometimes meant I had to leave this book alone for a while, to allow time to consider each element.
Reading others criticisms I found a lot to agree with, yet could not condemn it in any way.
A strange exciting and thought provoking adventure!
Also at times frustrating! It inspired a whole series of emotions, that sometimes meant I had to leave this book alone for a while, to allow time to consider each element.
Reading others criticisms I found a lot to agree with, yet could not condemn it in any way.
A strange exciting and thought provoking adventure!
Sep 21, 2007
Maya
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Extraordinary writer. Sometimes a little too "noble savage." I usually can't get into this kind of book (narrative nonfiction w/o a lot of focus on individual people) but I liked this one. I think my favorite part is the ice section, in the North Pole, when they kill the whales and she's so torn about whether to support the noble savages or the nobler whales.
I felt it petered out to the end with the Mongolian stuff.
The tampon theme was interesting too (just More...
I felt it petered out to the end with the Mongolian stuff.
The tampon theme was interesting too (just More...
Jul 26, 2009
Barry
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Couldn't finish it: it made me feel angry - seemed a bit much "Repressed intellectual privileged white woman goes to hang out with non-repressed poor people, takes drugs, lets it all hang out, feels much better, and writes a rave about how great it is to be poor and in touch with nature etc, dressed up with some residual intellectualism". I don't think that's entirely fair, but that's how I'm felt about it.
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Jan 09, 2008
John
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Ms. Griffith doesn't think like me. This is the very reason I am reading this tome. She is a radical feminist, anti-Christian, anti-corporate, and anti-western civilization in her views. I have found her challenging, engaging, often aggravating, but always a good story teller. It has been a positive stretch for me to read this book.
Mar 18, 2009
Michael
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If ever there was a book to make you pack a bag and travel then this is it.Seven years of travels to jungle,desert,ice and everything inbetween.Plus some great accounts of the best natural hallucinogenic medicines known to man.A classic
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Sep 25, 2007
Lindsay
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i enjoyed this book and felt i learned a lot about all sort of far flung locales. her tone slips into weird preachy-ness, but its endurable for the rich descriptions otherwise.
Oct 31, 2008
Iano
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I can't remember being so turned off a book so quickly. It felt like it was written by a teenager. The essence of wildness in peyote! ... please!
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