From the Bookshelf of The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge…

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Cheryl Strayed

Start date: January 1, 2017

Finish date: January 31, 2017

Discussion: Book Discussions (Archive)

Discussion leader: Desirae

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What Members Thought

May 18, 2017 Rachel N. rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, california, autobiography, memoir, travel, read-in-2017, hiking, pacific-crest-trail, oregon

In 1995 at the age of 27 Cheryl Strayed decided to hike a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. She begins in the Mojave desert and finishes at the Oregon/Washington border having to bypass a large part of the trail due to heavy snow. Cheryl is still grieving the loss of her mother to cancer 4 years before and the recent break up of her marriage when she decides to make the trip. Cheryl was very unprepared to make this trip and especially in the early part of the book I got annoyed with her for ma ...more

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Nov 09, 2018 Whitney rated it really liked it

Shelves: bios, audiobooks, memoir, non-fiction, library-book

Wild was certainly an interesting read. I don’t read very much non-fiction, but I wanted to take the month of November to change that. Wild has been on my list for quite some time, and it was available on audiobook from my library. Even though I was shaking my head at her most of the time, I was thoroughly engaged throughout.

I am not the outdoorsy type. I enjoy hiking, but when I say that I mean a 2.5 – 4.5 mile day hike trail, where I get to go home after a couple of hours. So, setting off to h Wild was certainly an interesting read. I don’t read very much non-fiction, but I wanted to take the month of November to change that. Wild has been on my list for quite some time, and it was available on audiobook from my library. Even though I was shaking my head at her most of the time, I was thoroughly engaged throughout.

I am not the outdoorsy type. I enjoy hiking, but when I say that I mean a 2.5 – 4.5 mile day hike trail, where I get to go home after a couple of hours. So, setting off to hike hundreds of miles by myself through extreme weather conditions sounds like the furthest thing from what I would consider fun or even tolerable. I know a lot of people have read this book and said that it made them want to go hiking. To those people, I say, “Did we read the same book?” 😂 This book made me realize that my feelings toward long-distance hiking were entirely accurate!

So, all of that to say, I do not know what kind of preparation is necessary for a hiking trip of the magnitude that Cheryl Strayed went on…but I do know that it is significantly more than what she actually did! Knowing that she came out on the other side of this hike (since I was reading a book that she herself wrote) helped me to be able to get through it. I was so scared for her throughout the book! From weather, to animals, to dehydration, to potential sexual predators, just reading about her experience gave me anxiety. But, I was also completely and thoroughly entertained.

Would I ever hike the Pacific Crest Trail myself? Absolutely not! Am I glad that I read the account of someone who did? Yes! I appreciate the gumption and tenacity that it took for Strayed to start and finish this epic feat, even if I question her judgement and level of preparedness. This was an enriching read, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys tales of personal growth, challenging physical feats, and self-discovery.

My Rating:
4.0/5.0

I gave Wild 4 STARS. If you enjoy books like A Walk In The Woods by Bill Bryson, you will enjoy Wild.

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Nov 28, 2017 Samantha rated it did not like it

To lighten her pack on The PCT, Cheryl Strayed would burn the pages of whatever current book she was reading. She should have done the same thing with her notes for Wild. If I could give this selfish, self absorbed piece of trash zero stars I would have. Cheryl Strayed is the most UNLIKABLE memoir author I've ever read. This book was a complete waste of my time. I only kept on thinking she'd have some sort of spiritual or emotional revelation by book's end. Sadly, it never happens, beyond her ow ...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Shannon Burton rated it really liked it

I loved this book. I laughed, I cried-how many books can do that? Page turner from start, revealing a memoir from an author who can actually WRITE. Plus, I am a sucker for the folks who overcome in life. Well done Cheryl.

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Jan 08, 2014 Kailee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-favorites, nonfiction

This book has moved me in a way that other books haven't. Maybe it's because I love the outdoors & also have a sense of adventure, or maybe it's because the writing is very deep & almost poetic. It's probably a combination of all the above. I started this book one night, then put it aside to finish up another trilogy. Once I picked it back up, I finished it within 3 days. After reading this book, I seriously want to go on an epic backpacking adventure in the future. I've officially added it to m ...more

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