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Jeanette (Ms. Feisty)'s Reviews > Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
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Jeanette (Ms. Feisty)'s review
bookshelves: nonfiction, travel-adventure, biography-memoir
Jul 03, 2012
bookshelves: nonfiction, travel-adventure, biography-memoir
3.5 stars
What kind of dimwit would decide to backpack the Pacific Crest Trail alone with zero backpacking experience? Apparently the same kind of dimwit who would try heroin just because the stranger she spent the night with happens to need a fix.
If you can tolerate essence of dingbat and overlook her lousy choices and even lousier excuses for those choices, this is actually an enjoyable read. You have to roll your eyes a lot while working to the point where she hits the trail, but after that it's quite engaging. I admire her tenacity in finishing what she started, given her cluelessness about backpacking that led to serious mistakes and potentially dangerous miscalculations. If you've never backpacked before, use this as a cautionary tale rather than an excuse to be a ditz. Many people with more backpacking savvy than Cheryl have lost their lives through poor planning or just bad luck.
The thing that saves this book is that Cheryl writes well. If I can say without unkindness that there's a certain charm in her idiocy, this is what makes her story worth reading. And if you have any backpacking stories of your own, you'll connect with so many of the little things that define the worldwide community of backpackers.
What kind of dimwit would decide to backpack the Pacific Crest Trail alone with zero backpacking experience? Apparently the same kind of dimwit who would try heroin just because the stranger she spent the night with happens to need a fix.
If you can tolerate essence of dingbat and overlook her lousy choices and even lousier excuses for those choices, this is actually an enjoyable read. You have to roll your eyes a lot while working to the point where she hits the trail, but after that it's quite engaging. I admire her tenacity in finishing what she started, given her cluelessness about backpacking that led to serious mistakes and potentially dangerous miscalculations. If you've never backpacked before, use this as a cautionary tale rather than an excuse to be a ditz. Many people with more backpacking savvy than Cheryl have lost their lives through poor planning or just bad luck.
The thing that saves this book is that Cheryl writes well. If I can say without unkindness that there's a certain charm in her idiocy, this is what makes her story worth reading. And if you have any backpacking stories of your own, you'll connect with so many of the little things that define the worldwide community of backpackers.
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Reading Progress
July 3, 2012
– Shelved
July 8, 2012
–
65.71%
"This brings back a lot of memories about my backpacking years. I had a lot more savvy than Cheryl, but there are some things that are the same for all backpackers. Dreaming of unavailable foods and beverages while treading a hot and dusty trail consumes much mental and emotional energy. Snapple Lemonade! Cheeseburgers! Pizza! Ice Cream!"
page
207
Started Reading
July 13, 2012
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 135 (135 new)
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Linty
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Jul 04, 2012 09:52AM
It's sounding like you maaaaybe aren't gonna like this one. *wink*
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Actually I do sort of like it. She may have been self-destructive, but she writes well. Also, I spent the first 15 years of my life living in and/or near the Sierras, and did my first backpacking trip at age eight, so I'm connected to the area. My neighbor gave me a copy of the book, so I can poke my way through it without worrying about library due dates.
Jeanette, life is an adventure, ya know.
That's cool. This one really interests me. As does the sierras. Not too shabby of an area to spend your 1st 15 years. The Sierras look amazing.
Mikki wrote: "Jeanette, life is an adventure, ya know."The line between adventure and stupid-idity is a moving target. She's older and wiser now.
Hahaha, that seriously needs to be on a bumper sticker or t-shirt, in fact, I'd like to add that to my GR quotes.
You'll have to wait till I'm famous, Mikki. They don't allow quotes from nobodies here on GR. ;-)
:)) Stupid-idity is like dumber than dumb. I've tried to make it work with naked-idity, too, but how can you be nakeder than naked?
Ha ha. Gaeta, you really like that one. :-)) Bogus-tude was one I actually made up when I sat down to write the review, just because I couldn't figure out how else to say it. Bogus-ness? Bogus-icity? Ah, Bogus-tude, that's it!!
She tried heroin with a stranger. She spent the night with a stranger, a him. She went backpacking in the mountains. A woman. Alone. With no experience.She must have the luck virus. (From the Red Dwarf Series V episode Quarantine, my favorite episode.]
i would disagree that she writes well. i'm struggling to finish, not just because she's an idiot. as an avid hiker, she's lucky she lived.
Jessa wrote: "i would disagree that she writes well. i'm struggling to finish, not just because she's an idiot. as an avid hiker, she's lucky she lived."Maybe it was a little more interesting to me because I'm familiar with the places she hiked through. And yes, she is VERY lucky to have survived. I've been hiking since I could walk, with my big brothers carrying me when I couldn't keep up, and I still can't believe she did this.
How interesting to hear that you did a lot of hiking as a child. I came from a climbing family, so our outings were a bit more vertical :)
Not a lotta climbing in this family, Caroline. The females in my family are genetically weak in the upper body and very strong in the lower body. Even with a dedicated weight-lifting regimen, I was never able to bulk up much in the arms and shoulders.
I don't want to give the wrong impression Jeanette - nowadays I never do anything other than walking, and even then I do gentle strolls for about half an hour, rather than anything more feisty. The patheticness of my upper body strength is matched only by the patheticness of my lower body strength :(My parents were very keen climbers though, and my brother is a runner. Sadly all those genes seem to have passed me by.
Even in the short time I have known you - I am picking up that you used to be very active.
Haha ... Well said, Jeannette. I just finished this book tonite and wondered if anyone else felt the same about it as I did. Yes, sounds like you read my mind!
Gosh, you hated it, though, Karen. One star? I'm surprised you finished it. :)
great review, Jeanette. The author is such a bimbo who doesn't realize that she receives preferential treatment on the trail because she's an attractive woman and a slut. Who buys a snow shovel at REI (Really Expensive Inventory)? Was Target closed?(less)
You're right on -- I read this book, even the pre-hike parts, as though watching a horror movie. It's amazing she made it out alive.
Dead on. I completely agree with this review
I totally and 100% agree with your review.
LOL at your review. A friend recommended this book to me for the scenery that was described. I was thinking the same thing, "she wasn't a runner or a hiker and she set out to do this?! WHY??"
You said what I wanted to say only better and in fewer words. Great review!
Thanks, Natalie.
Gaeta1 wrote: "I see you removed your troll remark. I blocked her when I saw her comments. Jeez."Yeah, I didn't even find that troll comment till yesterday. Sometimes I miss comments because of the way they bundle them here on GR. And to think she's 55 years old and still can't mind her own beeswax and refrain from attacking people for their opinions. Jeez.
Gaeta1 wrote: "Usually the trolls come out for the one stars..."That used to be true, but now they even come after me on five-star reviews if they hated the book. The incivility here just gets worse and worse. Sigh.
Now it's Oprah Book club 2. I will try it but I don't have high hopes
I'm surprised Oprah would pick it after it's been out so long. The author must have some good connections!
Jeanette, I agree with you 100%. I read this over the summer, and now my book club has chosen it for discussion. Should make for a good discussion. (My father is a camper/hiker and I could not read this book without hearing his voice saying, "What a stupid woman!" in my head.
Alexis wrote: "Jeanette, I agree with you 100%. I read this over the summer, and now my book club has chosen it for discussion. Should make for a good discussion. (My father is a camper/hiker and I could not read..."Definitely good fodder for book group discussion. I hope you can all maintain your decorum, ha ha. I'm afraid I'd be tempted to throw crockery. ;-)
You really summed up my feelings on this book perfectly! She is basically an immature, selfish person who makes horrible decisions but that being said the book was actually good and I enjoyed reading it.
Absurd!! You missed the point.. Bravery cannot be described as stupidity neither at an self actualization...
I think your review is right on the mark. She really is a dimwit and I'm sure she down-played her heroin use, I bet she was far worse off than she discloses. To still be using a few nights before she hits the trail is just a clue. I feel she only hiked in order to be able to write the book and make some money. She seems like such a loser, sleeping around, using drugs, going on a serious backpacking hike with no experience....IDIOT! She really doesn't deserve the windfall that this book has provided her.
I thought the nature scenes were alot of fun and didn't put much time into her negative intos in the city.
Grieving people do strange things...Especially young ones who have lost their parents and are orphans...I didn't find her behavior strnge at all but right on target for someone who have lost devastating losses and is alone in the world.
Though harsh, I agree with this review. You aren't allowed to do heroin, cheat on your husband and chalk it up to grieving. A lot of people lose their parents young and don't make this turn. With that said, I appreciated she opened herself up to those experiences in her book. Not only is she opening herself and her bad choices up to criticism from her readers, but from her family. That in itself takes courage and I commend her for it.
I remember when you posted this review and how much I giggled at some of your phrases. I don't think I'll bother with this book. I don't really have much tolerance for "essence of dingbat"...in fact, I think I'm allergic. Grief as an excuse for doing heroin?? Uhhh, sure, sell me a bridge while you're at it.
she was certainly a lot braver (or more stupid) than I was in my twenties...I really enjoyed the book..I really marvel at women who take on , alone, such large adventures!!
I understand that this is your review and you are entitled to say what you want, but insulting the author is a bit tacky. I think this book is quite wonderful, and it is certainly something I would like to do. I think it is brave for a woman to go hiking ALONE on a trail she has never been on before, and yes, it does seem odd that she never hiked before, but it's the beauty in the challenge. I'm going to say that it is obviously more than just luck that gets her through this hike and rough moment in her life.
I agree with Becki. Brave to do it, braver to write (and get published) a book. Enjoyed this book, bought another copy and just mailed it to a friend. Thanks so much!
Someone is wearing their judgy pants. You must be perfect! Glad you can at least appreciate good writing, even if your life experience is nil.
Your review is exactly what I was thinking when I read what this book was about. Which is why it only makes the very very very long list.
Jeanette! I thought your review was great and I enjoyed reading all these comments that have followed. We are discussing this book at book club next week and I am looking forward to this kind of banter! Thanks for the giggle!
I thought the same thing as far as "what kind of dimwit..." but then I realized that although I'm likely better physically prepared than she was to do this (have money, run weekly), at the end of the day she accomplished something pretty amazing that I've not done (nor do I want to).
Great review! My sentiments exactly!
Laura Beth- I think that's exactly it! We shake our head but she still accomplished something quite amazing!
One person's view of stupidity, is another's display of courage. Sometimes we may not think things through, but know there's need to fill beyond the scope of our foresight.
Wow, as it mentioned in one of the reviews, I don't want to "know" the person who didn't enjoy this book.
Just wanted to say that I read Grandma Gatewood's Walk. It was drier as it was told in 3rd person and put together from diaries, newspaper clippings, and accounts from people that knew her and encountered her. Personally, I found that a much more inspiring and courageous book. She also really walked The Appalachian Trail and was one of the first to do it. (Ms. Strayed got off The PCT - she did some of it but she got off of it a lot and hitchhiked a lot.) Grandma Gatewood did it point to point. Also, Ms. Gatewood made a real difference and provided inspiration to people. Because of her, and others like her, the AT was taken care of and funds were provided for maintenance and upkeep.
