My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I cannot begin to tell you how glad I am that I have finally finished “reading” this book. Whew!
I have the paperback that I recently registered on BookCrossers BCID: 668-13854375. I will be releasing it at my local library here in Christmas Valley sometime this week. Seeing the many high-star reviews, I’m sure it will find its way to others that will love it.
I did not love it. I had high hopes for it. I love books about people that go out and face themselves on adventures in difficult situations. Think of how wonderful Wild was! But this reading experience was a challenge for me from the beginning. I tried reading the paperback but the font was so small, lines too close together and subject matter never got very interesting. I had to force myself to try to read it.
Finally, I gave up and looked to the library for the Kindle and Overview (Audio) versions. I put myself on a waiting list hoping they would both get to me at the same time. Alas, the Audio came first. I still haven’t seen the Kindle but I will return it without opening. Without the book to follow along I kept getting distracted and… bored! The narrator: Philip Franklin had the kind of voice that made me want to clear my throat every five minutes. I set the speed up so that I was forced to listen faster, but that gravel still showed through.
The book itself is supposed to be about Chris McCandless but it seemed to be more about the author and many other people. Of course, there is a chance that this would merely be an article in a magazine rather than a book. Much of what was given as fact sounded more like guesswork. It’s too bad that Chris McCandless didn’t write an autobiography, his thoughts were interesting at least. But the poor guy only left behind scratchings in margins here and there. The rest seems to be conjecture by the author and others that showed up in the book.
BUT as I always say, you might like it, so don’t let my opinion sway you. Try it!
Darswords 