Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.98 You Save: $8.97 (60%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.25 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Into the Wild
Book Review: Lovely Meditation on Phenomenon of Young Men Risking it All to Come of Age
Summary: 5 Stars
This work began with a fascination about Christopher McCandless' tragic and touching story, but one senses that it evolved into a beautiful medication on what it means to be a young man in an age when so many young men are left wanting for father figures and searching for meaning in the wide world. Krakauer's chapter on his own youthful adventure felt out of place initially, but the more I thought about it the more I liked having it there. McCandless' story touched a very deep nerve in American culture and there is something about finding oneself as a man in the world without fathers that leads us to take these kinds of risks, even members of the bubble wrapped and disneyfied generations will continue to do these things and defy the mainstream "social critics." Krakauer captures the essence of what it is to be in this place of wandering and seeking as a young angry Odysseus in our culture so fixated with crap that we understand McCandless and his desires even if we don't agree with his means. Krakauer's writing and instincts are as sharp as ever and this story with its central character that seems to exemplify integrity has as many oblique edges as can be found in any great tale. I only wish there were more young men like Chris McCandless about.Book Review: Into The Wild
Summary: 5 Stars
Into the Wild
Into the Wild is a story about a college kid named Christopher. Christopher is an outstanding student who graduates from Emory University with honors and was one of the brightest in his class. He gets sick of living the normal life however and decides that he wants to take a break and plans to travel to the far west then up north to Alaska to live in the wild by himself. He donates all the money that he has received from is parents to a charity. He takes only the things he finds necessary to live off Nature. He travels through various states of America in his car (which he left after it was caught in a flash flood) by train, hiking, canoeing and walking. He meets many people and enjoys many experiences on his exciting journey.
I really enjoyed this book because it was interesting reading about another kid's point of view around my age. Although I can't relate to chris' love for nature and the wild, I can see how he would enjoy living out there. He is a very Independent kid with a lot of pressure put on him from his parents to succeed. I recommend this book to everyone. It is a great read and the vocabulary is easy to understand. It really makes you thankful for your friends and family.
Book Review: Haunting and Unforgettable!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Having been to some of the places outlined in this book, you can understand why someone would want to go "into the wild". The sights are truly breath taking. The west is a totally different culture, in my opinion, and geared toward the artistic and bohemian type of individual. That being said, I found this book hard to put down and totally haunting. My teenage son and I debate this book often. It has left in my mind, the thoughts that noone truly knows what young children are thinking and the impact certain situations have on their life. I found it disturbing that this child was intelligent, from a good background, and no violent abuse to speak of. I often think of the saying "youth is wasted on the young". Had he had more wisdom and more experiences in his life, would he have made the same choice? At times, I am angered by the way that he did not have the kindness in his heart to let his family know occassionally that he was alive and well. At other times my heart breaks, because in this child's eyes perhaps he didn't think he would be missed. I found this book to have a profound impact on my life to the point that it has changed my view of teenagers and the world around me. If you are an avid reader, it is a must have.Book Review: A Wild Story
Summary: 5 Stars
Please forgive me if this review is a little rambling. This is my first time as an Amazon reviewer, but several books I've been into recently really pushed me to start writing reviews, just so people won't miss out on great reads, and this is one of them. As a librarian, I see thousands of books every day, and normally, people's requests don't change my mind on what I like to read - historical fiction or historical romance. But after people began continuously asking for INTO THE WILD, I thought I might pick it up a try it myself.
The author, more widely known for his book INTO THIN AIR, tells the story of "Alexander SuperTramp", as he called himself, in a strange - but immensely satisfying - sequence of events. He begins with his death by probable starvation, then goes onto account how Alex, born in a well to-do family and actually named Chris, decided to eschew life as a college grad joining the business world for a life as a vagabond. His incredible journey across the US, his survival for a time in the wild, and his sad innocence make this book unputdownable. It's a wonderful read for anyone into survival (or not) stories, wilderness stories, or just great nonfiction.
Firmly Five Stars.
Book Review: Into The Wild Review
Summary: 5 Stars
Into The Wild
By Jon Krakauer
The story of Christopher Johnson McCandless is truly inspiring, yet terrifying at the same time. Jon Krakauer does a great job in making the reader feel like he/she is actually living Christopher's eccentric adventure. You can feel the beauty of the amazing sights Christopher experienced, as well as the fear and the hunger. My favorite part of this book was when Christopher finds the abandoned bus in the Alaska interior and lives in the wilderness for four months. It is truly amazing how Christopher McCandles could touch the hearts of so many individuals in such a short amount of time. Although some may say Christopher McCandless is a crazy idiot, all readers including me, can relate to Chris because you realize that Chris was just a normal human being, just like us. Into The Wild is in many ways a mystery. The big question "Why did he do it?" will keep you thinking, even when you are not reading the book. Jon Krakauer does a great job in re-telling Christopher's story, but I feel that some chapters such as chapters 8 and 9 should be majorly shortened because of their irrelevance. I highly recommend this book, and then watch the movie.