Title of the Book: Wild
Author: Cheryl Strayed
Number of Pages: 315
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Review:

At 26 Cheryl Strayed decided she was going to backpack more than a thousand miles from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon—on her own. One step at a time she would heal her past and bridge a new path for her future. Cheryl would face wild animals, harsh terrain, facing rain, snow, and extreme heat. Wild gives an up close and personal view into the strength of a single woman.

Strayed was slowly falling beneath the cracks, after her mother's death she watched her marriage fall apart and her family separate from heartache. Cheryl thought she had lost it all until the day she stumbled upon a hiking guidebook of the Pacific Crest Trail. She believed her fate could turn around. Strayed not only captures the extreme battles she's faced with on the trail but she exposes the battle she was fighting within.

Wild gives a unique outlook on finding yourself through defeat, and triumph. It’s not every day that a woman sets out on a solo backpacking trip without previous knowledge of what it takes to be an avid backpacker. Cheryl needed a drastic change in her life, and she knew it would take extreme measures. Cheryl journaled about her trip; the people she met, the animals she came faced with, the ups and downs, and her realization that she was healing. Strayed became Queen of the PCT. Wild has no dull moments and is filled with adventure, the kindness of others, and emerging yourself into the wild. Her humor and vivid images of the PCT compelled me to keep reading. Seeing the PCT through her eyes gives me a strong belief that the unimaginable is possible.

The fearless and somewhat reckless decision of hiking alone through the backcountry intrigues not only women but all walks of life who have been faced with trauma or a life-altering event. This book is for anyone looking for something different in life, it is not only uplifting and powerful but it is a clear realization of how disconnected we are from the wild. Strayed is beautiful, strong, brave, and a master at showing us what life has to offer and “how wild it was to let it be.” (Strayed, 311)

A Moveable Feast Review

A Moveable Feast
Ernest Hemingway

 Number of Pages: 211
 Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

 Review: A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway is a young adult readers dream. Hemingway managed to create an autobiography that feels like a novel, where all the details of his mid twenties life in Paris is brought to life. He recalls being friends with Gertrude Stein, golden days of Shakespeare and Company, and being drunk in the depths of depression. Yet, behind all the glitz and glam of the twenties in Paris, Hemingway manages to manipulate words in a way only he can. He allows readers to dive into his world, and thus, allowing them to find peace in his honesty. Hemingway reveals himself to the world, showcasing his hardships, and how he eventually overcomes them. Readers are able to be immersed in his compassion, empathetic, and sometimes stupid tendencies, as he shows the world who he once was. Hemingway writes about his extreme poverty, heartbreak, depression, and adulterous characteristics without blinking an eye, often causing readers to almost second guess his good natured side often shown. After reading Ernest Hemingway’s autobiography twice, I can safely give A Moveable Feast five stars. Hemingway transported his life into writing, executing it so perfectly, readers forget they're reading. He was able to create a book about love, passion, depression, and most importantly, the never changing human condition, where readers are forced to love his work. I recommend this autobiography to majority of readers. This book is perfect for lovers of fiction, classic literature, and even more advanced young adult readers. I believe once a literature lover is mature, and has put aside Percy Jackson, and Harry Potter, they are more than ready, and more than lucky, to dive into the world of Paris, circa 1920s, with Hemingway.

Title of the Book: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Author: Cheryl Strayed 
Number of Pages: 311
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆


Review:

“To wander from the proper path, to deviate from the direct course, to be lost, to become wild, to be without a mother or father, to be without a home, to move about aimlessly in search of something, to diverge or digress” (Strayed, 96). These things are all definitions of the word wild. These phrases are also all ways of describing Cheryl Strayed. After a series of life altering events Cheryl a mid twenty year old decides to hike the Pacfic Crest Trail without any backpacking experience. The Pacfic Crest Trail is a grueling hike that spans from Mexico to Canada and passes through the states bordering the Pacific Coast. While on the trail Cheryl quickly learns she is underprepared and ill fit to hike the trail. However, she is determined to make it to the finish line and hikes through all obstacles in her way in search of the person she was before her mother died. This experience on the trail is a healing one and teaches her many values and characteristics of herself.

Strayed’s writing style is very unquike. It is so vivid with imagery and feeling that the reader can picture being right next to her on the PCT. As she changes throughout the book so does her writing to model the growth. She is honest and personable. I found myself relating to many of the things she was experiencing and preaching. One of my favorite parts of the book was when Cheryl first stepped foot onto the PCT. She was so naive and excited when she quickly realized that the hike was going to be harder than she thought. I loved seeing her determination and drive. I also really related to a part mid way through the book when she shed her first tears on the PCT. She was looking up at the stars and thinking about her dad and realized how happy and full the PCT had made her and what a healing experience the hike had been. I really connected to this point in the story as I have also felt that feeling while being up here at Outdoor Lab. Finally, I loved the moment she reached to The Bridge of the Gods. The way she wrapped up the story made a lasting impression on me and the rest of her audience. It was such a monumental moment where I felt proud of her accomplishments.

I had a great time reading this book and loved every moment of it. I really connected and related to the story as I choose Outdoor Lab for a similar reason that Cheryl chose to hike the PCT. It was funny, relatable, and genuine. I would definitely recommend this book to others. It's a fantastic way to get a new perspective on grief and times when life just doesn’t seem to go your way. It makes me really believe that I can also pick myself up on a bad day as Cheryl did on the PCT.

Title of the Book: Into The Wild Author: John Krakauer Number of Pages: 201 Rating: ☆☆☆☆ Review:

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Into The Wild Written By John Krakauer, Is a captivating book about a rich kid turned minimalist/Alaskan survivalist, where he would, unfortunately, meet an unexpected demise. This book is centered around Chris McCandless and his unique exploits around the country. A Kid from a rich family with contrasting aspirations. Instead of following in his family's footsteps Chris ventured down the economic ladder to experience a different life; Chrises ultimate goal was to live in the Alaskan wilderness of the land. To understand why Chris did what he did, traveled where he did, and ended up like he did, Krakauer thoroughly analyzes every available piece of evidence into Chris's life. This book in an analysis of Chris and his travels.

Although Chris McCandless himself has passed, the people he met, inspired, and influence is very much still here (during the writing of the book). This book if full of direct quotes from these people providing many insights into Chris's peculiar personality. It is Chris and his unique character/story that makes this book unique. The book is written around the bits of evidence Chris left in his wake, paired with that author’s analyzes and two cents. Using what He can Krakauer create a rather full picture of the Chris two year venture.  The book also draws on other case studies and the author's personal experiences to examine similarities and differences. The author's writing style and mastery of writing imagery makes for an enjoyable read. This is not an objective retelling of a story though, Krakauer does have opinions and he shared them. Part of the joy in this book is reading His opinions one of the few “experts” on the topic.

This book gets my recommendation. It has plenty of memorable moments, when Chris convinces an 80+-year-old man to sell his belongings and live a new lifestyle, to name one. It is not a difficult read, but enjoyable. By the end of the book, it brings Chris McCandless character to life. The author makes many strong points regarding his perspective, but there is room for your own thoughts and opinions. Despite the sparse amount of evidence left by Chris, Krakauer is able to piece together a very whole feeling story. It It is very interesting to see Crisis impact on all the people he met through his journey. This book is perfect for travelers, it tells an interesting and unpredictable (Chris didn't do much planning) travel story

Another Bullshit Night in Suck City

Another Bullshit Night in Suck City

By Nick Flynn

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

“Who doesn't want to just disappear, at some point in the day, in a year, to just step off the map and float?”

-Nick Flynn

Wouldn’t you want to know who your father is? Wouldn’t you want to know who is the other half of your genetic makeup, of who you are as a person? They send you letters, they know you exist, but wouldn’t you want to meet them?

Nick Flynn’s mother took her two kids and left their father six months after Nick was born. She just packed up and took them with her. So as a single mother she struggled to make ends meet. Working at a bank and then working weekends and some nights at bars and restaurants to support her two kids and herself. Flynn grows up, he becomes a writer, like his “father”, the only difference is that Flynn wasn’t in prison and Flynn’s works have been published.

This is a story of Flynn finding his father, or more likely stumbling onto his father at  a homeless shelter he was working at. Of finding a part of who he is and discovering who he wants to be because of who his father is.

I would recommend this book to certain people, it’s not an easy read. At first it was difficult to understand because it’s written in non-chronological order, like a drunk man writing a book. Kind of all over the place and hazy. It was a really interesting read, and gives you a lot of insight into who Nick Flynn is, but it’s difficult to follow at times.

Lucky - Alice Sebold

Title of the Book: Lucky
Author: Alice Sebold
 Number of Pages:243
 Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

 Review:  A few years back I watched The lovely bones, A great novel and Incredible movie by Alice Sebold. I can remember the emotions I felt as a young teen while I sat and watched the heartbreaking story of a girl who had been lured into a make shift ¨club house¨ then tortured and killed by her neighbor, while also leading her family to her disappeared body. You can guess the feelings I had for my neighbors after I watched this.

    A few weeks ago I was assigned to pick a book of my choice. Lucky Caught my eye immediatly. I didnt notice the author as someones books I had read before although, the cover intrigued me to dive deeper. As I began to research Alice Sebold and her book Lucky I noticed she had also wrote the award winning novel The lovely bones. This made me even more interested. As I began to read Lucky,  Sebold jurks you into this crime spell almost immedialy into the first paragragh. Emotions start to spill, a young womens dignity had been ripped right from her. She was a rape victim. As The author explains the gruesome details of Alice´s attack Its almost like youre their with her, feeling her pain however she keeps a brave face and continues to move on through her life as her family willows in her sarrow. All of the emotions captured in this books makes you realize how real something like this could be. And it was.

    Alice Sebold Uses her books as an opening and safe place to express what she went through as a young girl who had also been tortured and sexually assaulted. Her books shine through how she got through her experiences. I am inspired by her courageous ways and belief to seek her problems through even with the courts dening her and friends scawlding her. Alice somehow protrays her character as a fighter to get justice of her attacker once and for all. This book Is Honestly exceptional and should be recommended to all especially those who have gone through a similar experience. Her ways of writing truly inspired me and expanded my knowledge now that I am older. I will be looking forward to researching some more of her books in the future now that I better understand the authors writing.

Into The Wild book review

Title of the Book: Into The Wild
Author: Jon Krakauer
 Number of Pages: 203
 Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆


Review:
  Christopher Mccandless lived a life like no other. Mccandless had just about everything to be successful in life including, his smarts, his athleticism and all the money in the world his parents had. So explain to me why someone who had it practically all  just fall of the face of the earth?

   Into The Wild written by Jon Krakauer is a novel written to show the story of Chris Mccandless. This book is a literary non-fiction book that takes us on Chris's adventure that would lead to his death. Chris's last adventure would take him to the great alaskan wilderness where he would be found dead later in 1992. This adventure Krakauer would compare to other men with similar thoughts Chris had and would show us why Chris always wanted to go into the wild.

  Krakauer uses many different forms of writtinging throughout this novel to build the story and make it a MUST read book for all. Not only does he tell Chris's story he tells the story through other characters in the book that relate to himself and Chris. He does this by using the others stories to make Chris's seem that much more adventurous!  Throughout the book all i could help feeling was lost and mysious and this is from Krakauer's use of tone in the book. He wrote the book this way to almost seem like we were all solving the mystery together and put it together part by part.

    I personally LOVED this book! It open my eyes to a genre I never thought I read and now from his writing i want to read more! If your into a mysious feeling and want to hear the stories that have never been told I highly suggest this book and recommend it to all.
 

The Glass Castle

Title of the Book: The Glass Castle
Author: Jeanette Walls 
Number of Pages: 288
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ Review: I absolutely loved this book

“You either sink or you swim” This quote is phrased throughout the book The Glass Castle. We see a family torn through the deprivation and hardship that life offers. Over and over again looking for hope in even the darkest situations. Jeanette Walls tells her childhood story through this heart wrenching memoir showing just how forlorn a childhood can be with an alcoholic father who repeatedly fails the family. However, alongside this idea we see the opposing side of a story where a young girl fights through the hardships of life, as she fights to grasp certain life lessons most people never come to learn. She wrangles around these struggles coming out on the better end.

In this story we start out the book in the more present with a woman who sees her mother and is scared of the thought of talking to her. After this we flashback through the years of her childhood. A young girl who idolizes her father and the ideas of a dauntless and adventurous life. The family is constantly moving from town to town in hopes to one day strike it rich. Little do they know that the one thing keeping them from this dream is their father Rex. We read through the years of her life and watch this young girl grow and have to mature in such a fast way in order to clean up after the messes that her parents leave. She goes through fires and burns, to beatings from bullies and starving because of the life that her parents have set out for the family.

The author Jeanette Walls adds an entirely new level of writing into this book through the emotion she adds, rather than just reading about this shocking childhood and events in her life. She adds so much ethos and pathos and emotion into the book drawing you in. This technique that she uses is what allowed this book to win awards. You feel as though you were there. Allowing you to connect and relate to the characters in the book in many different ways. She uses language and terms such as “doing the skedaddle” to connect it back to the past. She also creates themes and life lessons allowing you to reflect on the lives of the Walls family. What makes this book so unique as well is the fact that it is a true story which is insane to think about. Which I feel allows the reader to draw into the book and compare or contrast to it. Alongside with the emotion and the way that everything the characters feel in the book, weigh on you in a way that you can feel what they are going through.

I would one hundred percent recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a true story of hardship and life that allows them to feel emotion throughout the entire book and learn many themes and lessons that they can take into their own lives.

This is an incredible book and I would recommend for everyone to read it.

Black Like Me Review

Title of the Book: Black Like Me
Author: John Howard Griffin
Number of Pages: 208
Rating: ✩✩✩✩✩

    Black Like Me is a chilling story about racial injustice that continues to be a timeless work of art. The book tells the story of the author, John Howard Griffin, a journalist who uses medication to darken his skin from white to black to see the 1950s Deep South from the other side of the color line. He does not change his name or anything else, only his skin color, to see if anyone still recognizes him. When the medical treatment is complete, John goes out into New Orleans and immediately sees the jarring difference between his old life as a white man and his new life as a black man.
    This book is unique because it shows commonly-known things about the civil rights era from a firsthand perspective never seen before. Over the course of the experiment, John got every ounce of the black experience. Finding a job was out of the question no matter how hard he tried, harassment from whites was routine, even getting something to drink was a difficult task. His lifestyle completely flipped from an average, perhaps above-average living standard, to eating raccoon meat with rice just to have a meal. The story gives a fresh look at the true effects of racism in society, and holds nothing back from the reader.
    The more memorable moments in the story take place when John starts switching between black and white to get a feel for just how different his two lives really are. At first, switching back to white acts as a relief from the constant pressure of his life as a black man, but over time he becomes more and more conflicted. On one hand, he gets to resume his normal life and regain his freedom, but on the other hand, he feels that he no longer knows the black experience, and is no longer a part of the closely-knit black community that did so much for him. In addition, switching between races made John learn a lot about race relations and how little blacks and whites really know about each other.
    I would recommend this to anyone interested in the American civil rights era, as it is an excellent story about prejudice and race with lots of reflection from the author on how and why things came to be and were that way at the time, and how they could change. You may not be able to get through it easily, and that's fine. Black Like Me may be jarring, but it is important, and continues to serve as a window into a very different society.

The Glass Castle Review

Title of the Book: The Glass Castle
Author: Jeanette Walls
Number of Pages: 288
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ (I absolutely loved this book)




Review:

“Life isn’t fair, it’s just fairer than death, that's all.” - Jeanette walls. This quote is shown through the hardship of The Glass Castle. This is a fascinating and unique book. The author, Jeanette Walls explains her crazy childhood living in an unusual and dysfunctional family. She starts the book off upset that she saw her homeless mother digging through the trash. She is frustrated with her parents because they choose to live homeless, and eat out of the trash, even though she has offered to help them. As she goes on, she flashes back to her childhood, and what she had to go through, from burning her skin when she was cooking, moving from house to house, freezing in a house with no heat or air conditioning, having to go to the bathroom in a bucket underneath her home, and so many other things.

Jeanette’s style of writing consists of using emotion and feelings within her story. She makes the reader really think about their life, and how different or similar it may have been to hers. She sends the message that even coming from a poor and flawed family, you can still make your own choices and become who you want to become. When reading this book, you can picture what was happening. She used so much detail within her writing, which I personally loved.

This book is so unique in many ways which is why she received an award for her amazing memoir. One of the most memorable parts of the book, I believe, was when she had to go and search for her dad to bring him home. Her dad always ran away to bars, to drink away his problems, and the only person to go and find him was Jeanette. This showed how strong she was as a young girl, walking around from bar to bar, alone and set on a goal. Throughout the book, she shows her strength and loyalty to her family, always helping out and dealing with the messes her parents leave behind.

I would recommend this book to someone who relates to her life, or likes to read an amazing story filled with emotion. This book was one of the most incredible books I have ever read, and I am sure anyone who reads it will love it too!

This is Going to Hurt

Title: This is Going to Hurt
Author: Adam Kay Number of Pages:262
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Review:
This is Going to Hurt is a book about the life of a junior doctor. Dr. Kay has a lot of interesting stories to tell as a retired doctor. Adam has a lot of mishaps and learning experiences when he was a junior doctor. This book is very entertaining while being educational.

This book is very entertaining while being educational. The book has a lot of surprising info about being a doctor. There are very interesting stories about what has happened to Adam as a doctor. There are also stories that are not related to his time as a doctor as well.