Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is the memoir/travel journal of “Dear Sugar” advice columnist, Cheryl Strayed. It’s not really a travel journal, it’s definitely not descriptive nature writing, and it’s not typical memoir either. There are portions of all three in the story, but the result is somehow more than the sum of its parts. Alternating between her childhood, her recent past, and the trail experience feels completely natural as she walks alone on the mountain trail.

Here’s a very brief synopsis of the book: A young woman with a history of bad decisions makes what seems to be another poor choice by embarking on an 1,100 mile hike in the California mountains, with no hiking experience. Along the way she shares stories about the events that have led her to the California wilderness.

It’s not easy to explain why I liked this book. (Which is why it’s a good choice for Acorn’s first Nonfiction Book Discussion meeting on Oct. 4 at Oliver’s Bar and Grill.) I don’t think I’d like to spend time with her and I definitely wouldn’t take her advice on anything, but she remains unexpectedly relatable.  Her honesty in writing about the mistakes she has made involving sex, heroin, and family relationships was refreshing and made for an interesting read. I recommend this book to anyone looking for something to read. Oprah does, too.      

-Mike