Into the Wild - A book review

Renouncing TV has provided me with ample time to work on other, more enduring pursuits,like finishing the book I started like in, I dunno, July. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. I have to say I enjoyed the last 50 pages of the book more that I thought and more than the first 150 pages. Yes, it took me 2 months to finish a 200 page book. TV was easier. Well no excuses, no apologies, moving on...

Initially I was drawn to the book as I loved the idea of the main character, Christopher McCandless, striking out on his own, being resolved in his beliefs and the pursuit of his dream. "He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself..." it states on the cover of the book. "and invented a new life for himself" A seedling of a thought growing in myself at the time, this phrase and the whole romantic notion of starting anew and setting out to discover yourself and a new life for yourself appealed to me. And it being a true story, I must admit I thought I may find some inspiration or insight in his adventure.

I was therefore quickly disappointed to find that his journey was a failure due to his death, apparently from starvation as a result of his unwillingness to be adequately prepared for his trek into the remote Alaskan wilderness. The ending revealed, I found that my interest in the book waned quickly and I had given up on it being much more than a magazine article recounting the few exploits know about McCanless stretched into a short book. I did find a few parts on the book a bit tedious and drawn out. I was also put off my McCanldless disregard for his parents and seeming lack of any form or sociability. I must admit thought that Krakauer did a pretty amazing job of tracking down every little smidgen of information about McCandless and his travels before and up to his last one to Alaska.

Krakauer pulled it together in the last few pages of the book and I was very captivated by what he uncovered regarding 'Alexander Supertramps' last days. He was more capable and prepared for his several months stay in the Alaskan wilderness that anyone had presumed. He did manage to survive for several months and, aside for a few misfortunes, he may have made it.

In the end I was actually impressed my both the author and his subject and found I really enjoyed the book. I know that this is one story that I will often come back to mind to ponder during sleepless nights. I think most significantly what impacted me was how, despite his declaration of contempt for his parents, society and civilization, his journey seemed to reveal to him some other truth. In the few brief entries in his books and the few notes he made it appeared that the desire to return and find human companionship and perhaps assimilate in some way with society had returned to him. Haven proved to himself what he needed to, he was ready to go home. I find it tragic yet almost poetic and apt that at the moment of his dreams fulfillment, his ultimate desire satiated, that he himself expired as if his very purpose for the

Yea, whatever, it's late and I can't get out what I want to say.

So, speaking of ultimate desires and purpose. My next book is called 'Callings - Finding and Following an Authentic Live' by Gregg Levoy. Obviously not a novell so I am also going to read 'A Fine Balance' by Rohinton Mistry at the same time. Callings was recomended to my by Rob and the mention of it and circumstances around getting it seemed to affirm to me that it was the right one to read next.