Into the wild 2010-03-03

Reviewer: E. Jantzen

A very good book that shed light on an incident of which I had only heard rumor and hearsay. Krakauer did an outstanding job researching and retracing McCandless' odyssey, through his tragic demise. Krakauer also keeps the book from devolving into a documentary by trying to dig into McCandless's mind and extrapolate what his thoughts might have been. The author is able to do this so well because he readily admits he strongly relates to the main character. Like many men who have survived their 20's, I was able to relate to McCandless as well- the determination, the recklessness, the need to forge one's own path, all sadly coupled with a lack of wisdom. Had McCandless not made those seemingly small but crucial mistakes at the end, he would have succeeded by relying on that same youthful grit and determination (& stubbornness) that served him so well for two years, but which ultimately led to his downfall. Then perhaps he could have written his own memoir about a man who had the courage to live life the way he chose & took the road less traveled...

amazing book; could have had more-than-amazing potential 2010-03-01

Reviewer: Danika Tatangsurja

"So, there's this guy, and he decides to prance out into the uncivilised Alaskan bush, without even a compass. This is after doing away with $25,000, by the way. And, oh yeah, after a few months, we find him dead." Now, could this man's life story possibly be given any dignity, told without any implications of insanity?

Well, it would appear Jon Krakauer has managed to do just that.

While Christopher Johnson McCandless (or Alexander Supertramp--ahem, let "changed his name to sever ties with his family and earlier life" be added to his list of accomplishments) would likely be regarded by most as another of the cocky young men for whom hubris beckoned death, Into the Wild was a study into his mind, uncovering what complex motives drove him to take his fatal journey into the tundra. And no, delusions of invincibility were not included in these.

Coherent within a world where adolescents all too often play the daredevil, what with their propensity for tackle sports, heroin, and anarchism, it is all too easy to dismiss McCandless as another distressed youth lacking responsibility (not to mention rationality). But exactly what Krakauer did was to humanize this outdoorsy-magazine feature story, causing it to become more than a figure at which to poke fun. Reflecting the often deeply buried journeyman inside us all, this novel spun the tale of McCandless's life prior to his adventures; a life of academic excellence, parental skirmishes, bonding with pets; a life we can all too often relate to. Through this lens, we begin to understand Krakauer's argument: that while most men, us included, share wild, fantastical ideals as McCandless's (or should I say Supertramp's), few have the guts to live them out; that he wasn't juvenile; he was noble.

Am I beginning to sound redundant? Yeah, that is one thing. With only one real point being proven throughout these 203 pages, Krakauer's message may as well be burned into the reader's forebrain not even mid-way into the book. Because, truth be told, as fascinating as this one point is, I'm not sure any of us need to have it driven in a handful of times every chapter. I mean, sure, there are so many cases that work marvellously as evidence, but by the end what with all the repetition throughout, the book feels a tad dissatisfying, owing mainly to the fact that the reader doesn't feel like they've gotten anything out of it, not when all the "fresh" substance sort of begins its decline after the fourth chapter.

And it's not only due to a lack of variety in material that this insubstantial feeling arises from Into the Wild. For a theme suggested to be as universally applicable as this, surfacing from the covers will not bring more than a whim of inspiration. Sure, the novel was argumentative, and sure, it drew on our emotions, causing us to relate, but unfortunately Krakauer seems to have decided not to take his work just one step further, not including any passages that might cause us to alter our perspectives on life. We might understand what Krakauer's trying to say, but we're not pushed to agree. Simply put, we're given the ability to peer into McCandless/Supertramp's most intimate thoughts, but it still feels...distant, irrelevant.

Though at least we can peer into those most intimate thoughts. And this is where Krakauer excels. In examining not only McCandless/Supertramp's Alaskan odyssey, but also his childhood, school, and college life, we really do wind up understanding how his head works. It's like we've suddenly acquired an astounding amount of psychological insight and he's sitting in front of us, pouring out his thoughts, allowing us to read him like...an open book. Yeah. Into the Wild is that book. ...If you open it.

Though it is laden with much of the same horrific fascination that compels so many of us to "rubberneck" at multi-car-pileups on highways, I can't Into the Wild, really. I mean, it's great. But it's not for everyone--those who have already set their minds that I shouldn't even be recognising McCandless's chosen name in this review: you won't appreciate this book, if what you're seeking is a literary masterpiece. Those with borderline ADHD: you won't appreciate it at all, either. But everyone else...if you've an open mind, why not give it a try? It's something to pick p and flick through, to find some amazing excerpts but not necessarily devour cover to cover. It's absorbing to a point, but less for those who want to introduce themselves to this sort of mindset than for those who already feel some degree of understanding with McCandless/Supertramp.

But then, that category could include more people than you'd think. Because, let's face it, as Krakauer proves many times over, who hasn't at some point considered just...striding...into...the...wild?

Stunning story, well written 2010-02-27

Reviewer: Jerry Adams

The story of Chris McCandless is a stunning story, tragic but hopeful, and the story is told with care and grace by the author. One can feel the connection between the author and young Chris. I bought this book after seeing the movie and realizing there was much to the story that connected with my own life.
I have place this beautiful and thoughtful book, the sum of a young man's life, on the bookshelf of honor, beside Ed Abbey's Desert Solitare and John Grave's book Goodbye to a River. There is no higher honor I can bestow.

Far more meaningful than the film... 2010-02-26

Reviewer: Andrew Ellington

This book has actually sat on my shelf for over two years. I purchased it before the movie was released. I tend to do that around Oscar season. I visit Ammy-mart (hope you don't mind me using your term Beany) and stock up on all the potential `Best Adapted Screenplay' nominees so that I can get my full of the Oscar race. I was so busily engorged in `Atonement' and `No Country for Old Men' (and struggling to make it through `Oil', which I wound up giving up on after my daughter pulled out my bookmark and I forgot where I was) that I totally missed getting into `Into the Wild'. I then saw the movie and, while I enjoyed it, I found it strangely empty in parts and not as poignant as I would have wanted it to be.

So, this past week, after rummaging through the 20+ books on my shelf I have yet to read, I decided to engage in some breezy reading before my trip next week (vacation, where I generally tackle some heavier reading), and since this book is just over the 200pg mark it seemed to fit the bill.

It sure was breezy, but it was far more poignant and meaningful than I expected!

For those of you who are familiar, this is the story of Chris McCandless, who, in 1992, was found dead in an abandoned van in the Alaskan wilderness. What Jon Krakauer does in this thoughtfully constructed biography is detail not only Chris's two year adventure into solitude, but the reasons behind his segregation from society. One thing I must say is that this paints a different picture for me than the film did. While watching the film I found Chris to be a purely selfish and arrogant young man, and his foolishness tended to take center stage for me. I found the rushed attempt in the films final frames to add a layer of redemption to Chris to be far too little too late and highly unbelievable. When reading this book I was floored as to how much of a fuller picture I received. To anyone who saw the film and perceived Chris as a joke, I urge you to take the time to read this book. By understanding the different sides to Chris, one can get a fuller appreciation for what he attempted to do with his life.

Yes, he was still very foolish and made some grave mistakes (and he was very stubborn) but he was an extremely smart, funny, sensitive young man who was aggravated by society and almost incensed at the hopelessness one feels, trapped in this cage.

His story can be richly rewarding.

I loved that Jon makes this a personal thing. You can feel the connection between the author and the subject. I will say that the structure of the book (constantly jumping back and forth in time) as well as the insertion of personal accounts and back history of similar situations can be a tad distracting and can take the reader out of Chris's story, but I do understand how they were necessary in lengthening the book (as some have noted, there isn't a LOT of meat to Chris's story) as well as shedding some light on the person Chris was. Maybe if the book was constructed a little differently it wouldn't have been such a distraction.

That said, I still highly recommend this book. I am not a fan of biographies. It's funny, because biopics are pretty much my favorite film genre, but I've never enjoyed reading a biography. They all feel so, factual, but Jon's writing is engrossing and almost novelesque, which adds layers of adventure to Chris's story.

My heart goes out to this man's family. He was a rare soul, and I know he is greatly missed.

A Man with a Passion 2010-02-24

Reviewer: August

"In April 1992, a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in saving to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all of the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his discomposed body was found by a moose hunter."
The story behind this extraordinary young man is illustrated in the nonfiction book, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer. In writing this narrative Jon Krakauer brings the story of Christopher (Chris) McCandless to life.
As a college graduate of Emory University, Chris's future looked bright, however, he was an idealist, and his ideals were to live on his own and survive without the restrictions of society. As a young boy, he was very stubborn and determined, and he strived to obtain the most out of himself. This attitude stayed with him throughout his life. As he came into adulthood, Chris McCandless began to find faults with society and his parents.
After graduating, he lost all contact with his family and began wandering the countryside. Throughout his life, the wilderness enthralled him, and he was inspired to survive alone. As an adult, he travelled through America, Mexico, and Canada; he traveled mostly by hitchhiking, after he abandoned his car. Although he was hired for several jobs, he tried to stay away from society as much as possible. After years of surviving hardships and travelling the country, Chris McCandless hitchhiked to the Alaskan interior where he decided to live off the land.
With a .22 caliber rifle, a camera, several boxes of rifle rounds, and a small selection of reading material, including a field guide to the region's edible plants, he enters the desolate landscape, a place he does not leave.
Although the conclusion to the story is known, I do not believe that it affects the story in any negative way. In truth, it enhances the story; this style gives the reader a desire to find out what happened to this man. Jon Krakauer writes smoothly, and decisively, by not having the book move chronologically. This kept me in suspense of not knowing what direction the story is going to turn next. Although some people find this strategy of writing confusing and redundant, I believe that is serves the story well.
In the end, this bestselling book is a must read. It includes information on the Alaskan interior and stories of other unfortunate people who were claimed by the harsh climate. In addition, it allowed me to get to know Chris McCandless by bringing his unique ideals and ways to life. I was also able to relate a little with the man who wanted to be free of society and wander the country alone. The Jon Krakauer writing allowed me to feel for the character, and I also felt remorse as I found out how he met his grizzly end.
As he hitchhiked to the Alaskan countryside to begin his journey, Chris met one last person, a truck driver, Gallien. Gallien was the last person to see Christopher Johnson McCandless alive and well.
"Gallien briefly considered stopping and telling the authorities about Alex (Chris), then he thought better of it. "I figured he'd be OK, he explains. "I thought he'd get hungry pretty quick and just walk out to the highway. That is what any normal person would do."