WARNING: contains some spoilers!
I was not sure about this novel when I first cracked it open over Christmas break. The main source of my hesitation was that I am not a very outdoorsy person – hiking has never been my activity of choice, and I don’t think I would do very well on my own in the wilderness. Taking into consideration this side of myself, I was not certain that I would be able to make it through a 300 page personal account of a young woman’s journey along the Pacific Crest Trail. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not at all the case.
The beginning of the novel is certainly a tough read, as Strayed’s account of the devastating loss of her mother and the crumbling of her family ties will leave any sentimental reader in tears. Unfortunately, this painful loss leads to even more suffering for Cheryl, as she falls into a downward spiral consisting of drug use, sexual affairs, and other self-destructive choices. From the perspective of the reader, it is extremely frustrating to watch Cheryl tear herself apart and lose touch with her loved ones, particularly with her kind and remarkably loyal ex-husband, Paul.
After several years of attempting to come to terms with her grief through a number of unhealthy methods, Cheryl finally decides to take control of her own life, cleansing it of the bad and leaving room only for the good. She comes to the conclusion that the best way for her to achieve this fresh start is by picking herself up, packing a bag of the bare necessities, and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.
One aspect of her tale that I particularly admired was her stylistic choice to weave reflections on her past life into the account of her hike. Through several revealing and self-reflective flashbacks, Strayed courageously shares with her readers many intimate and difficult details of her past life, as well as her reasons for embarking on this soul-searching journey. Through this, she grants readers a glimpse into her mind and her thought process as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail.
If you are interested in hiking or are thrilled by outdoor excursions, this novel is definitely for you. Strayed provides an excellent account of what a person must mentally and physically endure on a hike of this capacity, and also offers a long list of the items a person needs in order to be amply prepared to embark on this type of journey. Wild has also been made into a movie, which is currently in theaters and has received some nominations for Academy Awards for the 2015 Oscars.
Cheryl Strayed with actress Reese Witherspoon at the 2015 Golden Globes Awards
Cheryl certainly had a unique start to her adult life, considering that she was married at 19 and was embarking on an incredibly challenging hike by herself at only 26. While not all of us can directly relate to this, I am confident that many people know what it’s like to feel utterly lost, completely confused, and uncertain or unhappy with where your life is heading. Cheryl demonstrates to readers that it is possible to have a fresh start and to turn your life around, but that this cannot be achieved without determination, a positive attitude, some degree of sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in yourself.
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