Wild

From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

By: Cheryl Strayed

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Wild is a powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an 1100-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe - and built her back up again.

At 22, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State - and to do it alone. She had no experience as a long-distance hiker, and the trail was little more than “an idea, vague and outlandish and full of promise.” But it was a promise of piecing back together a life that had come undone.

Strayed faced down rattlesnakes and black bears, intense heat and record snowfalls, and both the beauty and loneliness of the trail. Told with great suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild vividly captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

©2012 Cheryl Strayed (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

“No one can write like Cheryl Strayed. Wild is one of the most unflinching and emotionally honest books I've read in a long time. It is about forgiveness and grief, bravery and hope. It is unforgettable.” (Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Circle)

“While reading Cheryl Strayed’s stunning book about her arduous solo journey along the Pacific Crest Trail, I kept asking myself - what would I do if I were stripped bare of everything - money, job, community, even family and love? Thoreau once said, ‘In wildness is the preservation of the world.’ For Strayed, it is clear that in wildness was the preservation of her soul. She reminds us, in her lyrical and courageous memoir Wild, of what it means to be fully alive, even in the face of catastrophe, physical and psychic hardship, and loss." (Mira Bartók, author of The Memory Palace)

“Cheryl Strayed can sure tell a story. In Wild, she describes her journey from despair to transcendence with honesty, humor, and heart-cracking poignancy. This is a great book.” (Mary Pipher, author of Reviving Ophelia and Seeking Peace)

loved every second of it 😍

loved it. overall really good book. Bernadette was a great reader. made it easy to visualize what was going on. liked how she changed the tone of her voice for different characters.
the book made me want to hike the pct.

I like this book. It was pretty good. Not the best but not bad at all

A good story overall, well told and interesting. Cheryl's journey touched my heart. Check it out.

Compelling story, well written.

It was a very interesting story. The author horrified me with her actions to begin with, as I cringed with the terrible mistakes that she made before she walked the trail. I don't think there's anything substantive that I have in common with this writer, even though I am an avid hiker. I do believe she is a beautiful writer though.

Fantastically read and performed.

Exciting adventure

Would you listen to Wild again? Why?

No. I never read or listen to a book twice, there are too many others too read!

What other book might you compare Wild to and why?

Skywalker. Same trail but different accounts from male/female perspectives. Being female I could feel the emotions from her perspective. Wild was a more deeply personal account of times in her life.

Have you listened to any of Bernadette Dunne’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I think it is going to be a movie and now I can't wait to put the picture with the story.

Any additional comments?

The detail in the book made it easy to picture the scene and feel the story. I couldn't wait to listen to more of it. She was very open and honest in telling her story.

Honest, inspiring, uplifting

If you could sum up Wild in three words, what would they be?

Honest, sincere, inspiring

What did you like best about this story?

Her self-honesty, ability to persevere. It was an real life adventure story, but also a journey of self-understanding and emotional healing.

What does Bernadette Dunne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She was able to capture the feeling of the book. I really felt like it was the author reading the book rather than someone else.

Love it!

I love this book is completely relaxing and interesting. If you want to try something different you should pick this book.

Good read, not so good listen

Where does Wild rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I did not think the reader was a good fit for the story, so I would have preferred to have just read the book instead of listened to it.

What other book might you compare Wild to and why?

This compares to a number of books out there about taking a journey to heal from emotional issues.

What didn’t you like about Bernadette Dunne’s performance?

The story was a memoir of a girl in her 20's taking the hike, and Dunne is much older. It just didn't fit. Also, she is a bit too polished to take on Cheryl Strayed's character. Quite frankly, her reading was annoying to me.

Entranced!

This was my 1st time with an audio book. I was hesitant but absolutely
Loved it! Cheryl's story left me feeling empowered, wanting to seek nature & adventure! The narrator was very good! I will recommend this book to all my friends & am planning to go see the movie this weekend! Thank You, Cheryl Strayed (Queen. of the Trail) for awakening the LOVE of a good, well written story! I know your life was & will continue to be Amazing!

A Memoir Worth Your Time!

Cheryl Strayed recounted, with grace, her reverence for her Mother's memory and the impact that her death had on her life to that point.

A great read, well worth your time.

Wild

It was so inspiring. This was such an intimate experience that the author allowed the reader to share.