Almost Somewhere

Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail

By: Suzanne Roberts

Narrated by: Virginia Wolf

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Day One, and already she was lying in her journal. It was 1993, Suzanne Roberts had just finished college, and when her friend suggested they hike California's John Muir Trail, the adventure sounded like the perfect distraction from a difficult home life and thoughts about the future. But she never imagined that the 28-day hike would change her life. Part memoir, part nature writing, part travelogue, Almost Somewhere is Roberts's account of that hike.

John Muir had written of the Sierra Nevada as a "vast range of light", and this was exactly what Roberts was looking for. But traveling with two girlfriends, one experienced and unflappable and the other inexperienced and bulimic, she quickly discovered that she needed a new frame of reference. Her story of a month in the backcountry - confronting bears, snowy passes, broken equipment, injuries, and strange men - is as much about finding a woman's way into outdoor experience as it is about the natural world she so eloquently describes.

Candid and funny and, finally, wise, Almost Somewhere is not just the whimsical coming-of-age story of a young woman ill-prepared for a month in the mountains but also the reflection of a distinctly feminine view of nature.

©2012 The Board of Regents of the Universityof Nebraska (P)2017 Tantor

probably a better read than audible

The story was smooth and detailed. I found the narrator's baby girl tone of speech to be distracting and demeaning to the point of the story, which was powerful women making it in their own.

Enjoyed this very much!

Narrator was a little difficult to enjoy but the story was fun, exciting, relatable, and easy to follow.

Didn’t care for the narration

I enjoyed following the story, but it was hard for me to get past the narrators voice.

super wonderful book

I listened and read this book several times and recommended it for our book club.

Outstanding

I really like your story telling style and how your wondering thoughts intemingle with the storyline.

Good book

This book is written from the perspective of a girl in her 20’s figuring out life as an adult. I am a male in my 40’s and enjoyed the story but I think it would really appeal to women even more.

For Anyone Who Loves The Outdoors

Loved the story. Felt the way it was read made the girls seem younger than they were but none the less, loved the book. Highly recommend for anyone who loves hiking and adventure.

Good one

The book while quite simple was entertaining. The narrator however sounds like she would be better suited for children’s books.

Terrible Narration

The book while quite simple was entertaining. The narrator however sounds like she would be better suited for children’s books.

Great references to Muir, fun to travel with her

I felt the author did a nice job of telling HER story as it unfolded for her and her support team. She laughed at herself, shared her anxieties and even her embarrassments as learning experiences. I did not think this was male bashing as some had written, as she truly loved men and how they made her feel, she just understood that she needed to learn how to rely on herself more. I enjoyed hearing her grow in her thoughts about her parents and their role in her life and the realizations she made at the end. I was inspired to download and read a book written by John Muir because of all her references to him. The narrator did have a bit of a childish voice that I couldn't envision the author having, so that was my only distraction but I overlooked it since the story was good.