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)

Frank, touching and funny - a real page turner

I am an avid mountain hiker, so when browsing Audible.com and spotting a book with a hiking boot on the cover my interest was peaked. Listened to the prologue and actually gasped, then laughed, then listened with mounting interest. I bought the book.

This is not a book about the Pacific Crest Trail and it is. I know, sounds crazy doesn't it? The PCT is the main thread, it gives the story continuity and a goal. The real story is how and why Cheryl Strayed happens to be on (or strayed onto) the trail. She takes us on her life's journey, along many of the lows, a few of the highs and shows us what lessons she took away from them.

In the telling CS is absolutely frank and honest. She tells us things most of us probably wouldn't tell our mothers, perhaps not even our best friends and certainly not total strangers. But it makes the telling even better. And she tells the story well! CS has a smooth writing and storytelling style, that drew me in. At times I found myself laughing out loud, while at others I was moved to tears and at all times I wanted to know what would be/happen next!

Bernadette Dunne does an excellent job. The narrator can add something to a book or absolutely destroy it. I've put probably perfectly good books away, because the narrator annoyed me so much I couldn't go on listening to him/her. Not BD though, she adds to the story!! At no point does she become irritating, annoying or worse. Her pleasant voice and style make reading this book an even better experience.

Sometimes the language is explicit (i.e. when CS writes about a sexual fantasy or her experiences with drugs), but never abusive, always functional and always with a lesson to be learned. Not forced upon us, but the attentive reader can pick it up easily.

Like I said before: the book is not about the »PCT« and it is. The part that is, tells us how best to prepare for a long distance hike .... or not ;-). The hiker in me gasped at her description of her first packing of her backpack, then laughed out loud when the image of her lifting it was conjured up in my head, suffered with her when she talks about her hiking boots and was not a little jealous when thinking about making a similar trip myself.

»Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail« is totally enjoyable. No lessons need to be learned if you don't want to. You can just enjoy a good reading/listening experience. Your money would not be wasted. However, all of us can take something away from this book and take a fresh look at our own lives to see where own particular »PCT« might lead. Then your money definitely won't be wasted.

So, to everyone - hiker and non-hiker alike - I say: buy this book!!

Oh, so close . . .

This book had so much potential and, indeed, portions of it were very good. It is an autobiography of the author, Cheryl Strayed. At age 45, she decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) as an escape and a way to find herself after her mother dies, and she divorces her husband. She has various affairs and gets hooked on drugs (heroin). Her life is a mess and the hike is a way to start anew. I am a hiker, and I really enjoyed the narrative when she is hiking. The story goes back to her mother, her married life (which wasn???t bad), and her affairs throughout the story. I wasn???t a fan of the regular use of the language throughout the book and her graphic verbiage used to describe the ???sex??? she had with others. She F*@% him, and F*@% him, and F*@% him. You get the drift. I get she had affairs, but why the strong language? Why do you have to tell us you haven???t even masturbated once during your hike? Who cares! You can get the same point across without all the hyperbole. I just about bailed on the book a few times.

As I kept reading, I was captivated by how the journey was making her stronger and really molding her as a new person. She was a novice hiker and packed her pack too heavy and could barely hike a few miles in a day in the beginning, and eventually going 20 miles in a day. She lost half of her toenails and strengthened her body. There was enough story there to balance out the other crap. I was waiting for the finish, thinking it really made a difference of who she had become. It ended with a fizzle. No really strong revelations. No big ah-ha moment. No lesson learned. Very disappointed with the ending. Overall, it was just okay.

I think I was "over promised" on this one

Once again suckered by Oprah (who can do NO wrong in my eyes), as much as I tried to find sympathy and understanding I found myself saying, just stop it, oh grow up, and how naive can one person be, over and over again. Please understand I feel guilty passing judgment on another person's life, but since it was my credit I used, I feel like I bought the right to say you're too old to be this clueless about the consequences of things that can KILL you. Maybe it can serve as a cautionary tale.

Meh, it's okay.

The story is at times very interesting and then others not so much. Not a particularly moving story, basically white girl raised by hippies who has daddy issues and then mommy issues when her mom dies and decides she has to go on a big adventure. She encounters some intriguing people along the way and makes some poor decisions and then the story ends without anything to make you feel like it was worth the 10+ hours you spent listening. Save your audible credit and watch the movie.

Heartbreaking, inspiring, great travelogue.

Would you consider the audio edition of Wild to be better than the print version?

Bernadette Dunne brought the story to life. I've finally, after several tries, learned to love audio versions, although if it's a great book, I'll still buy it for my library. Don't think I'll buy the hard copy of this but I sure loved the audible.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wild?

The end of the trail.

Which scene was your favorite?

Several, the party in the Ranger's cabin was hilarious; the first time she tried to put on Monster; the trip to the beach.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

This story was about so many things. Loss of parents, loss of self, the kindness of strangers, the strength of determination to complete a goal, letting go, listening to our inner voice. The way she was so alone and then could step off the trail and be in civilization reminds me of the thin wall between ourselves and others. If i were in a book club I think this would be a great book to discuss!

Engaging Story of Personal Strength

After about 15 people I know suggested that I listen to this novel, I finally caved and began this audible journey. I have previously enjoyed books about personal achievement and overcoming life challenges, but the description of this book resulted in my belief that her story would feel contrived. Maybe I thought that due to the movie that was produced or the description. Regardless, I decided, somewhat impulsively, to listen to it.

Overall, I thought is was an engaging story and it did keep my attention. I was eager to get back in my car, vacuum my house or hop on my treadmill so I could hear about how Cheryl was doing on her own journey. Although I expected it to be somewhat mundane, I was pleasantly surprised that I could relate to the aspects of her story with appreciation. The author did a great job expressing her experiences in a way that could touch women in many phases of their lives. There are components of her story that young women in their early 20's can relate to as well as women reaching middle aged. Her story was written from a mature and reflective voice. I have an appreciation for Cheryl Strayed and feel proud of her accomplishments as I reflect upon myself and other strong women that I have had the privilege to support through challenges and successes.

It is a feel good story, possibly life changing for some depending on their own circumstances as they walk along Cheryl on the PCT. Well written.

Honestly didn't love it

OK story...it's no Into the Wild.
Fair writing. Fair narrative performance. Maybe if I weren't a hiker I would have been more interested.

A story of candor and introspection ....

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

Wild in 3 words? Grief, Struggle & Resolution..........

Who was your favorite character and why?

The central character Cheryl is the most interesting and complicated of figures.

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

I felt Bernadette Dunne was overall good but I younger voice would have played better overall.

fizzles as it goes on

The narrator was good, sounded at times like she was trying to make things sound there were interesting that were not terribly interesting. The author herself sounded erratic in the way that she wrote, and I struggled to get through the last few chapters. Noy quite what I thought it would be but still interesting

Missteps and mistakes make this a thriller!

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

Captivating, inspiring, heart-wrenching.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wild?

When Cheryl lost one of her boots over the mountain's edge.

Which scene was your favorite?

Her sans-tent night by the reservoir when she was joined by hundreds of black frogs.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes -- I hated to have to stop listening. . . always anxious for the next chapters.

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed this story because of the stark reality of its origins.