Into the Wild - Book Review by Dylan R

Book: Into the Wild   Author: Jon Krakauer    Pages: 240  Rating:  ⭐☆☆☆☆

           Survival, parental oppression, one's determination, and the details of one's life all depicted in one book: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. Into the Wild is a book about self determination and completing your journey. The main character Chris (aka Alex) McCandless is a young man in his 20’s and has recently graduated college and has essentially created a whole new life for himself. He travels all around the United States in a Nomadic like nature of only taking what he can carry and either hiking/walking primarily unless for a long distance he occasionally hitchhiked. While hitchhiking he had the ability to meet and learn about life and about the people he had met. He left his whole life behind him to fulfill his journey. He periodically did settle down only for a small amount of time working and what I believe to be a break or a time to recuperate to then continue on his journey. He seems to get into trouble or difficult situations where he is forced to get out with no help or primarily with no help but that doesn't stop him from moving forward with his plans.

          To make this book unique and stand out from others the author Jon Krakauer had many aspects implemented into the book (Into the Wild) and those are what made this book stand out to me more than any of the other books I had read. With the specific background of Jon, primarily his background in nature he really was able to put those aspects into the book to make the book the way it is. We had been told the story through different points of views (at times) and in past and present timing. There were a lot of facts and specific details that really elevated the outcome of the story and really added to it.

          I feel Jon (the author) used a very informative tone while writing this book as the book was mainly informing us through details and events regarding the life of Christopher McCandless (aka Alex). This was a big part of the book because without this sophisticated and informative tone the reader and I would be lost. These details played a crucial part in the development of the book and it allowed the reader the ability to comprehend and fully understand the book and the messages or lessons that are meant to be shown in fact shown. As the story developed Jon used past and present events or details to help us understand the story but I personally thought that was confusing along with the different people talking in the book. (The term “talking” I'm referring too is telling the story at specific times whether it was a specific character, the author's notes or additions, and the past and present parts).

         Some parts that are memorable or that stood out to me were the parts regarding his past and his family, the times of struggling, his accomplishments and where the story takes unexpected turns.

         I personally would not recommend this book. I feel this book takes a specific reader to fully understand the book and enjoy the book. It was very one sided, nature/adventure based, I personally saw lots of repetition or dragging on of the story (it could have been short and sweet not a long over done story). I don't think I could recommend this to anyone personally or specifically beside those who can read and like any book or like boring, uneventful, and long books in my opinion.