Title of the Book: The Cactus Eaters: How I Lost My Mind - And Almost Found Myself - on the Pacific Crest Trail Author: Dan White Number of Pages: 344 Rating: ★★★★☆ Review: “That’s why it surprised me so much when they rose up to penetrate my mouth, slamming into my inner cheeks as if someone had shoveled a small porcupine in my maw.” (The Cactus Eaters, Dan White) The Cactus Eaters: How I Lost My Mind - And Almost Found Myself - on the Pacific Crest Trail by Dan White is a travel log/memoir. In this book, you follow the journey of Dan and his girlfriend, Allison, as they take on the Pacific Crest Trail. Two people with absolutely no knowledge of backpacking who have never lived together quit their jobs and invest hundreds of dollars into a 100+ day-long backpacking trip. This book is unique because not only is it a book about backpacking from the point of view of a backpacking novice, the author, Dan White, fills the book with not only his adventures on the Pacific Crest Trail, but facts about the PCT and the Lois and Clark expedition, while still keeping the language of the book humorous, entertaining, and interesting to read. The language of the book itself can be a little risqué as it uses swear words though they are used in a light way. The book is written to be humorous while reflective as White mocks his own thought process and decisions in the book. He manages to turn situations where he had no sense of consequence into a moment of dread and foreboding for the readers, drawing them in and keeping them interested.

From prickly death traps to voodoo forests, broken water filters to stalking bears, this book is stock full of memorable moments, quippy remarks and enough lovebird drama to keep you entertained without having to watch your favorite sitcom. My rating for this book is easily a 4 or a 4.5 and I highly recommend it. It’s different from a lot of other memoirs out there and is a great piece overall. If you are not comfortable with foul language then you might not enjoy this book as much as I have but if you do not mind it, then I would definitely encourage you to try out this book.