Wild (on DVD)

Wild
[DVD Wild]

Cheryl Strayed’s blistering autobiography Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail was one of my absolute favorite reads three years ago, and when I heard that it was being turned into a biographical film to star Reese Witherspoon as Strayed, I was filled with both hope and trepidation. The book was such a personal story, and opened up so much of Strayed’s troubled life, in its exploration of how a 1000+ mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail allowed her to purge some demons and come to terms with loss, that I wasn’t sure a film would be able to honestly capture that emotion.
Admittedly, I am a fan of Reese Witherspoon, and she does turn in a marvelous, nuanced performance in Wild. However, the book is far more powerful, in part because the filmmakers had to telescope the book’s events and cut out several key moments from Strayed’s experiences. The cinematography is terrific, the supporting cast was fine. And the storytelling gimmick of jumping backwards and forwards in time is (for the most part) effective. However, the film just felt somehow…disconnected…from the emotional events that seemed so powerful in the book. If you haven’t read the book, I do recommend this film. However, I recommend reading the book (or listening to the audiobook, as I did) even more!

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Wild web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
by Cheryl Strayed [Biography Strayed]

When this book first came out, I sort of wanted to read it, but I wasn’t terribly motivated. Then I saw the movie (Reese Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed). I loved it, but I love Ms. Witherspoon! Well, after watching the movie, which I’d heard Strayed had been very involved with (thus, it must follow the book pretty closely), I decided to read the book itself and see what might have been left out.
This is a well-written book, first of all! It reads like a novel, in my opinion, but you know that it’s a true story. I really felt like I was out hiking with Cheryl, and I felt like I could see back into her childhood when she described certain incidents. This story is rich with beautiful descriptions of the Pacific Crest Trail, as well as lovely interactions (for the most part) with strangers met along the way.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try On the Road, by Jack Kerouac]

[ official Wild page on the official Cheryl Strayed web site ]

Recommended by Tracy T.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Best Easy Day Hikes: Lincoln and Omaha

Best Easy Day Hikes: Lincoln and Omaha
by Michael Ream [917.822 Rea]

I'm a huge fan of the nature guides from Falcon Books -- I rely on their hiking guides to Rocky Mountain National Park every time I vacation in Estes Park and want to hit the trails. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this publisher recently put out a short volume focusing on hiking opportunities in the Lincoln and Omaha area. If you're looking for a quick but detailed guide to interesting places to stretch your legs here in Lincoln, you'll find more than a half-dozen suggestions here, with useful information about what sights to look out for while you're on the trail. Take it along when you head to Omaha, or any of the other nearby locations listed in this volume. The thin paperback format makes it perfect for slipping in your back pocket while you're taking a stroll. Who knows, you might discover a hidden location in the city in which you live! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Falcon Books web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking Trails

Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking Trails (including Indian Peaks)
by Kent and Donna Dannen [917.886 Dan]

This is one of my all-time favorite books to take along on Colorado vacations! The library system only has the 7th edition (1989) so far, whereas the most recent is the 9th edition, but in comparing the 7th and 9th editions, the vast majority of the information is still valid. The Dannens provide detailed descriptions of every hike you might want to take in Rocky Mountain National Park, whether you're starting in the Estes Park area or the Grand Lake area. Beginning by identifying where you can find the trailheads, the descriptions then identify geographic landmarks, good photo spots, flora and fauna likely to be viewed, and distances covered on the many trails that wind through the Colorado Rockies. Detailed topographic maps show the routes of the individual trails, and artwork is included of the various plants and animals you might encounter. The 7th edition of the guide is a nice pocket-size version, whereas the 8th and 9th editions are larger trade paperbacks. The Dannens have also put out an extremely helpful smaller book -- Best Easy Day Hikes: Rocky Mountain National Park. Although the library doesn't own this one, it's easily available through our InterLibrary Loan service. I picked it up the last time I was in Estes Park, and found it quite helpful. If you're looking for a couple of great hikes, I recommend the Glacier Gorge trail system, with a breakfast stop at Alberta Falls on the way to Lake Hiayaha. Or, the latest trail system I tried was the Deer Mountain Trail, which boasts some absolutely gorgeous vistas in nearly all directions. Whatever your hiking choice may be, the Dannens' book will educate you on what to prepare for. I find it to be indespensible! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Hiking in RMNP park web site by the National Park Service ]

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Ten (or more) new reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog over the course of the entire month.