Book Review: 'Into the Wild' by Jon Krakauer

✰✰✰✰½ In 1992 a young college graduate hitchhiked his way to Alaska and trekked into the Alaskan wilderness alone for an epic journey of survival and self-discovery. Going by the name Alexander Supertramp, the young man had given away most of his possessions, donated $24,000 to charity, and abandoned his car two years before. Charming and affable, Alex left a lasting impression on many people. Nevertheless, he yearned for wanderlust, never staying in one place too long. Alaska had always held a lure for him, and Alex entered the wilderness with adventure in his heart. A mere four months later, hunters and hikers would find his severely emaciated body in the back of an abandoned bus leaving everyone to wonder what happened.

The Bottom Line: Highly recommended reading for fans of nonfiction, adventure, and survival. This book will resonate with adults of all ages, but especially with those in college and those who enjoy hiking in the wilderness. Krakauer has the ability to impart detailed information in a way that keeps the reader turning the pages. If you’ve ever longed for solitude and adventure, check out this book about one young man following his passion.

Book Club Notes: Our group was looking forward to this discussion because we enjoy the author’s writing style. This book is a quick read and the movie doesn’t deviate much from the book. McCandless’ passion for following his dreams, for stepping out of his comfortable life is a sad and yet inspiring tale.

Discussion questions are readily available online. I found this study guide and this one to be especially helpful in preparing for our meeting. Additionally, this article was a good read and included interesting photos, diagrams, and trivia. We also discussed why people were risking their lives and traveling to Alaska to visit the bus; you can read about the fascination here. The bus has since been moved and has found a new home at a museum. You can visit the virtual exhibit and read about the conservation project to preserve the bus here.

Overall, we enjoyed both the book and the movie. McCandless possessed an adventurous spirit and perhaps a certain naïveté. Had he taken a map with him or chosen to visit in a different season, perhaps tragedy could have been averted, and we would never have known about his travels. Highly recommended for book clubs.

Details: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. Paperback published by Anchor Books in 1997. 240 p. ISBN: 978-0-385-48680-4 

Book Review: 'A Green Velvet Secret' by Vicki Grant

✰✰✰ When Yardley O’Hanlon’s beloved grandmother and best friend, Gidge, is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family knows their precious time with her is limited. Gidge is the type of person who likes to live life to the fullest. So when her body has had enough, Gidge knows it’s time to go. Yardley struggles to let go, but she holds fast in her belief that Gidge will return soon via reincarnation.

When she’s not working at the Over Easy Vintage Emporium, a used clothing store, Yardley looks for Gidge everywhere. One day a stranger arrives to pick up a prize. When the stranger opens the package she is shocked to discover a dress, and not just any dress either. It was a special dress Gidge only wore once. In that moment Yardley recognizes something familiar in the stranger, and everything goes haywire.

With a terrified customer, broken clues, and letters arriving from the deceased, Yardley must decipher what Gidge is trying to tell her from beyond. However, she can’t solve this on her own. Believing in good Karma, Yardley reluctantly opens her heart to form a new friendship with a troubled boy named Harris. Together they search for Gidge and find answers in surprising places.

The Bottom Line: While this book is a mystery, it’s definitely not what I expected. After a slow and sad beginning, the pace picks up as the main character grapples with feelings of grief and confusion as she tries to process the loss of her grandmother. Thankfully, the addition of other characters like Con and Harris add to the mystery as Yardley learns about family, friendship, and keeping secrets. Although geared towards kids ages 10 and up, there are some mature themes including euthanasia, illness, death, and cancer. Thus, I would recommend parents read along with their kids and discuss. [Note: Canada has different laws regarding euthanasia than the U.S., so this book might be better suited towards Canadian readers or readers in U.S. states where euthanasia is allowed.]

Details: A Green Velvet Secret by Vicki Grant. Hardcover published by Tundra Books in 2023. 256 p. ISBN: 978-0-7352-7012-1 [NOTE: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.]