Der große Trip: Tausend Meilen durch die Wildnis zu mir selbst by null

Der große Trip: Tausend Meilen durch die Wildnis zu mir selbst Reviews

• 
  Mike P.

  [Reviewer’s note] I read the German translation of this novel because I like to keep my reading skills up to date in that language. The skill level required is intermediate in my opinion.
  
  When I saw the movie previews for this book a few months back I was somewhat skeptical. My first thought was that it was just a rugged version of Eat Pray Love, and left it at that. Last month I was invited to read Strayed’s novel by a book club I occasionally attend so I figured with the time off I’d have during holidays that I might as well give it a shot.
  
  I’m happy that I did. Although the first pages of the book seemed to confirm my initial suspicion that we were dealing here with a callow 20 something seeking a geographical cure from sex/drug addiction and a recent break up, later chapters provide insight into the abuse (alcoholic father) and neglect (flakey mother) Strayed experienced in her childhood. These traumatic memories are interwoven with her experiences on the trail, and they rival every bit the blisters and extreme weather she endures over the course of her 1,000 mile pilgrimage in search of emotional healing.
  
  Strayed’s descriptions of the PCT and its surrounding landscapes are quite detailed and somewhat reminiscent of Heinrich Harrer’s “Seven Years in Tibet”. As an American from the northeast, I have little experience with rugged terrain outside of the occasional day trips I’ve made over the years to the mountains in New Hampshire. Strayed brings to life the national treasure we Americans have out west vast swaths of land still largely unsullied and only sparsely inhabited. I wouldn’t be surprised if the PCT region sees an influx of hikers in the coming years on account of the book and its film adaptation.
  
  Overall a very good read from a talented writer.