Into the Wild

1. My initial impression of the book is very positive one. I thoroughly enjoy this book and often I've read ahead just because I want to. This book is unlike anything i've ever read and the change is refreshing it. though it is a true story and almost like a biography, i find it interesting and exciting to read. Krakouers style is so unconventional and at first you find boring but suddenly you are enveloped in his story and want to keep reading. His style is a mix between a historical fiction novel and a reporter and just a fiction writer. The way he emphasises certain aspects of chris mcandless through stories from other people's perspectives and other people who like him, perished in the wild is interesting. The reporter aspect gives the novel a sense you are right there, following the trail to uncover mcandless's story. I thoroughly enjoy the characters chris has met and their take on him though right now i still think he is bit weird for doing what he did, a little too confident.

2. Mystery is the word i would describe mcandless as. not just because we don't know anything about him because we can't ask him ourselves. but the way he lived his life is a complete mystery, even to those who knew him best. Why did he change his name? Why did he burn money and rid himself of almost every worldy possession? Was he too confident going into Stampede Trail or was he simply a hiker who lost his way? There are so many questions that we have and krakauer attempts to answer but can't completely. Was he truly trying to live his life that way or was he just think he was macho and didn't need anything or anyone to survive? Just a rich kid trying to have a big adventure. What happened in his family to make him want to hurt them like that? We don't know these things not because he is dead but because he was a closed person, didn't tell many people his secrets. Even people who knew him pretty well, Wayne and Ron, still couldn't get inside this mysterious guy's head.

3. there are many themes being revealed in the novel up to this point. though some not intentionally put there by the author because it is true story and is very factual. one of them is survival, obviously. also the importance of human contact and family and modern society are all themes. the author is kind of objective but from chris's point of view the human experience needs to be by yourself sometimes and you shouldn't depend on others. also modern conveniences are overrated and you don't need them to survive

4. This is kind of lame show but there was this show on ABC called "Men in Trees." this big time publishing executive from new york visited elmo, alaska and fell in love with the town and moved there. she left there career and bought a secluded cabin and gave up her fast pace lifestyle of new york. this is a more civilized version of mcandless because she gave up everything she knew to start a new life and find herself, mcandless's goal i believe.

5. Every summer i go to camp. camp is in eveleth, mn and the setting is on a lake secluded in nature. its beautiful and i can escape the more hectic life of living in the city and give up things like showering and cell phones. it is great to just get away and try to find myself. Just like Mcandless and his adventure. but i always get home, he did not.

6. many people, especially in edina, have cabins that they get away to on the weekends. this isn't like chris but in many aspects they are trying to get away from their everyday lives and pressures of society. The often dont have electricity or runnning water and they are just living in nature. many people find this necessary to stay sane.