Monday, February 24, 2014

Wild - Teaser Tuesday

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Maybe it's because I walked almost halfway across Spain on El Camino de Santiago. Or maybe it's simply because I appreciate the beauty of the outdoors. But for whatever reason, I'm enthralled by Cheryl Strayed's nonfiction story of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. In Wild - From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, not only does the author tell of her trek from the Mojave Desert of California to the Oregon-Washington border, but she also reveals the story of her life.

Strayed's account of the adventure isn't a tale of Wonder Woman defeating Mother Nature. In fact, she was ill-prepared for the challenges she faced and many of her problems could have been avoided by doing more research. But that doesn't lessen the significance of her accomplishment. Her journey makes for a heck of a good story (and I don't usually read nonfiction).

Teaser (from 26% on my Kindle):
Without some kind of ice ax training, there wasn't any question that I was far more likely to impale myself with it than I was to use it to prevent myself from sliding off the side of a mountain. On my trailside breaks that day, in the hundred-plus-degree heat, I flipped through the pages of my guidebook to see if it said anything about how to use an ice ax. It did not.

Genre: Nonfiction / Women's Adventure
Length: 338 Pages
Amazon Link: Wild

If you're curious about the Pacific Crest Trail or would like more info, here's a link to a beautiful video. 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away -- you don't want to ruin the book for others)
  • Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers
  • Leave a comment on MizB's Teaser Tuesday post (HERE) and include your link so everyone can find your post.

21 comments:

  1. Wait...she walked from the Mojave Desert to the Oregon-Washington border?! Do you know how far that is?!?! I live in Southern Cali and have been to the Mojave Desert numerous of times and I could just imagine how hard that was! I sooooo want to read this book now!!

    Btw, you walked halfway across Spain? That's impressive! I wonder how far that is.

    Thanks for stopping by Vonnie's Reading Corner.

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    1. The whole Pacific Crest Trail stretches from the US-Mexico border to the US-Canada border. About my adventure: Together with my daughter-in-law and her mom, we walked 228.9 kilometers, or approximately 142 miles, over three weeks. We stayed in hostels along the way, unlike Cheryl Strayed who slept in a tent.

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  2. I don't usually read nonfic, either, but this does sound like a fascinating read. My teaser: <a href="http://wordtrix.blogspot.com/2014/02/teaser-tuesday-208-dark-passage.html>Dark Passage</a>

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    1. Thank you for stopping by. Cheryl Strayed's adventure is definitely worth reading. By the way, I just discovered that the book is being made into a movie.

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  3. Are ice axes really so hard to use? If they weren't so expensive, I'd go get one just to see.

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    1. Evidently there is a technique to using an ice axe, especially if you want it to keep you from slipping down an icy slope! I was surprised by all the hazards the author found along the trail. Some areas are definitely wild.

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  4. I wouldn't have thought it took a lot of skill to use one either, but the teaser sure grabbed my attention :)

    Here's My Teaser

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    1. What surprised me is that the author carried an ice ax without having any idea of what she'd need it for! Her backpack was way too heavy.

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  5. I read Wild last year and was surprised by how little training she did for her trek. But I was impressed by her journey. It was a long walk!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Linda. I agree -- seems like she just bought some boots and gear and headed out! So although I felt sorry for the pain she suffered, I also thought she brought a lot of on herself. (Am I mean?)

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  6. I don't read non fiction so I'm not familiar with this one. It does sound interesting though.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Marilyn @ Marilyn's Mystery Blog

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    1. Like you, I very rarely read nonfiction, but this book grabbed me.

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  7. Um...I'm hoping the need to use it isn't immediate.

    My TT

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    1. The trail went through deserts, forests, and snow-covered mountains, and she definitely needed that ax.

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  8. I have been intrigued by seeing this book around and reading excerpts, like the one you shared. What an adventure! Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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  9. Wow! I don't generally read this type of non-fiction either but this sounds really good! Sandy...you're broadening my reading tastes!!!!

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  10. Great teaser, sounds like a fun read. Thanks for stopping by my site

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  11. Great teaser! I've seen this one around the blogs and it does sound like an interesting read.

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  12. Wow what an interesting book and great teaser! Thank you for sharing.

    Thank you for stoppig by my Tuesday Teaser.

    Chanzie @ Mean Who You Are.

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  13. Great teaser ! and great book synopsis - thx for sharing
    HapPy reading =)

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