Interesting book. Sad too. A boy searching for meaning in life. While I do understand, his method was so extreme and unplanned. His naivete surprised me. Can't walk into the Alaskan bush without supplies and materials and expect to get through the winter. I enjoyed his journal entries; obviously a very intelligent, well-read, compassionate, hard-working person. I'm sorry he didn't make it out and felt like he finally did understand that life was not fulfilled without others to share it with. Too bad it was too late.
On July 2, McCandless finished reading Tolstoy's "Family Happiness, and marked..."He was right in saying that the only certain happiness in life is to live for others."
Isn't it interesting that he suppressed his anger at his father for leading a double life for a while - calling him a bigamist at one point? Fascinating. I netflixed this and hope to get the flick this weekend. Good choice Debbie! I'm sure it gives parents a lot of food for thought... how scary to have your kid abandon you like that. And I agree with Amy - his naivete surprised me... for such a "well-educated" kid.
I was fairly impatient and disgusted with McCandless. Maybe I'm just so conservative and toe the line so much that I don't comprehend him. I have felt the "call of wild", and wanted to be a forest ranger for a while, living off the land, riding a horse through the mountains all day, building a lonely fire at night . . . But the bottom line is survival: food and shelter. If a person can't forage for food, they have to buy it, which requires money. McCandless seemed to want the freedom of the outdoors, but not the responsibility. Even as he was tramping around, he required the resources that others worked hard for: their vehicles as he hitchhiked, the food they generously offered him, various supplies. I suppose his lifestyle was gradually moving towards greater self-sufficiency, but even in Alaska he only survived as long as he did because of equipment left behind by others (especially the bus).
There were two quotes at the beginning of a chapter that I agree with:
“It may, after all, be the bad habit of creative talents to invest themselves in pathological extremes that yield remarkable insights but no durable way of life for those who cannot translate their psychic wounds into significant art or thought.” Theodore Roszak, “In Search of the Miraculous”
“We have in America “The Big Two-Hearted River” tradition: taking your wounds to the wilderness for a cure, a conversion, a rest, or whatever. And as in the Hemingway story, if your wounds aren't too bad, it works. But his isn't Michigan (or Faulkner's Big Woods in Mississippi, for that matter). This is Alaska.” Edward Hoagland, “Up the Black to Chalkyitsik”
I liked the book. I've thought a lot about it, and it took me a while to sort out why McCandless annoyed me so much! I think that the crux of the issue for me is responsibility. I am so entrenched in fulfilling responsibilities that it is inconceivable to me to hop in a car and disappear. I should probably lighten up and commune with nature more often -- or just spend some time alone! But you can't hope to be "free" without working really hard for it.
Interesting book. Sad too. A boy searching for meaning in life. While I do understand, his method was so extreme and unplanned. His naivete surprised me. Can't walk into the Alaskan bush without supplies and materials and expect to get through the winter. I enjoyed his journal entries; obviously a very intelligent, well-read, compassionate, hard-working person. I'm sorry he didn't make it out and felt like he finally did understand that life was not fulfilled without others to share it with. Too bad it was too late.
ReplyDeleteOn July 2, McCandless finished reading Tolstoy's "Family Happiness, and marked..."He was right in saying that the only certain happiness in life is to live for others."
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting that he suppressed his anger at his father for leading a double life for a while - calling him a bigamist at one point? Fascinating. I netflixed this and hope to get the flick this weekend. Good choice Debbie! I'm sure it gives parents a lot of food for thought... how scary to have your kid abandon you like that. And I agree with Amy - his naivete surprised me... for such a "well-educated" kid.
ReplyDeleteI was fairly impatient and disgusted with McCandless. Maybe I'm just so conservative and toe the line so much that I don't comprehend him. I have felt the "call of wild", and wanted to be a forest ranger for a while, living off the land, riding a horse through the mountains all day, building a lonely fire at night . . . But the bottom line is survival: food and shelter. If a person can't forage for food, they have to buy it, which requires money. McCandless seemed to want the freedom of the outdoors, but not the responsibility. Even as he was tramping around, he required the resources that others worked hard for: their vehicles as he hitchhiked, the food they generously offered him, various supplies. I suppose his lifestyle was gradually moving towards greater self-sufficiency, but even in Alaska he only survived as long as he did because of equipment left behind by others (especially the bus).
ReplyDeleteThere were two quotes at the beginning of a chapter that I agree with:
“It may, after all, be the bad habit of creative talents to invest themselves in pathological extremes that yield remarkable insights but no durable way of life for those who cannot translate their psychic wounds into significant art or thought.” Theodore Roszak, “In Search of the Miraculous”
“We have in America “The Big Two-Hearted River” tradition: taking your wounds to the wilderness for a cure, a conversion, a rest, or whatever. And as in the Hemingway story, if your wounds aren't too bad, it works. But his isn't Michigan (or Faulkner's Big Woods in Mississippi, for that matter). This is Alaska.” Edward Hoagland, “Up the Black to Chalkyitsik”
I liked the book. I've thought a lot about it, and it took me a while to sort out why McCandless annoyed me so much! I think that the crux of the issue for me is responsibility. I am so entrenched in fulfilling responsibilities that it is inconceivable to me to hop in a car and disappear. I should probably lighten up and commune with nature more often -- or just spend some time alone! But you can't hope to be "free" without working really hard for it.
oooh...I really like that comment Andrea. It gives me much to think about. Great insight.
ReplyDelete