Category Archives: books

I firmly believe that the book is always better than the movie. Although I was impressed with the movie Into the Wild, I still wanted to read the book to learn more. The movie fascinated me, and it stuck with me. I was totally in awe of Christopher McCandless, whose two year journey across the country inspired the book, and later the movie. I was amazed that a young man could cut off ties from everyone he knew, make up a new life and never return home. He wanted to go on a great Alaskan odysessy, but it’s what killed him in the end. But anyway, back to the book. Just like the movie, it stuck with me. It took me deeper into McCandless’ life, before and during his cross country trek. While the movie portrayed his parents as a dysfunctional, money-hungry couple, the book did the opposite. Yes his parents’ had their problems, and yes, they believed in being successful, but the book also showed the depth of their loss. To be parents and to lose your child,that will never be understood by the average person, but Jon Krakauer (the author) did an amazing job of showing the reader what McCandless’ family went through. Krakauer also compared some events in his life to McCandless’, reminding readers that everyone has a desire to get away from reality and prove themselves. Unfortunately, reality is inescapable. Krakauer realized that as a young man, and I think McCandless realized that too, just a bit late. I don’t know why this book (and movie) stuck with me. I’m nothing like Chris. I have no desire to go to Alaska and live off the land. I don’t read books by Tolstoy or Thorough (I much prefer the beautiful insanity of Fitzgerald), and I get along quite well with my family. Still, I understand his desire to leave and make a new life. Everyone feels like that at some time. I think we all have a fantasy of leaving home to explore the great unknown and then return home safely. When McCandless was discovered dead in 1992, people said he was either suicidal, an arrogant kid or someone who confused the stories of his literary heroes with reality. Still, I think in the end, he realized he couldn’t stay away forever. As he discovered: “Happiness is best when shared.” Even though I’m not like McCandless and even though people criticise him, I think we can all agree with his purpose: to find something bigger than ourselves. Krakauer’s book let’s us know what Chris found.