This is one book that I saw the movie before I read the book. I actually saw the movie years ago when it was out. It was a random decision when I happened to have a day of work and decided to go see a movie. It is not something that happens often to me. I wanted to read the book since that day. Then I did not. I finally managed to pick it up this year. In many ways I am glad that I waited, the movie was only a distant memory allowing me to focus on the book as a book.

This book is a memoir, and I adore memoirs. The great aspect of memoirs is that the people in them are far from perfect. No perfect person has material to actually write an engaging memoir. Although, there is no perfect person. If we wrote out our lives we would all be a mess to some degree or other. Strayed may be a bit more of a mess. She is young, impulsive, and alone. So, she does what any irrational person would do and decides to hike the Pacific Coast Trail with no experience.

I found the writing engaging, I think her flow worked out beautiful. I was drawn into Strayed's personal struggles, her really bad choices, and her hiking experiences. She drew on her emotions from the event and presented them in a raw open way. I enjoyed every aspect of this novel.

I also admit that it made me want to go hiking. Not crazy outdoor backpacking, but getting back into nature away from the reality of the world.