I wasn't looking forward to reading this. For one, it's an Oprah selection and I'm not outdoorsy, really. But I recently heard it's being made into a movie and something about that (which would also usually, equally, repel me) intrigued me. A few people I know have read and liked it well enough and I tend to like memoirs, especially when they deal with death and addiction.

Strayed's story is interesting and heartbreaking. I guess I am the demographic for this book. She writes well and feels like a real person you could meet. She's not perfect and doesn't try to be.

She's insecure but earnest. She's book smart but a little relationship inept. I don't know, I just liked her. I don't find it to be haughty or hipstery. And even if parts are fabricated, the tone of the book is earnest and I appreciate that.

The downside of this book is how monotonous it is. The last 20% or so really dragged for me and I felt myself thinking, "I GET IT. What's the point?"

And a brief note about my edition, I borrowed it from Overdrive in Multnomah County and the version I have is Oprah's... as in, highlighted passages all over the place with superscripted O's all over the place. V. annoying. Let me form my own opinion of the book before you start rubbing your stench all over it, Oprah. But, begrudgingly: good pick.