Kate S.

Kate Sinclair

Into the Wild

Jon Krakauer

Non-Fiction

Challenge

90

1.       I am currently reading, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer. A young man named Chris McCandless from a well-to-do family started his adventure after he graduated from Emory University in Atlanta. Chris told his family he wanted to be alone that summer to explore and they didn't think anything of it until they don't hear from him and find out that he gave twenty four thousand dollars to a charity called OXFAM America, a charity dedicated to fighting hunger. His first adventure started when he hitchhiked and luckily a kind man named Jim Gallien picked him up.  At first Jim was hesitant he looked only eighteen and he carried a rifle in his backpack but he had a kind handsome face so he picked him up. Chris told the man that his first name was Alex but gave him his last name, McCandless. Chris told Jim that he wanted a ride as far as the edge of Denali National Park where he intended to live there for a few months with only the recourses of the land and no money, which had mostly been burned. Jim recalls that had little items from knowing other people who had tried to live of the land.  He tried to convince Chris to change his mind scary stories about people dying out there and how hard it is to find food. He tried everything but Chris was not going to change his mind and he could tell. When he gets dropped off finally Jim gives him his rubber work boots even though they were huge on him they were much more appropriate for his journey then his other shoes. Chris then ventures off hitchhiking some more getting a small job here and there and writing in a journal from which this book is based off of.

2.   This book is so inspirational and different from all of my other books. I really enjoy the main concept of the book it is so interesting and keeps me wondering after every page.  This book challenges me but I like that and keeps the book more of a mystery. I enjoy most of the book is based off of Chris’s journal. The author also always had the best amount detail so I could visualize every aspect of his writing but too much that it was boring and I got tired of it. Another reason I love this book is that it actually happened which makes it much more interesting. Also I never have read this genre before and I am really enjoying this book!

3.        I think that the theme of this book is the great adventure right now that he is hitchhiking but I believe once he goes out into the forest to live of the land, if he does that the theme will change to man vs. nature. Right now Chris is just going along with what it and having fun exploring and going wherever so it is more of an adventure. I think this theme really shines through in the story mainly when Chris goes on small adventures through different places sometimes getting lost but finding a way around it or how to fix it. Also the whole plot of traveling in general is an adventure but alone and with limited supplies I think that the theme of the book would have to be the great adventure.

4.       My favorite character would have to be Jim Gallien because first he picked up someone random he didn’t know just because he saw a kindness in them. He seems to see the good in people and not the bad not once did he say that Chris was crazy he just went with it and didn’t judge him. He also really wants to help Chris in his journey and has faith in him he gives Chris is sturdy work boots and then gives him his number so they can be returned after his journey. This small act of kindness showed he had faith in Chris and thought he would be alright out there giving Chris just the right amount of confidence to start his journey. Jim also includes a bit of humor into the story to add a bit of happiness to the bit of a sad story. If I was Chris I would be very grateful to have such a great friend like Jim to help me out mentally and physically.  Jim becomes right away a friend to Chris not being shy to help him out and almost be a bit of a mentor.

5.       My least favorite character was probably right now in the book is Chris McCandless because of his carelessness. I do admire his act of him burning his money but I don’t understand why he would not pack much he seems unorganized right now and not prepared to take on this big of journey. I also have not figured many things about him yet so he seems a bit mysterious in a bad way. I wonder what made him want to take on this task so unexpected.  He almost seems crazy right now for doing this it is like asking to die but I’m not sure if he will be able to turn the tables by the end of the book. I also feel very bad for his parents who he does not even seem to care about while there frantic at home sending someone to find their son he is not even thinking about them even though he said he would write. I feel as he just is throwing his life away or he could do something amazing and surprise me but now in the book I think he is acting irresponsible and need to figure thing out.

6.       I predict that will meet up with Jim again and he will find out who he really is and Chris’s whole story and maybe I can figure out is strange relationship with his parents that could have had something to do with his adventure, maybe a lack of attention at home? Maybe Jim will let his parents know where he is and give them his story or maybe he will not mention it and join Chris in his adventure. I hope that Jim Gallien shows up again but the author always surprises me so I will never be able to know for sure.