First Challenge Completed!

I have officially completed the Non-Fiction Five Challenge! I was afraid that I had joined too many challenges, but now that I have finished this one -- I feel better about finishing the others.

Thanks Joy!


My final reading list:

1. Desert Flower by Waris Dirie

2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby

3. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

4. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

5. Smoke, Mirrors, and Murder by Ann Rule

Without a doubt, The Glass Castle was my favorite book. This memoir was so well-written that it was easy to read - even though the subject matter was extremely disturbing. If you are looking for a honest portrait of a family, flaws and all, I recommend you pick this one up.

Into the Wild

Into the Wild
by
Jon Krakauer
4/5 Stars
I have been fascinated with the story of Christopher McCandless ever since I first heard of him – a young man who walked off into the Alaskan wilderness to live off the land. When I visited Alaska in 2005, I found myself dreaming of backpacking the Yukon Trail and getting lost in the wilderness. For me, of course, it was just a pipe dream and I kissed it goodbye when I boarded the cruise ship that would take me home. McCandless, on the other hand, made his dream a reality. Unfortunately, his story does not have a happy ending.

Jon Krakauer did a fantastic job of bringing the story of Chris McCandless to life. Krakauer, who also traveled to Alaska at the age of 23, gives the reader rare insight into McCandless’ mindset. Using McCandless’ letters, quotes from his favorite authors, and passages from books in his possession at the time of his death, Krakauer pieces together a portrait of a determined young man, a “leather tramp,” and a decent and caring friend.

Krakauer also manages to make the reader feel that he knows the answer to the big question: “Why would someone leave civilization behind and try to survive in the wilds of Alaska?”

According the McCandless himself:

“It is the experiences, the memories, the great triumphant joy of living to the fullest extent in which real meaning is found. God it’s great to be alive! ”
Journal Entry dated 2/27/90

I thoroughly enjoyed this biography and would recommend it to anyone who has ever felt the pull of nature or the call of a simpler existence.

Non-Fiction Five Challenge

The Challenge: Read five non-fiction books between May and September, 2008. One book must be different from your other choices (i.e.: 4 memoirs and 1 self-help).

My List:

1. Desert Flower by Waris Dirie

2. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby

3. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

4. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

5. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

Good Luck Everyone!