Mini Reviews - Wild and 1914

1914 by Jean Echenoz
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

For a little book this took me a while to get into it (about half way). It was an interesting writing style, no quotations but sections that were dialogue. Also it had a sort of bluntness that I wasn't used to reading.

The story, itself, was great. A quick tale about boys from the same town that went off to war not thinking it was any big deal. They all quickly learned just how big a deal it was. There was also Blanche who was waiting back at home for Charlie and Anthime.

I can't talk too much about the story without giving away something important so I'm just going to say it is worth reading. It's a quick and realistic look back 100 years to the French experience in WW1.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
My rating: 4 of 5

I had tried to listen to this book back in March, but could barely get through the first CD. Cheryl just didn't give me much to care about, why would I want to keep listening. This time around I forced myself to give it two CDs before deciding to give up listening. I again struggled through the first disc, but by the end of the second I was pulled into the story. Still not really caring about Cheryl or her life, but interested in her journey.

I found myself really enjoying the book and at times almost convinced myself that I could take up hiking. Not a full journey like hers, but shit the Appalachian Trail isn't that far off, I could totally manage day hikes. Those thoughts were quickly followed by ones of realizing I was completely crazy and could never do something like that.

I'm glad I force the relisten.

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