Picked this up off of amazon.ca.

I just finished reading this on the subway ride into work this morning. This was a fascinating look at the life of Christopher McCandless and the circumstances leading up to and surrounding his death in Alaska.

I found this book an interesting exploration of the motivation in McCandless' mind for the adventures he embarked on. I felt as if the author offered some unique insights into McCandless' way of thinking by virtue of his own outdoor and extreme experiences.

This book will be mailed out very soon to lauraloo29.

I dropped this in the mail this morning.

Arrived safe and sound today. Thank you!

I'm planning on sending this out as a bookray.

Rules: Not many. Please journal the book's arrival and departure. And please keep it moving by keeping it no longer than 4 weeks. The last person is free to release the book as they wish.

1. Crossing-Guard - Canada (NA)
2. adrienne10 - US
3. spoiledrotten - US (US)
4. flossie771 - US (Intl)
5. DryKid - UK (Intl)
6. Bookguide - Netherlands (Europe) - near the end please
7. Gahan - Italy (Intl) - near the end
8. Jean-Sol - Australia (Intl)
9.

Beginnings its journey on May 9th. Happy travels!

Thanks Lauraloo, the book arrived today. I have one book to read first and then I am so excited to read this one. I saw the movie and just loved it and I bet the book is way better!

This is a great book! The author did a great job of providing background information and explaining possible motivations for why Chris did what he did. I could relate to some of these and certainly want to escape to nature sometimes, just don't expect me to go hiking alone in Alaska anytime soon!

I have the next person's address and will mail off soon. Thanks for sharing!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Thanks for sharing this book. I mailed it yesterday after work. I hope you enjoy it.

"Nothing links man to man like the frequent passage from hand to hand of a good book."
Walter Sickers

Thanks for sending this to me and including me in this ring! I am working through a different book just now, but I'll try to get it read and moved along within a week or so.

An online friend suggested this book to me in a reading challenge.

First, I must say I greatly appreciate being included on this ring and being included so early. I did a virtual book exchange with a friend on 43things.com I suggested A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson for him and he suggested Into the Wild for me. He reports he is about a third of the way through the massive book I recommended, and he started before me.

I have finished this book. It did take me about a week to read, but I have several scientific journals and 2 or 3 other books I am also trying to read all at the same time. Otherwise, the 200 page read should go quite quickly and maybe would have taken only a couple days to read.

This is a book I would definitely NEVER have picked up or signed up for a ring for on my own. Unfortunately, this book only reminded me of why that is and has reinforced my disinterest in reading books of this similar vein. Why is that for me? I have to relate to something in the book. I did not care for the author, nor did I relate at all to the subject of the book. I found both had a position in life that is not how I am. Both are intelligent men who had a thirst for adventure. I can understand that. However, their attitudes and personalities as depicted are much of a turn-off to me. I do not think I could ever have a conversation with either of them.

The writing is interesting and I do like how Mr. Karkauer circles around. You know from the outset what happens to Chris McCandless. The story starts and ends there, and comes back there many times in between. You learn about Chris's and Krakauer's journeys.

I won't go into exactly what I didn't like about McCandless, because that is somewhat pointless. However, as someone who attended religious schools for 12 years, I will say I know how to spot a Jesus-character and he certainly was one. If he had lived through his adventure, it sounds like he would have continued in the more stable bits of a Jesus-life. However, he had the family abandonment and searching for something better aspect going strong for the part of his life this book focuses on.

I already have the address for the next recipient, so I will get this moved along quick. I hope everyone enjoys this book much more than I did.

Received this in the mail along with two other rings. Please be patient as I am reading as fast as I can. I will begin reading as soon as I am done with my current book. Thanks so much for sending and for including me.

Finished this today. Although I found the story interesting, I really did not enjoy the author's style of writing. He seemed to repeat the same things several times and he included too much of his personal adventures in a story that was suposed to be about someone else. I am glad to have participated in this ring - thanks_ and will mail out this week and journal when done.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent off today to continue on its journey. Enjoy!!!!

Book arrived safely today. I am adding to my tbr mountain. Will try to get to it soon. Thanks for including me.

Mailing off to the next in line today.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing out to the next in line today.

Received this a while ago sorry for not journalling earlier. Loved this book, had watched the film so I knew the story but the book gives more insight into the people McCandless met along the way. A very inspiring read, some people might think this guy was being foolish by what he did but in my eyes he's a bit of a hero.
Will post to the next person in the list asap.

Arrived safely on a sunny autumn day, in spite of postal strikes in the UK. I saw the film last year too, and I'm really looking forward to reading more about Chris McCandless. There are several other books on my ringbook shelf first though.

Last year I saw the film of 'Into the Wild', and it was a beautifully made film, even though the end was tragic. The portrait of Christopher McCandless (or Alexander Supertramp, as he called himself) was fascinating, especially as he seems to have been very charismatic, and to have left a deep impression behind on the people he met in his travels. In the book, this does not seem to have been the case to the extent in which it is shown in the film. Jon Krakauer never met McCandless himself, but had to puzzle out his journey in retrospect, using McCandless' journals and letters and cards which he sent to the friends he'd made along the way. I wonder if Sean Penn, who made the film, spoke to all the people who had met McCandless, and found them more forthcoming for a famous film-maker than for a young journalist from an adventure magazine. Or has he idealised McCandless as a spiritual guru, a quality which does not shine through in Krakauer's account? In any case, I enjoyed the book, but was somewhat surprised that it was less flattering about McCandless than I had expected.

One aspect of both Krakauer and McCandless' story which I can relate to, is the love of the mountains and the wilds, although I definitely stray well to the side of caution and safety, I have also camped out high in the mountains, and clambered up to places which others might have found dangerous and foolhardy. The fact that McCandless ended his days alone and cut off from all help was entirely his fault, and I cannot understand why he felt it necessary to go to such great lengths to cut himself off. If only he'd had a map...

I shall PM the next person, and send it on when I have their address.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

In the post on its way to Jean-Sol in Australia.

This book has been released as part of the following BookCrossing challenges:
- The Ultimate Challenge - read and release books, with extra points for a monthly theme
- Reduce Mount TBR (To Be Read) - read and release books on the TBR list since before Jan. 2010. My reading goal is 75 books.
- Pages Read Challenge - read a self-set target number of pages in 2010. My goal is 24,000.
- 2010 Movie Books Challenge
- Set It Yourself Challenge

The book arrived in Melbourne on a sunny Summer's day. Thank you bookguide for sending it so quickly and for the comments on your lovely card. I've been holding back from watching the movie as I always prefer reading books first. So I'm totally fresh and have no expectations - apart from the one of a good book to read.
It's currently 5th in my TBR pile but the others are small easy books so I should be able to stick to the 4 week turnaround - I'll do my best!

This was a very interesting read and a good analysis of what can go on in young boys and young men's minds. Krakauer does a good job of researching the story and the way he relates comments and interviews of all the people McCandless had met through his periple really got me hooked. I felt though that maybe what makes a good article was not sufficient for a book and that he was stretching the story a bit thin at times. But all in all this story had to be told and I'm glad I read it. Several people commented on this book whilst I was reading it on public transport: they had either read it or seen the movie, or both, which shows how this tale has touched many people all over the world.
I couldn't wait to see the movie after this so I've borrowed the DVD and will be watching it this weekend. I'm interested to find out what my two teenage sons will make of it.
Nattabee asked to be skipped so I'm raying this book forward to catbot in Melbourne, who has the book on her wishlist.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Raying this book forward to catbot in Melbourne.

Thanks for including me, Jean-sol :) I hope that the book is at least as good as the film.