Commentary/review

This book left me with a strong impression that I have not been wasting my time – reading books in general and this book in particular. As much as reading may still be a mistake, it is a nice feeling to have, even for a little while.

The book is about the drive to get out there and challenge oneself. There is a lot about relationships and women too. The best parts of the book, closer to the end of the book, are mostly about the care for the environment and simply about adventure. The language of the book is imaginative, aesthetic and very interesting. I liked the book being a little chaotic, as diaries come, as it was also in some ways consistent. It is difficult to explain what a writing style is; Russell Banks certainly had a distinct one.

The way the audiobook was recorded was a little bizarre, with bits and pieces added satto voce here and there, with comments related to the things just described but from a later time perspective. I am not sure how I felt about these additions but overall the performance was great. It is a rather relaxing audiobook.

The cover was the main reason for my trying the book. Since there are not many quality audiobooks about hiking, this title came as a nice surprise. The cover is very nicely made and the idea – of splitting the cover into uneven parts somewhere across the golden ratio line – is worth remembering.

Cover Photo by Chewy on Unsplash