'Into The Wild'- the novel by Jon Krakauer

To sum this book up in one word, amazing. This book has the ability to change the way you perceive life and to reconsider your beliefs and actions.

This novel written by Jon Krakauer is an autobiography of the young adventurer and nonconformist Christopher McCandless. Written in 1992, Krakauer describes the events that led to the discovery of McCandless' body in the Alaskan outback. The novel explores McCadnless upbringing, his decisions that led to his desire to leave society and go 'into the wild' and ultimately tries to make sense of how McCandless ended up being found dead in an abandoned bus in Alaska.

McCandless is a powerful character and his actions and words are so powerful that you can't not be moved by his words. 'If we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all possibility of life is destroyed' just one of the many quotes written by McCandless in his diary found next to his body.

This novel is very haunting; Krakauer has the ability to mesmerise and enthral you into the narrative. I really liked the way Jon Krakauer wrote this book. He follows a non-parallel narrative, where he includes flashbacks, transcripts, interviews and current information all regarding McCandless journey and the ordeal his family was put through. Krakauer has the ability to effortlessly switch between past and present to form a smooth and easy to read story.

The movie 'Into the Wild' is an excellent adaptation of the novel. Nearly all the events and truth in the novel are retained in the movie, and there is little that has been 'hollywoodised'. Emile Hirsch also did an amazing job portraying Chris McCandless. After reading the book it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the part of McCadnless.

I’m giving this book 5/5 and I definitely recommend watching the film as well.

'San Francisco Chronicle'- Compelling and tragic...Hard to put down.
'New York Times'- Terrifying...Eloquent...A heart-rending drama of human yearning.