On September 26, 2012 we had a large group
gathered to discuss "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed.
Janet, Sarah, Marsha, Madeleine,Kathy,Betsy, Julie,
Carol, Sue and I were present.
Most of us had read the book and all loved it.
It is a story of a 26 year old who hikes over 1100
miles on the Pacific Crest Trail which is on the
westcoast traversing many mountains from Mexico to
Washington State. She is trying to find
herself because she feels she has become a sex and drug addict who
has lost mother, father, husband and virtually all family.
She learns many of life lessons along the way, meets many
people and has time to think about finding her way back
to being a person she can like again. The hike is not a walk
in the park as she really was unprepared for all that it
entailed from her pack being too heavy to her shoes being
too small and not having the right equipment like a basic pole or
ice axe.
We concentrated especially on the relationship she had with
her mother and the devastating effect that her death had on Cheryl.
Happily she emerges a changed person at the end and has
gone ahead writing, remarried and has children of her own.
Carol chose a book by Suzanne Joinson entitled
"A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kasgar".
It is a story about female missionaries in 1923 Kasgar and a
modern day story set in England. Somehow they both come
together. It seems to be quite intriguing and I am looking
forward to reading it. We chose October 24th to be the next date.
We think that we need a different venue which is more amenable
to discussion as well as a bit more structure in our meetings.
I have emailed 2 people who have been in book clubs and
should be getting some suggestions of how we can improve upon our
discussions so that they are more orderly and enjoyable
for all the members.
