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Book 2

Title: Into the Wild

Author: Jon Krakauer

Genre: Non-Fiction – Historical – Biography - Philosophy

Date Completed: 1-22-10

Synopsis: An educated, wealthy young man goes unprepared into Alaska to try to live off the land and dies. An examination on his motives as well as ruminations on young men’s idealism, father relationships, and discontent with materialism.

Thoughts: Very emotive. The writer fairly and movingly describes the complexity of Chris McCandless and compares and contrasts him with other “reckless” freedom seekers. Perhaps the most moving section of the book is when the author delves into his own personal life, and sees how he is not that different from Chris. The explanations of the idealism, discontent, inspiration, and difficulties with authority a 23 year old man faces are spot on, and hit close to home. I finished the book at lunch time, minutes before I was supposed to teach again. Not a good decision, as I felt emotionally distraught and needed more time to gather myself.

Memorable quote: “At that stage of my youth, death remained as abstract a concept as non-Euclidean geometry or marriage. I didn’t yet appreciate its terrible finality or the havoc it could wreak on those who’d entrusted the deceased with their hearts. I was stirred by the dark mystery of mortality. I couldn’t resist stealing up to the edge of doom and peering over the brink. The hint of what was concealed in those shadows terrified me, but I caught sight of something in the glimpse, some forbidden and elemental riddle that was no less compelling than the sweet, hidden petals of a woman’s sex.

In my case – and, I believe in the case of Chris McCandless- that was a very different thing from wanting to die.

Book 1

Title: Generation Kill

Author: Evan Wright

Genre: Non-Fiction - historical

Date Completed: 1-16-10

Synopsis: Evan Wright rides with a first recon marine unit on the initial Iraq invasion

Thoughts: Excellent book. Really puts a personality on the individual soldiers. Descriptions of battles and the prowess and coolness of the soldiers is electrifying. Poignant look at the mixed emotions the soldiers experience about war, civilian deaths, and the command system in the army. Hilarious, yet sad anecdotes of incompetence and irresponsibility by army officers, with degrading yet accurate nicknames such as Captain America and Encino man. Great detail of the misery and adaptation marines go through on a day to day basis, and luminary look into how tough these men really are. Made me want to join the marines, yet made me even more disenfranchised with the Iraq war.

Memorable quote: (a soldier reflects after a commander led them into a dangerous, foolish tactical mission)“Yeah, we volunteered to be here, but we didn’t volunteer to be treated like idiots. His story always changes. ‘Protection of the Forces’ my fucking ass. Why did we make the pell-mell fucking rush? So a colonel could score a few extra brownie points with his general.”