Into the Wild (Part two)

I'm at Safeway (my home away from home *big big sigh*) and I pass a bunker of books. I try to ignore them (because I have several unread books at home calling my name) but find myself slowing down and then coming to complete stop scanning the titles. One of the very first books I spy is 'Into the Wild.' Since seeing the movie version it has been on my mind and I have been interested in reading the book. A little coincidental don't you think? The 40% off sign also confirmed that I only had one course of action and that was to purchase the book.

I am only about a third into the story....and it is as compelling as the movie. I am trying to understand what it is about this true story that I find so completely disturbing besides the obvious. It isn't just the fate of the young man that saddens me; many people every day lose their lives tragically. I think it is more his attitude for his family that disturbs me; I haven't yet been able to decide if it was a callous indifference or a more passioned anger. However it can be categorized though, I find it difficult to comprehend the needless pain he caused his family to suffer. Even withstanding the possibility that they may have had irreconcilable differences, he deprived them of a chance to at least try to understand.

I guess too that I cannot help to think of the many struggles fought everyday for life to survive, and here is this young man, trapezing into the snow clad Alaskan wild with little in the way of proper equipment or planning, but laden with romantic idealism.