This is not about our 1967 class, but it is about a former W.T. Woodson classmate. There is a movie currently playing in theaters that is about the life and death of a former WTW cross-country athelete, Chris McCandless. It is directed by Sean Penn. I was clueless until I read a huge review a week or so ago in the insert magazine "Fairfax Extra" of the Washington Post. The movie is titled "Into the Wild" and is the true story of a young man's tragic battle with nature. I plan to see this movie, but have not yet been able to manage the time. I also noticed this weekend, in the "Book World" insert in the Sunday Washington Post, the book "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer, is No. 2 on the Bestsellers List for nonfiction.
Has anyone either read the book or seen the movie? I would love to hear what you think.
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9 comments:
Chris was born the year after we graduated.
Helen Roberts mentioned this book at one of the past reunions (30th?). I enjoyed Krakauer book about the tragic climb on Mt. Everest and on Helen's recommendation read Into the Wild. It is very well written but it was difficult understanding some of McCandless's choices. I haven't seen the movie but have heard that the portrayal of the parents is pretty harsh.
I didn't mean to be totaly anonymous with my previous comment!
Elaine
Elaine - if you read the book, let's discuss when we have lunch on Sunday.
I read the book. It is well written like his other books, Into Thin Air and Under the Banner of Heaven, but I didn't think it amounted to much of a story. It took pretty good writing to turn this into a compelling read.
John Krakauer went to high school in Oregon.
Leslie, Medford, Oregon
Hi! Helen Roberts here.
Krakauer is a great writer and I am not surprised that this riveting story became a movie. I have yet to see it but the reviews indicate that Sean Penn chose to portray McCandless as a sort of savant. I lived in bush Alaska (Kotzebue) in the late 70's and my experience was that it was very difficult to go missing or get "lost" even without cell phones. The whole state is like a small town where everybody knows everybody else's business and each little village has a search and rescue team. People rarely go into the bush alone but when they do, everyone notices. So, like Elaine, I had a hard time comprehending some of the choices that Chris made.
p.s. to Leslie: We're thinking about having the Northwest WTW '67 get together next summer in LaConner, Washington. Can you make it? And which dates would be the best?
Helen - do you have a particular month in mind? I would love to go this time, but really need to plan ahead as I already have about 6 trips schedule starting first week in Jan. 08! Retirement is busy!!!
I've been to LaConner - even stayed there!! It is across Highway 5 from Stanwood, WA and Pilchuck Glass School. Lovely area.
Elaine
Hi from Helen!
Let's take the WTW '67 Northwest Rondy discussion over to the regular email, because Marna needs to be involved in the LaConner discussion.
To anybody else that's interested: just email me or Dale or Marna.
Once the date and place are decided, it will be posted here for sure!
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