Reader Response WILD

                               Reader Response WILD

        In the reader’s responses on Goodreads, I found so much negative feedback on the thoughts of Cheryl Strayed’s, Wild. I think Cheryl’s lack of preparedness, along with self-destructive life choices, makes for a bad reputation. The way Cheryl reflects her past in writing, can give the audience a lack of empathy, assuming Strayed is looking for pity.

Such as, Nikiverse stating, “Wahhh, I did heroin and cheated on my husband and my life's a mess. Wahhh I'm too tired to even masturbate. Wah! I slept without protection and got an abortion! I lost my toenailz. I have godzilla skin on my hips because my backpack weighs so much!”

         I disagree with those thoughts on Strayed’s story. When I read the book, I felt a connection with a woman struggling from loss, suffering grief, and attempting a sense of self-fulfillment. I think those are attributes to a story of physical and psychological self-care, like Megan C. Brown suggested in her thoughts of a new sub-genre, “self-help”. These specific features in Strayed’s book, gave me a different understanding of independence, and self-reliance. The metaphors and lessons give me a different perspective on such a diverse way to cope, and grow as a woman, with struggles that so many others can relate to.