What do you do when your world ends? At twenty-eight years old, Krista Schlyer sold almost everything she owned and packed the rest of it in a station wagon bound for the American wild. Her two best friends joined herone a grumpy, grieving introvert, the other a feisty dogand together they sought out every national park, historic site, forest, and wilderness they could get to before their money … before their money ran out or their minds gave in.
The journey began as a desperate escape from urban isolation, heartbreak, and despair, but became an adventure beyond imagining. Chronicling their colorful escapade, Almost Anywhere explores the courage, cowardice, and heroics that live in all of us, as well as the life of nature and the nature of life.
This eloquent and accessible memoir is at once an immersion in the pain of losing someone particularly close and especially young and a healing journey of a broken life given over to the whimsy and humor of living on the road.
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This was a well told story of exploration both within and around the country. I loved her way with language, it was both deep and yet still accessible.
I understand this was her own journey but I would have appreciated just a bit more natural history/geography or even personal opinion about the parks and places they visited.
Well written book with descriptions of many inspiring incidents as the author moves on after personal tragedy. She traveled to many national parks and provides interesting stories and descriptions of the locations and her activities. It also has some beautiful photographs of these locations.
An inspirational journey through loss, both heart rending and funny, well told.
This was a great read. It is well and thoughtfully written with excellent descriptions and a great deal of personal reflection. Best of all, it challenges one to look carefully at what we have done to our environment because of consumerism and greed. I will recommend it to my friends and fellow readers!
I didn’t care for this book. Lost interest and didn’t finish it. I did not like her attitude.
Overwritten.
Good story. Definitely a book about our ecological systems problems. Underlying sadness, intriguing story.
Not as good as I wanted it to be.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you are interested in the outdoors, life, death and grieving.
Great easy reading thoughtful book on life, death, love and contemplative.
History of each National Park they visited adds greatly to the story… a chapter in these two people trying to sort out life as they mourn the passing of a dear friend and spouse
I have trouble resisting almost any road trip story and this certainly fits well into that category.
Great writing. Great road, mind and soul trip.
This books offers many thoughts about life to deeply ponder.
I really loved this book and was so happy that the author finally found a way to peace and happiness.
The author travels across the USA following National Parks. She and her friend spend nearly a year together. The descriptions of the Parks are stunning! You are there as the view unfolds. But, this is my opinion, the author is so self involved that the pity party gets quite “old”. Plus, how do you go living on noodles and in a tent with showers only periodically! It just seemed a bit stretched.
I want to opt out of thise. Thank you
Like reading a love poem, including love, loss and overcoming grief through nature and friendship
I found this book wordy and difficult to read. I did not finish it
I listened to the audio book version of this book. I would have found it difficult to read. Although inspirational the story was also extremely sad at times as it struck close to home (death/cancer – national parks/Buffalo NY/Wash.DC., etc…). I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t mind emotions being pulled. I hope the writing of the book was part of the healing process for the author. I wish her well.
I loved this book- wonderful writing- the author is able to express her feelings about the the illness and death of her boyfriend in beautiful and descriptive language. She uses the same language to describe the beauty of the national parks and monuments, state parks, and other places of wonder in our country. I have been to many of the places Krista talks about. I wanted to pack up my husbands truck camper and hit the road after reading the book. I did find the concept of living in a tent with mainly packaged noodles to eat for almost a year rather horrifying. But the big question is- what happened to Bill ??? It is not fair that the reader travels with Bill the whole book, hears him profess his love for Krista (is it friend -love?) but we never find out what happens to him and them! Sweet Maggie gets a whole chapter, but what about Bill?
I liked the writer’s wordcraft. She’s articulate and easy to read, and I’m really glad I wasn’t on that trip with her.