I was excited by the premise of Feral by Emily Pennington, as I am huge National Parks enthusiast! While I certainly enjoyed that aspect of her story, and related to the stressed of the pandemic as the context, this was a tougher memoir for me to love. Memoir is so challenging, as our experiences are not a clean and compelling linear narrative most of the time. I wasn't drawn to the aspects of the book that followed her internal journey the way I have been with certain other outdoor memoirs, like Bill Bryson's or Cheryl Strayed's.

I was drawn to this book based on the author's explorations of the NPs across the country. I love to travel, and was excited to see how the author experienced the NPs.

However, I found the writing style didn't do her travels to the amazing National Parks justice. The writing style came across a bit too entitled (roughing it was no/poor WIFI signal) and whiny (details about relationship with boyfriend that could have been skipped) for me. I had high hopes for this book as an outdoor enthusiast, and if you are the same and truly appreciate the outdoors, this most likely isn't the book for you either.

I thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for my ARC of this book.

This story is told by the author about her journey of self-exploration during her trip navigating thenUS National Parks. I was drawn to the idea of this book because I am currently working my way through the NPs myself; albeit not all at once like the author, but still the concept hit home. I wanted to feel connected to the author and her story, I just couldn’t get there. To get credit she uses a lot of visual imagery to describe her navigation and events that occurred, but then she’d throw in random details that don’t contribute anything to the story or to building rapport with her. Additionally, I really expected to read more about her experiences in the NPs and the parks themselves, but I read more about shady camping spots and peeing in funnels. Because of these things I actually could not finish this book.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the National Parks and hikes, as this is something I enjoy doing as well. I enjoyed the glimpse of van life, and the pros and cons of it. I think it's a dream of many (or at least myself) to be able to just quit your job and take to the road.

Thank you Netgalley and Little A for the ARC!

Thank you to Little A and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this title, because 1. I'm a big fan of exploring the National Parks and 2. I enjoy hearing the perspectives of women traveling in nature. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. It was incredibly repetitive and anti-climactic. There was a very clear cycle to the text: the author traveling to the next park, the author having a mental tailspin/another fight with her BF, illustrious descriptions of the park (which were beautifully written, at times!), philosophical pondering, repeat.

I don't want to downplay any of the trauma the author experienced while traveling; i admire her vulnerability in sharing her experiences and innermost thoughts. However, as a reader, the narrative structure fell flat. There were philosophical proclamations at the end of each chapter, which left little to be desired as you neared the end of the book. It felt forced! Sparse reflections would have been more impactful.

Additionally, I would have appreciated shorter chapters. The descriptions of each park were fairly detailed, and started to blend together. Breaking the book apart by park, rather than region, may have helped me appreciate the care the author took in her written accounts. Also, more pictures would have been welcome add-ons.

However, criticisms aside, much of the prose was quite beautiful. The analogies were impressive, and I enjoyed the author's wide vocabulary.

I won't be recommending this book, but I'm eager to see what other readers and reviewers think!

This book was a really easy read about alternative lifestyles and trying to find yourself. Hiking and getting lost in nature forces us to deal with alot of things that are going on in life and this book tells of Emily’s emotional journey through the national parks of America. I found it an enjoyable and interesting story and it certainly gave me wanderlust.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nope. Just nope. Did not like the author at all. Petty, mean spirited, entitled, self absorbed, I could go on and on. Did not like the writing. Sorry, but this was a real waste of my time. Not going to leave a review on any of my sites, as I do not like to spread negativity. Chalking it up to "shame on me for putting the time into keeping reading" this book.

Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review Feral.


Published: 02/01/23

Trashy

Language from F to female trash slang

Locked down -- found ways to break the law (Spoiled, entitled and selfish)

Her wish on older Americans leaves me speechless

A complete an utter waste of my time and head space

To my knowledge, there is no way of knowing the language extent prior to seeking approval. I would have skipped this.

Some will find it impossible to read Feral by Emily Pennington without comparing it to Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Not only are the titles synonyms, but even the subtitle of Pennington’s memoir, Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks, seems to be a rewording of Strayed’s From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail. While this similarity in titles may create an audience for Feral, I think it also may result in readers trying to cram Pennington’s story into a pair of hiking boots that might not fit.

While both Pennington and Strayed both end up spending a lot of time alone in nature, push themselves far out of their comfort zones, physically and emotionally, and come out knowing more of who they really are, this is where the similarities end.

Unlike Strayed, Pennington is an experienced hiker who took a year to visit 62 national parks from a van she converted into a camper just large enough to hold a mattress and her gear. While Pennington’s trip might initially seem to be the easier of the two, she makes up for it by choosing some of the most difficult hikes to complete during her day or two in each park.

Though Pennington writes in past tense, her descriptions and emotions (whininess, pettiness, and all) give the impression of being more in-the-moment rather than looking back through a romanticized or idealized lens of knowing the bigger picture. Her impeccable attention to detail allows readers to be present with her in many of the parks she visits and hikes she undertakes.

The book has hills and valleys, literally and figuratively. Like Pennington’s many hikes, parts of the prose feel a little monotonous or repetitive (drive, sleep, hike, sleep, drive) leaving the reader eager to get to the end and experience the wonder of the view from the top. While the description hits numerous peaks, the narrative, at least for me, never quite reaches a climactic pinnacle.

Feral is not a how-to or self-help, nor is it a comedy or a thriller. Rather, it is an honest journey where you are invited to travel along and experience the realistic day in and day out of finding beauty amidst the mundane, finding purpose amidst the precarious.

Having visited roughly half of the national parks, reading Feral had me feeling as if I was revisiting some parks in my memories and vicariously encountering those I have yet to see. Overall, I enjoyed taking this trip with Pennington; and if you are a hiker, a nature lover, or on your own trek through the difficulties of life, I think you might, too.

As someone who loves national parks, travel, and dreams of taking a chunk of time to adventure, the topic of this book appealed to me. I appreciate the author sharing her own personal story, struggles with mental health and happiness, and trying to make sense of her life in its patterns. While others have commented that they thought there was too much info on the personal side, I think that's what makes a travelogue original. That said, the travel itself reads more like a check-the-box effort to hit a goal rather than someone truly embracing the exploration of new places, and the author put pressure upon herself to get to every park and with covid restrictions even considered missing one to be a potential trip failure. That mindset harmed the story. As someone who did (and does) take the safety of others seriously during the pandemic, I found the selfishness and blatant disregard for the pandemic to be a turn-off, even recognizing the financial stresses in the author's life that led to her wanting to continue her trip. I hope the trip and the writing of its tale were cathartic for the author.

This was a good book. However, for me, there was too much relationship writing. For me, there was not enough about the national parks. Especially descriptions of the surrounding area she travelled through. It really didn't need all the saucy details. I did enjoy reading about the little bits of history of the parks and the rock climbing adventures. The travelling between parks also sounded like fun. As she visited over 50 national Parks I only really remember about 10 visited. I really do feel for the author with her breakdown in relationship and mental health issues. I fear from the way that this book was written it might not always come across in a good light.

Many thanks to the author and publishers for bringing us this story. I am just sorry that I didn't love it anymore than 3 stars.

The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog today https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/feral-by-emily-pennington-littlea-3-stars under my name ladyreading365

I really wanted to like this book. I love our national parks, hiking, and traveling. I wanted to read this in the same lens as Wild or Eat, Pray, Love or any of Jedidiah Jenkins' works. Maybe if Ms. Pennington hadn't undertaken the task of visiting every national park during a pandemic it would have hit me differently. I just couldn't get beyone her disregard for everyone's safety by insisting on visiting (trespassing) closed parks. Her whining about pandemic protocol sounded ignorant and entitled. I did appreciate her nod, at the beginning of the book, to our indigenous people and their lands. Her promise to travel to the parks with this in mind only came up in the foreward and was seemingly forgotten in the remainder of the book.

I liked Emily and how she was so blunt and honest about her journey.
As she visits National Parks we see her struggle with life, with meaning, with anxiety. But we also see her grow and gain strength in the strong woman that she is.
I liked how we got to see the Parks through her eyes. Some of them were kind of rushed, but others she spent more time in.
This book definitely made me want to get out there and go visit these beautiful places.
This book may not be for everyone, but it is a good look into testing your strength and finding the courage to be the best version of yourself.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Great story of someone struggling with mental health problem losing them selves in nature. Great story of someone finding the self’s in the backdrop of the US national parks

A raw and honest look into the authors life that will leave you hopeful and wishing her well. The adventures of not only her fantastic trip but into her own self will inspire you. Well done and fantastic read.