First off, here's what it says on the front cover:

"In April 1992, a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter..."

Yup, that was pretty much what got me tah read it. Not the fact that my copy was on paperback (those who really know me would know i only like reading hardbound books..err..just because); and not even more so that there was a bright yellow sticker on the spine that says 'USED' in block-italicized letters (and it was stamped somewhere around the book too); not even that words, lines, phrases, passages,etc... were highlighted in yellow and in blue -- and in green (highlights in yellow were re-highlighted in blue..much-needed emphasis, i guess?); and yeah, ycan't miss the blue and red underlines (even on those already highlighted.. ycan't beat that) and handwritten notes either... and all the brackets.. and the arrows.. I could go on. But, sure. Book was used alright. Used.. and abused.

Half-way through reading the book, I was beginning to diagnose myself of dyslexia since it was such a relatively thin book of about a little more than 200 pages and yet a friend of mine has finished 2 much thicker books, nevermind that I started reading a few chapters ahead of her (if that even matters?). Then I learned that a film adaptation directed by Sean Penn was released last Sept. 21 in the US featuring Emile Hirsch (of The Girl Next Door/The Emperor's Club fame) as Chris McCandless.

That did it for me. I was hooked. Was done with the rest of the novel, I'd say in one sitting, but most of the time i was just sprawled over at my bed, squeezing a couple of zzz's in between. I was healed. Holla atcha Lord!

Find it. Get it. Read it. Don't let the words scare ya. And don't wait for the damn movie tah come out here in RP, that day may never come (although I wish it would). It's truly inspirational. I could get close tah sayin' I AM Chris McCandless -- err..'cept for the dying part. And his 'great Alaskan Odyssey'. Okay, maybe not. But what the hell.