Guts: The True Stories behind Hatchet and the Brian Books by Gary PaulsenMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Beloved author Gary Paulsen, patron saint of reluctant readers, describes some of his real-life experiences that went into the writing of Hatchet, including witnessing more than one death, plane crashes, encounters with various wildlife, running the Iditerod, and roughing it in the wild. He also gives readers a glimpse into what must have been a difficult childhood, mentioning kind game wardens who looked the other way when he was forced to hunt out of season to feed himself because his drunken parents couldn't provide for him and he was hungry, and several low-paying menial jobs he held as a kid to get by.
This book is a somewhat random compilation of stories, in no particular order, jumping around among various points in Paulsen's life. The writing is not particularly eloquent, but it is gritty and compelling and will have the reader alternately laughing, gripped in suspense, and recoiling in horror (and maybe slightly dubious that one person really experienced all that?). I really liked the quotes from Hatchet sprinkled throughout to remind you of the part of Brian's story that is related to the real-life tale you are about to read.
Readers who were fans of the Brian series, or of tales of hunting and outdoor survival in general, will definitely enjoy reading Paulsen's memoir. I gave it 3 stars from my perspective, but easily 3.5-4 from the perspective of the intended audience.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment