Diane and I traveled into Buffalo to attend the Cheryl Strayed Babel event at a sold out Kleinhans Music Hall. Strayed spoke about her life and her books and her plans for the future.
Diane’s Book Club read Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail back in 2012 and loved it. It’s the story of Cheryl Strayed–who never attempted a long hike before–walking the 1100-mile Pacific Crest Trail in 1995 as a journey of self-discovery. Strayed told the audience at Kleinhans that she was at the end of her rope when she decided to make this solo hike. Strayed’s journey begins in the Mojave Desert and she hikes through California and Oregon to the Bridge of the Gods into Washington. As you might suspect, Strayed learns a lot about long distance hiking the Hard Way.
Wild reached No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list, and was the first selection for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. By the time the book was published, actress Reese Witherspoon’s film company Pacific Standard had optioned Wild for film rights. Witherspoon portrayed Strayed in the 2014 film Wild, which was written by the novelist Nick Hornby and directed by Jean-Marc Vallée.
Director Jean-Marc Vallee wanted Cheryl Strayed in a cameo for the movie. The scene he picked was when Witherspoon is dropped off at a seedy hotel at the beginning of her journey. Strayed is the driver of a pickup truck that gave Witherspoon a ride to the hotel. Vallee wanted Strayed to say, “Good Luck” as Witherspoon exited the pickup. Strayed got very nervous before the scene was filmed and was worried about saying her line. She asked Witherspoon for advice. Witherspoon turned to Strayed and said, “Don’t fuck it up!” GRADE: A
Well, that’s still good advice.
Dan, Reese Witherspoon’s advice is good…but not what Cheryl Strayed was expecting.
I read Strayed’s TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS a few years ago and liked it very much. She’s a good writer; I’m sure you had an entertaining evening.
Deb, Cheryl Strayed entertained the sold-out audience with stories about her Life–which was chaotic–and how she went from a penniless wanderer to a New York Times Best Selling author. I was amazed! Diane is reading tiny beautiful things right now and loving it!
Are you watching the HULU version? “Cheryl Strayed’s “Tiny Beautiful Things” book, based on her “Dear Sugar” advice columns, has been adapted into a Hulu series starring Kathryn Hahn, with Strayed serving as an executive producer and contributing to the writing.”
Thanks for the tip. I’ll have to check it out.
My group also read the book and I saw the movie. It is interesting the things people pick to test themselves.
Patti, Diane and her Book Club loved Wild, both the book and the movie. Chasing to walk 1,100 miles–with no hiking experience–is NOT something I would ever attempt. But, the experience turned Cheryl Strayed’s Life around.
I also read the book and saw the movie.
Jeff, both versions of WILD wowed me because I can’t fathom how Cheryl Strayed managed to complete that 1,100 mile trek. She knew nothing about hiking, she her pack was too heavy for her, she bought the wrong shoes and lost her toe nails. At the event, Strayed admitted there were times she thought about quitting the hike, but something would always provide her some hope and she continued to the end. A mind-blowing story!
I’ve been known to walk ALL THE WAY from my bedroom to the kitchen! That should count for something.
Jerry, same here. But attempting a 1,100 solo hike…never!
Just tote up a decade’s-worth of bedroom to kitchen and back…