I just finished reading it and am in absolute awe. There are so many striking similarities between Cheryl’s childhood and young adulthood and mine, though mine is admittedly less tragic. I read through the chapters as if reading through the memoir of my doppelgänger, completely empathizing with all of her conflicted feelings towards her family and the questionable decisions she made after experiencing such a tragedy.
I am a 26 year old woman. I know Cheryl. I am Cheryl. I have never read something that has made me feel so seen and understood. Her monumental feat of conquering the PCT is nothing short of inspiring. I wish I had read this book at the height of my familial troubles at 19 as a cautionary tale of mistakes to come but also that triumphs are still possible, even after life-altering trauma.
I looked at past forums on this sub regarding this book expecting to read about other women as inspired by this book as I am, only to see people ragging on Cheryl’s character. Tearing her apart for cheating on her husband and doing drugs. Criticizing her naive understanding of how to properly prepare for the PCT.
She talks about all of this in the book. She doesn’t excuse her actions or pretend like she knew she was adequately prepared. Her story is a deeply raw and vulnerable one. I understand first-hand how poverty and long-lasting familial troubles can lead someone to poor choices. Where is the empathy for her? How can anyone expect a woman who’s lost her most trusted guide in this world to have the wisdom and maturity beyond her years?
I’m troubled by the overwhelmingly negative discourse of this book on this subreddit and the PCT subreddit. I wanted to put my experience with this book out there for the next 26 year old woman who read this and felt the same way about it as I do.
by stress-pimples