"The Other"

This latest novel from David Guterson, who also wrote the well-known book Snow Falling on Cedars, was enjoyable to read. The style of his prose is sometimes dense, but delightfully flowery for the most part. Guterson's talent as a writer was more compelling than the characters or plot for me. This book was originally reviewed in comparison to the popular story, Into the Wild, with a main character who takes off into the wilderness recklessly and permanently (depending on who you ask.) I suppose I am intrigued by these tales because of my current stage of young-adulthood and its accompanying transitoriness. Also, because of the consequent moral questions that come with abandoning societal luxuries that such a course of action demands be confronted. In the end, I much prefer Jon Krakauer's take on Christopher McCandless than John William Barry of Guterson's novel. John William is a product of a prominently wealthy Seattle family. Narrated from the point of view of his best friend from childhood, the reader explores drastically different ways of "wealthy" living. Although it was enjoyable to entertain the varying life choices and consequences with these characters, the ending was a huge letdown. (You should probably stop reading now if you don't want me to spoil it for you.) Ultimately, in the wake of John William's death, his best friend speaks with his parents and countless others who reveal that John William may have suffered from sort of mental illness from early childhood. His eccentricities are merely chalked up to neglect at a young age. Ultimately, the question Guterson leaves us with is one of nature vs. nurture. Could such a thing drive a highly intelligent and accomplished young man to become a hermit in the woods to the point of death? If so, is that the worst that could have happened to him? Or the best?