The Stranger in the Woods

 The Stranger in the Woods:  The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
2017
Weight:15 oz
Method of Disposal: Giving Away

This is a hard one.  The story itself is very interesting, a young man goes off into the woods to survive by way of minor theft, staying hidden, and building a rudimentary encampment in Maine.  He spoke one word to one hiker in 25 years and survived some brutal winters.  He claims he did this without even lighting a fire.  Some people consider him a simple thief, others a convicted felon who made them feel unsafe for years, and others think of him as a wise man who has done the unthinkable and potentially knows some great truths that the rest of us may struggle to obtain or may never obtain.

I am of the train of thought that he is not just a simple thief or felon, and that there is no reason to resent him for being "lazy," as many have, and also that he is not a magical, wise man with all sorts of insight. I do feel for the families that lived in fear and were scared someone would break in with their children in the home, though I do agree with those who think prison time and a life sentence would make no sense in this case. To me, he is just a man with mental health concerns that are unlike most of the population and, because of how his mind works and who he is, he managed to do something extraordinary that many of us could not even begin to conceive of doing.

As for the author, I struggle.  I am excited with him when Mr. Knight (the "hermit") writes him back after he sends him a letter, but things get uncomfortable towards the end when Mr. Knight and his family plead with the author to leave him alone.  On the one hand, I do think he found a special connection with Mr. Knight and that there was something about him that Mr. Knight was somewhat drawn to and, on the other hand, CONSENT.  It is hard though.  Things are not black and white when Mr. Knight says that he will likely kill himself and asks the author to turn away and leave him to it.  Mr. Knight also tells him, at one point, to write whatever he wants and that he is not concerned about it at all.

Some people really think the author is exploiting Mr. Knight, and I really believe the author is genuinely enthralled with him and cares about him.  I think this book was likely a labor of love and enchantment but, when a man tells you to leave him alone enough, you do need to leave him alone, of course, which he ultimately does.  So, I clearly do not know anything and have no answers, but there is no way around the fact that this is a unique and interesting story.