The Revenant

“The goal each day is tomorrow morning.”

I didn't realize going into this book that a) it's actually a movie as well with Leonardo diCaprio, I guess? and b) that the main character, Hugh Glass, was an actual guy. This guy was horrifically mauled by a bear, left to die by a guy who stole his rifle to boot, somehow survives based on grit and determination, and swears vengeance – to get his rifle back. I'm no gun person, but that must have been a hell of a rifle.

The book hops POVs a bit during the book to keep tabs on the main players in Hugh Glass' story, which I liked so that I could appreciate the few times when Hugh Glass was this close to his mark without even realizing it. Glass meets several companions along the way, and I particularly liked the group of French guys he befriends. Their story is particularly touching in a way I was simultaneously expecting and not expecting at the same time. I also really liked the ending, because it didn't take the predictable Western ending route. I appreciated that.

This was quite an adventure book, and even sparse on atmospheric details sometimes, it was still an enjoyable read.