Review of Barefoot In Hells Canyon

[Alice Heritage]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Barefoot In Hells Canyon" by Bryan Gould.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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A river that tumbles between sheer cliffs in the deepest gorge on the American continent - Hells Canyon. Two nineteen-year-olds planning to ride a war surplus raft through its white-water rapids. One of them can't swim. Three days' provisions for a six-day trip. What could possibly go wrong?

Barefoot in Hells Canyon is Bryan Gould's memoir of his trip down the Snake River in the summer of 1958 with his pard (partner) Glen Burns. Although they were not literally barefoot to start with, to say that the boys were on a shoestring budget is an understatement. They reached their starting point by hitchhiking and hopping freight trains, working on farms for meals and hobnobbing with hobos.

As Bryan says to Glen when conferring with him about his memories of the trip, you don't see hobos riding on freight trains nowadays. As is often the case with memoirs, this is a unique first-person account of a world now vanished. While marooned in the backwater town of Hagerman, Idaho, the pair discover a drugstore with an old-fashioned soda fountain. The attendant is so fascinated by their travels that he repeatedly serves them traditionally mixed Cokes on the house, mostly in their favourite cherry flavour. (If you've ever wondered why you've never come across pineapple Coke, read this book to find out!)

The story sparkled with many such details, all vividly described in a literary style. While it was all fascinating, as a consequence of the amount of detail, the duo's arrival at Hells Canyon was a long time coming. This means that the title is a little misleading since Hells Canyon was just one leg of a longer, more complex journey.

This is not to say that that part was not the highlight, of course. In Hells Canyon, the power of the plunging waters was at its most raw. The boys' very survival was under threat from the forces of nature, their raft and provisions puny in comparison. Bryan obviously lived to tell the tale, which includes many reflections, often in conversation with Glen.

For, rather as the boys gained different perspectives on the river when they scouted the hairiest rapids from above before attempting them, the present-day chapters gave a longer view of the events. On the one hand, those sometimes disrupted the story's pace. On the other hand, they provided valuable background information, some gleaned thanks to modern technology.

A map at the beginning orients readers further. It shows the river as it is now. It would have been interesting to see a map with the names of the actual creeks and rapids the boys rode over (or under, or through, as applicable). I appreciate that the map they used, courtesy of Snake River expert Blaine Stubblefield, was a casualty of the trip!

I rate this white-knuckle ride through a bygone era four out of five stars. I could not quite give a perfect rating because of the slight pacing issues mentioned above. The title does not necessarily need to be changed, but the book could be improved with a clear indication that Hells Canyon is only one section of a larger story. As is, the balance felt a little off. Also, I found more than ten errors, although these were minor and non-distracting: the print version I read was cleanly put together. Gould did a fantastic job of harnessing his and his pard's memories for posterity to enjoy.

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Barefoot In Hells Canyon
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[Paul Link]

Thank you for the honest and thorough review Your review has definitely piqued my interest in the book, and I'm excited to read about their white-knuckle ride through the rapids and unique encounters, like the drugstore with an old-fashioned soda fountain. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and I look forward to reading more of your reviews in the future.

[James Williams Uzo]

I love memoirs and this seems kike an intriguing one. I'll check it out when I find time to do so. Great review.

[Alice Heritage]

Thank you for the honest and thorough review Your review has definitely piqued my interest in the book, and I'm excited to read about their white-knuckle ride through the rapids and unique encounters, like the drugstore with an old-fashioned soda fountain. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and I look forward to reading more of your reviews in the future.

I'm always amazed by the memories people share! Thank you for reading and commenting.

[Alice Heritage]

I love memoirs and this seems kike an intriguing one. I'll check it out when I find time to do so. Great review.

There's undoubtedly something special about people's personal stories. Thank you for your comment!

[Kavita Shah]

Thank you for an amazing and intriguing review Alice! Yes, what could possibly go wrong with a tight budget and no swim experience in a long trip? I like the way you've composed the review, with a intriguing opening and interesting snippets from the book. Well done!

[Alice Heritage]

Thank you for an amazing and intriguing review Alice! Yes, what could possibly go wrong with a tight budget and no swim experience in a long trip? I like the way you've composed the review, with a intriguing opening and interesting snippets from the book. Well done!

Thank you for your kind comment!

[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

From just one word, "hitchhiking", I am now captured by the book. That activity sounds so interesting to me. I'm pretty sure the book brought an adventurous read for us interested. Your review, Alice, is captivating!

[Meghan Soderholm]

I love reading your reviews, Alice! They are very detailed, honest, and insightful. You and I have the same balance pet peeve. I don't like when a book is “off-balance.” Can’t wait to read more of your reviews!

[Alice Heritage]

From just one word, "hitchhiking", I am now captured by the book. That activity sounds so interesting to me. I'm pretty sure the book brought an adventurous read for us interested. Your review, Alice, is captivating!

It brought back memories of hitchhiking, for example getting stranded in out-of-the-way towns that one never wanted to go to in the first place. But if hitchhiking is dangerous, that's nothing compared to freight hopping!

Thank you for your kind comment.

[Alice Heritage]

I love reading your reviews, Alice! They are very detailed, honest, and insightful. You and I have the same balance pet peeve. I don't like when a book is “off-balance.” Can’t wait to read more of your reviews!

Thanks! I kept thinking, "When are they going to get to Hells Canyon finally?" Not that the rest wasn't great, but ...

Thank you for your kind comment!

[Meghan Soderholm]

I agree. It's really difficult for me to read a book where I have to read "between the lines" in order to figure out the direction of the plot or the significance of the title. You're very welcome! I am learning so much from reading your reviews!

[Kebun Bunga]

The review of "Barefoot in Hells Canyon" by Bryan Gould provides an engaging and detailed account of the memoir. The reviewer effectively sets the stage by describing the daring adventure of two nineteen-year-olds navigating the treacherous Snake River rapids in Hells Canyon. The mention of one being unable to swim and the limited provisions create anticipation for what could go wrong.

The reviewer appreciates the unique perspective of a first-person account from a bygone era. The vivid descriptions and literary style used to depict the journey and encounters along the way add depth to the story. The exclamations of present-day reflections and conversations with the pard offer additional insights and a broader view of the events.

While the reviewer finds the detailed descriptions fascinating, they note that the arrival at Hells Canyon took considerable time, misleading the title. The story's pacing is mentioned as a minor issue, with occasional disruptions caused by present-day chapters. The reviewer suggests improving the balance and indicating that Hells Canyon is just one part of a larger narrative.

The inclusion of a map and the mention of minor errors in the print version are appreciated. Despite these critiques, the review rates "Barefoot in Hells Canyon" with four out of five stars, highlighting the gripping nature of the story and the author's skill in preserving the memories of the adventure.

Overall, the review effectively captures the essence of the memoir and provides constructive feedback for further improvement while acknowledging the book's strengths and the enjoyment it offers readers.