Jungle: A Book Review

Jungle by Yossi Ghinsberg

First thing's first, I have a confession; I watched the movie before reading the book. I can't say I have many regrets in that respect though, because I doubt I would've found the book had I need been so enamoured by the movie. So, to begin, the movie is a gritty, yet illuminating work depicting a man attempting to survive the brutality of the jungle after getting lost. It holds the beauty of life and what it means to go on at its core. I am rarely so moved to tears by a scene I've witnessed hundreds of times before (and yes, it probably has been hundreds because I've forced so many people to watch it with me that the number have really stacked up).

The movie very intimately imitates the mood of the book, so touchingly so that you can feel the passion the director has for Ghinsberg through the screen. But it couldn't have been done without the book.

From the outset, we know that something is going to go wrong. There's hints here and there about how wonderous life would've been during the weeks they were lost had they not traced destiny's footsteps so precisely. The scene is set, and our attention is drawn to their every decision, hyper-focusing on where it all went wrong before we, the readers, even know what really went wrong. I've always been a fan of this branch of foreshadowing - the illusion of control, the illusion that something was ever avoidable. Ghinsberg places the reader in a position of knowledge before their first read so that all, even those who will only ever read once, understand the agony of hindsight. Though this story tells of beauty, this aspect is the strongest remnant of regret, and it feels striking and necessary given that this story is about Ghinsberg's experience. But the disappearance of Marcus isn't something that can be detailed throughout the story because he didn't know that Marcus was even missing until he returned. Despite the stories being so intertwined, to focus on one is to miss out on the other and all that can be said for regret can only be shown through the hindsight of the author, as someone who has already left the experience we are reading about in his past and now lives in a present that Marcus has not returned for. It's a feeling that sticks with you even once you've placed the book down. I found myself searching through hundreds of articles about Marcus and Karl, attempting to satisfy the dissatisfaction of the unknown, especially one so tragic. Knowing full well that a conclusion to my questions couldn't be achieved, I still tried - one testament to the curiosity of humans. To know the unknown is unquenchable.

Ghinsberg's colourful and detailed descriptions of even the most mundane is what truly hooked me, though. To talk for a page about the bramble bushes and frame each visual scene in a new light, despite every turn for the majority of the book being jungle. Yet descriptions of the trees shift back and forth to reflect the hope he feels throughout every moment of his journey are what set this story apart. I'm not usually a fan of anything autobiographical, but Ghinsberg tells experiences like stories, gripping you from the moment he uses his first adjective.

But it isn't all description, much of it is about what he thought out there in the jungle. To remember and relive such moments so intimately with the reader, down to the nitty gritty moment where hope feels as if it's fading and the strength it takes to hoist yourself back up and choose to live, despite everything, is moving. There's vulnerability throughout this story that many people would shy away from when showing the reality of horrifying experiences, but Ghinsberg leans into this, completely letting his guard down to the point where you genuinely feel that you know the person who has written it. It makes you feel familiar, friendly. By the end of the book, you have a fondness and admiration that will spring tears to your eyes, as strong as it would be had it been your own friend who overcame such a trial.

To read the innermost thoughts of someone so mentally strong and so determined to live leaves you mesmerised by the beauty of nature in its aftermath. I found myself deeply appreciating the sunlight that leaked through trees on my walks (Komorebi is the Japanese word for this, it's the most efficient word for describing this specific strand of beauty).

Ghinsberg's will to live is unfathomable, so tremendous that it cannot help being passed onto his readers as we brush against his world. A combination of a good writer and someone with and equally impressive and terrifying experience to tell the world about is lethal. In this case, he knew exactly why he was telling his story from the very first page. This is a testament to life, to being able to find joy in the most awful of places and to respect the challenges the world provides; even the difficult ones can be overcome. It's learning to love who you become and being better than you were before.

This book isn't just words, it's an experience. I'd highly recommend taking it up, even if to just make the world look a little brighter for a while.

5/5

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Next up: Fourth Wing