Books, Bites, and Sights

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

3/5 stars

My fascination with Jennette McCurdy started as everyone else’s did with her iconic role on the hit TV show I-Carly, but within the last decade she has dialed in on her penmanship – entering her novelist era, and I have been here for it since day one.

I read her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died on my 14 hour international flight to Nepal. I loved it. Her raw, unapologetic voice. I found myself over and over again thinking, “I can’t believe that happened to her,” but also, “OMG. Me too.” Gripping. Shocking. Knee jerking. As life tends to be, McCurdy’s writing follows and doesn’t seem to shy away from her authentic take on life and all its trauma and bullshit.

When I first read she would be publishing a fictional novel, I fangirled. I put myself on an email update list and immediately preordered the book. I listed to her talk about it on all the podcasts and thought, “This novel will be so relatable.” Why? Because (unfortunately), as many of us were, I was preyed on by multiple older, slimmer men from a very young age, including my teachers – similarly to how the main character Waldo is throughout the novel. And because these men had the upper hand in the power dynamic and because I was a susceptible kid searching for belonging, I really thought that their perversity was okay – even desired it and patted myself on the back for it. Bleh! Gag a maggot.

And while Half His Age directly explores these power dynamics I’m referencing above, it had a completely different plot and sparked entirely different internal dialogues in me than I had imagined, even after intently listening to all the podcasts and interviews with McCurdy. So much so, I wondered if the interviewees had even read the book themselves or just created their interview question sets based on the synopsis and not what actually happens in the novel. What do I mean? You really just have to pick the novel up and see for yourself. And if you do, let’s talk afterward. I am dying to have an in-depth, unapologetic conversation with someone about this book.

Stay with me and hear me out readers, I am almost done with this TED Talk – I enjoyed the novel, but truthfully, I enjoyed her memoir more. I don’t think Half His Age belongs on a “You Must Read This Book Now” list, but it was a great debut novel for McCurdy, and I will be here idly waiting for another.

Pinnacles National Park is pretty secluded. Which is great and grand, but if you don’t plan well, you may end up hungry or, as my grandpa would say, shit out of luck. Seriously. There isn’t a cute lil town next door like Zion has and the camp store isn’t its own grocery warehouse with all the things like in Yosemite. So, books, bites, insights? You’ve been warned. Stock up on groceries before driving out.

On a different note, Pinnacles offers some of the most picnicky-picnic vibes of all the parks I’ve been to. Lots of shade. Lots of clean picnic tables with beautiful views. Lots of stop and snack it up places along all the trails. Also, who doesn’t love a classic deli or pb&j sandwich while camping/hiking?

Nothing. NOTHING. Hits better than a sandwich in the woods, on a peak, or along a riverbed with family and friends. So much childhood nostalgia flashes through my mind when taking that first mouthwatering bite into the fluffy white Wonder bread of a quickly slapped together sandwich after a hard day of exploring – and I think we can all relate.

Our picnic fuel: classic deli meat sandwiches one day and simple tuna out the can with avocado the next.

CAMPSITE

Pinnacles Campground is the only campground in the park and after extensive research, one of the few campgrounds I could find remotely near the park. Snagging a spot may take planning but this was by far one of my #fav campsites. The sites are more expensive than most at $60 a night but well worth it. Your site includes access to showers, a pool, ample dumpsters and potable water, and a clean, private site.

HIKES

High Peaks and Balconies Cave Loop (8.5 mile loop): This trail takes you amongst all the iconic highs and lows of the park. It starts with a gentle stroll through a meadow following a creek on the Old Pinnacle Trail. Next, you get to rock scramble through the Balconies Cave – bring a flashlight! After spelunking, the trail begins to wind upward through the Juniper Canyon, my personal favorite portion because you can see the namesake rock spires (pinnacles) off in the distance the entire time. Last, you’ll make your way atop the High Peaks where you can peer out onto the sweeping California-esk valley below. To finish out this trek, you’ll effortlessly descend on the Blue Oak Trail.