vinibaggio reviewed A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (Bill Bryson and Stephen Katz, #2)
Review of 'A Walk in the Woods' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
3.5
Entertaining, but that's it.
Rediscovering America Along the Appalachian Trail Bill Bryson and Stephen Katz, #2
Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages
English language
Published Dec. 25, 2006 by Seal Books.
God only knows what possessed Bill Bryson, a reluctant adventurer if ever there was one, to undertake a gruelling hike along the world's longest continuous footpath—The Appalachian Trail.
The 2,000-plus-mile trail winds through 14 states, stretching along the east coast of the United States, from Georgia to Maine. It snakes through some of the wildest and most spectacular landscapes in North America, as well as through some of its most poverty-stricken and primitive backwoods areas.
With his offbeat sensibility, his eye for the absurd, and his laugh-out-loud sense of humour, Bryson recounts his confrontations with nature at its most uncompromising over his five-month journey.
An instant classic, riotously funny, A Walk in the Woods will add a whole new audience to the legions of Bill Bryson fans.
3.5
Entertaining, but that's it.
This is a good and very funny book that offers both the description of the author's adventures on the AT and many facts about the trail and its history. I fully enjoyed reading it. I felt that the author sometimes tries little too hard to make things funny and this results in a feeling that he might be embellishing his stories a bit. But I did not mind that too much since the book made me laugh out loud many times.
At first I was disappointed that Bill Bryson didn't narrate the audiobook, but Rob McQuay was fantastic.
Fun and interesting read! It is a great mix of information, opinion and humor. It makes me want to go for a hike in the woods right now (a day-hike that is).
Had some trouble in the beginning getting the right groove for this, but after the first 40 pages or so started to thoroughly enjoy the book. While I do not agree with the author on all acerbic observations, it's an excellent reminder of the potential trials and majesty the wilderness has to offer.
Follow Bryson and his friend down the A.T. Watch them hike, out of shape and unprepared. Listen to them bicker and moan about hunger. And learn a little bit about the history of the trail and environmental issues as you traverse the US.
Mostly interesting, I found some parts to be boring, a few exceedingly so, but still a good read. If Bryson's goal was to get my old butt to want to get back on the trail and connect with nature, then mission accomplished. Three stars.
There is no point in hurrying because you are not actually going anywhere. However far or long you plod, you are always in the same place: in the woods. It’s where you were yesterday, where you will be tomorrow. The woods is one boundless singularity.
I listened to the audiobook and Bill Bryson's narration added to the humour and retelling of his time on the Appalachian Trail. I found the mix of trail memories, facts and history of trails in America to be the right blend.
I laughed aloud several times at the exploits of Bryson and Katz, became invested their hike and also dreaded entering the 100 Mile Forest in Maine. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the outdoors, laughing at others who are not prepared for an undertaking of this size and those who think they could spend several weeks hiking on a trail.
Great fun for those of who dream of through-hiking the Appalachian Trail but can't quite make it.
Another excellent book from Bill Bryson. He is at times funny and sobering. Mixing personal anecdotes and absurdity of his experience with the good and bad facts about the landscape, towns, and wilderness around the Appalachian Trail. I was saddened by the realities of the actions of the Forest Service and by the government in their infinite wisdom, yet was heartened by the outcomes of benign neglect. I laughed and was inspired by Bryson's experience.