Home :: Books :: Audiocassettes  

Arts & Photography
Audio CDs
Audiocassettes

Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Investing
Children's Books
Christianity
Comics & Graphic Novels
Computers & Internet
Cooking, Food & Wine
Entertainment
Gay & Lesbian
Health, Mind & Body
History
Home & Garden
Horror
Literature & Fiction
Mystery & Thrillers
Nonfiction
Outdoors & Nature
Parenting & Families
Professional & Technical
Reference
Religion & Spirituality
Romance
Science
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Sports
Teens
Travel
Women's Fiction
A Walk in the Woods : Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Cassette)

A Walk in the Woods : Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Cassette)

List Price: $25.95
Your Price: $17.13
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 .. 76 >>

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A true piece of American Pie
Review: What I enjoyed most about this book was the writing style of it's author, Bill Bryson. He is witty, intelligent, knowlegdeable, and easily read, all at the same time.

The book (non-fiction and usually found in a travel section of a book store) centers around the existence of the appalachian trail in the eastern U.S.. After spending years away from America, in the boorish land of the Brits, Bill discovers the trail and decides to hike it from end to end. Initially he has trouble finding someone willing to go on this extended hike with him, but then an old school chum, Steven Katz, calls up and decides to join him. The two are a rumbling, bumbling, out of shape and disjointed pair that have you chuckling many times as you read on. Hiking the trail isn't an easy thing to do with your life on your back, or so they soon discover. But they plod along and along the way the reader gets some interesting history behind the trails establishment, the people they meet along it's course, the states that they amble through, and the general decay of their minds as they begin to see nothing but mile upon mile upon mile upon mile of trail ahead of them.

Did they hike the appalachian trail though? That is a question that each reader will have to answer for themselves. I think they did. I've hiked many miles in Alaska and I know what it's like to be on trails like that. They hiked it! Trust me!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Walk in the Woods
Review: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is a marvelous description of the Appalachian Trail and it's history. The outrageously funny nature of it and the bond of friendship between two men makes the journey of reading the book worth taking. I personally love the book and I think that anyone would too. Bryson incorporates his entire journey along the Appalachian Trail with facts of the trail's history and the present day situation with the National Parks Service. His book gives you an appreciation for the 300 people who hike the entire 2,200 miles through the wind, snow, rain, and heat. In the book, Bill Bryson reunites with his childhood friend, Stephen Katz, for A Walk in the Woods. The Appalachian Trail offers an astonishing landscape of undisturbed forests and deep-blue lakes. Bryson also tells the story of Katz and himself with all the problems they face along the way. Both of the men are extremely unfit and encounter many problems in the beginning because of each other's different personalities. Not only do they encounter hilarious characters along the way, but even strange towns. Bryson not only tells us about his travels along the fragile Appalachian Trail, but he informs us of its fascinating history and makes a plea for the conservation of the most widely known trail in North America. Everything along the trail has to do with Biology and Ecology and the entire book is insightful about the wildlife and the landscape. Throughout the whole story, there are only about two main characters: Katz and Bryson. Both characters are hilariously funny and each is completely the opposite from the other. A Walk in the Woods takes place sometime in 1990's and from spring to late summer. In conclusion, A Walk in the Woods is an extremely well written book and is definitely a must read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and comedy. You'll even learn something about the history, wildlife, and landscape. It is by far the best travel book on the market today.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very Entertaining
Review: Bryson's stories of his trip up the Appalachian trail were amusing and brought a smile to my face as I read. His story made me want to grab a backpack and head out for a day-hike. I also found the background information on the history of the trail very interesting. This is a must-read for anyone interested in taking on the trail.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I don't care what anyone says
Review: I read the first chapter. Then I decided not to read the whole book through. I skipped to the third chapter. I read a few words here and there, then i read the last page. I don't care what anyone says, I have read A Walk in the Woods.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A charming, informative, and just-plain-fun read!
Review: This book is for anyone who likes to walk and enjoy nature. Mr. Bryson is a terrific writer, and I didn't realize till after I had bought the book that I had read another of his, The Mother Tongue, which I also loved. So I happily started in on this one, and he doesn't disappoint. I learned a lot about the Appalachian Trail (well, I hardly knew anything to begin with), but also learned about the National Park Service, along with some history of the eastern U.S., including the town of Centralia in Pennsylvania, which was vacated because of the coal seams under it burning out of control. He brings to his writing the perspective of having lived abroad for 20 years, along with a lively curiosity and sense of humor. There were places in this book that had me laughing till I cried. But when I read about the chestnut trees and birds that are now extinct, I just cried for the waste. This book is a pretty fast read, but that is partly because you just can't put it down.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Intelligent and Funny!
Review: I have been thinking about thru-hiking lately, so I decided what better way to decide if I want to or not than by reading a book about it? This book is about two men who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail, and although they did not finish or hike the entire length, they certainly did hike the Appalachian Trail!

Bryson and Katz are two hilarious, fat, old guys that decide to hike the trail, just 'cuz. It is a great story about their turmoils and proud moments and they sure take the reader on a fun journey across the landscape of the eastern United States!

Bryson provides a witty and hilarious travel narrative with this book! I laughed out loud several times (which I almost never do at books!) and also learned a lot of interesting facts about the trail in a very entertaining manner. I really enjoyed this read, it is fun and smart and a true gem!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: horrible, negative inaccurate portray of southerners
Review: As an avid Appalachian trail hiker, I was given A Walk in the Woods as a gift that took me four months to read because I was so angry at Bill's depiction of Southerners and condition of the trail. Bill rants about facts that he got from the Wilderness Society handbook that I have seen first hand as factually incorrect. He talked down about the people that he met and was negative about the whole journey. I had a goal of finishing the book so that I could give an honest depiction of the book. I love the trail and southern culture, and there are many great tales far better than A Walk in the Woods such as the story of the blind man who walks the whole trail,Blind Courage by Bill Irwin.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Walk in the Woods-a good book
Review: In "A Walk in the Woods", Bill Bryson took me on the Appalachian Trail himself. He made me feel like I was walking along with him and Katz. He put the book together so well. It was funny, adventurous, and informational. I learned so much that I could not get out of an ordinary textbook. Even though this book is basically for adults, children would like it too. Bryson took a story that could be boring and bland and turned it into a great adventure. He made me want to take the trail myself. It seemed like it changed Bryson and especially Katz's life forever. They got through something that they didn't think they could get through at the beginning of the trip. Bill Bryson could be a true role model.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointing book.
Review: I purchased this book and begin reading, finding the first few chapters someone appealing, with some bit of laughable humor. After the first few chapters, I had to make myself finish this read. If your looking for the book to follow its title, then stop. If you want this book to be 10% title and 90% American History, then read it. Anyhow, how do you say that your walking the AT, and end up skipping over half of it and driving parts that you do say you are walking. I think that the author needs also to have a lesson in respect. Not everyone that he encounters can be stupid, ignorant, and should be made fun of.
But then again, none of us will never understand his thinking of being much better, smarter, and wiser than the few people he did meet on his little walk. I found myself hoping through the last of the book that he would at least encounter his tremendous fear of " A bear in the woods". At least it would have maybe brought some delight to the reading, and who knows, with his apparent fear, he might have made it all the way across the AT......... running. The author could take a mighty lesson from Peter Jennings and his books.... A walk Across America.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Walk of Hilarity
Review: Bill Bryson, the author of this book and many others, has decided to take a walk through the notorious Appalachian Trail, a.k.a. the AT. After reading many books on the AT and books on what to do in the case of a bear attack he decides he needs a partener. He teams up with his old highschool friend Stephen Katz, (because no one else will go with him), and trudge along the scenic AT. Along the journey Bryson and Katz encounter many problems and many chracacters that travel the AT. Whn you are not laughing at Katz's obsenity and sarcasm along the trail, you will learn some history and facts about the AT and towns in the same area. Bryson has completed another well written book that I recommend you read. It is a wonderful factual story that will keep you reading until the end.


<< 1 2 3 4 .. 76 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates