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

Rating:
Summary: Humorous but less than honest
Review: I had high hopes for this book after reading the first few chapters. This was where Bryson shines with accounts of humorous situations and his often amusing (and a bit deprecating) descriptions of people. Bryson's goal and his efforts to thru-hike the AT are admirable. Hiking for six weeks and 500 miles is an achievement to be proud of but I felt I wasn't being told the whole story when the goal of a nonstop thru-hike faded away with little explanation. Suddenly there were phases or sections to the venture. There was an unconvincing explanation about why they just had to get out of Tennessee. Somehow the irrational demands of creationists in Tennessee created an intolerable environment on the Appalachian Trail. Say what? If this was a joke it wasn't up to Bryson's usual wit. He seemed quite serious. Soon afterwards Bryson and his hiking partner, Katz, were at the end of the first section of the hike. Just how and when the hike was divided into sections is not explained but was mentioned offhandedly as if they were planning to do this hike in intervals all along. The rest of the book is a frantic effort to save the project; not to thru-hike the AT, but to gather enough material for a book it seems. The hike then became not a walk in the woods but a job to get anecdotes about various sections of the trail. The second half of the book is as disjointed as the hike itself and not very satisfying to read. Others have written that they felt Bryson's pain and disappointment. I felt his panic in getting material to justify what was probably a huge publisher's advance. While I applauded Bryson's and Katz's attempt, I was disappointed in telling of the attempt. If the reasons for venture's partial failure and for the diversions were as honestly portrayed as the daily ordeals and interactions on the trail, A Walk in the Woods would have been a far better book.

Rating:
Summary: Just funny.
Review: Great book. There were several parts where I thought I would pee my pants. Bill writes VERY well. If you want to do some serious hiking, this book is great for the beginner or average hiker. Plus it's just funny.

Rating:
Summary: humor-based education
Review: Bill Bryson's A WALK IN THE WOODS is extremly informative and humorous at the same time. He makes very valid points about the status of Americas environment and the danger it faces. If you want to learn more about the politics involved with the maintanence of Americas beauty, and be entertained by an author who is not shy to poke fun at himself and his travel companion, then this is definitly for you.

Rating:
Summary: "Laugh And Learn"
Review: This is a nature book for non-nature people. Really works because it deals with two guys who are not experienced hikers. The writing is down to earth and loaded with wise crack observations. Bryson's companion, Katz, rules! If there is one man who shouldn't be hiking the AT, it's him. All along the way the two encounter all sorts of bizzare, interesting and friendly people. Mary Ellen was the best! Perhaps THE MOST ANNOYING WOMAN ON THE PLANET! The scenes with her were a riot! Bryson's observations on the Trail, its flora and fauna, its history, its future are done wonderfully. He does a good job of putting you on the AT, going through blizzards and heatwaves, sleeping in rickety wooden shelters buried in the woods and walking through little unheard of towns along the Trail. The book drags for a bit about 3/4 of the way through when Bryson hits Pennsylvania. Probably because PA is the worst part of the Trail. But his exploits there end with a hysterical scene where he's dealing with a security guard who thinks his badge gives him the right to act like Idi Amin. Want to know all about the AT? Get this book.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, Wonderful!
Review: This is a well-written, lively and entertaining book. As the solicitor for the little town of Centralia, PA, which the author visited, and as a native son of the nearby town of Mount Carmel, where he had a meal, I felt personally involved in the author's travels on the Trail. The writing is crisp, with a deep sense of humor that made the reading time pass so very quickly.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent eye opener for those unfamiliar with the AT
Review: This was a very humorous and enlightening book. This is probably not for serious hikers or those wanting hard-core material on the AT. This is an insight to the adventure taken by two men on the AT. Yep, they took shortcuts. Yep, they wandered off the trail. The book, though, is very insightful about life on the AT and those you encounter. Very well written, very funny, easy and fast to read.

Rating:
Summary: Going hiking and camping, novice? Then READ THIS BOOK!
Review: From the title of this book, you might assume that this is another "bonding with nature in a spiritual sense" type of work. Well, it's not. Or, maybe it is. At any rate, it's an hilarious look at exactly what many novice campers and hikers go through when they get involved with the real deal. Bryson's account of his adventures on the trail is laced with unassuming humor and humility. And after reading this book, you'll probably agree that those two traits are probably necessary for any "city folk" who try to tame the trail. This book doesn't follow the script that you might expect, and that's what makes it so darn funny and real. No pretense here; you find out exactly what the author brought back from his trek (and what he left there). I truly could not put this book down and don't remember the last time I laughed so much while learning even more.

Rating:
Summary: Misery Is Great Company
Review: Bill Bryson's wit is reminiscent of J.D. Salinger's, and that's not bad company. The book almost always kept me in stitches, laughing out loud. I found his tellings of some of the tragedies of the AT a bit disturbing, especially because they were sandwiched between humorous anecdotes. On the whole, though, this is a magnum opus for all to read. It was like hiking with Holden Caulfield. A great read!

Rating:
Summary: Laughing all the way!
Review: Bryson's humor is priceless! They say timeing is everything and every time I started to feel bogged down in history and facts, he threw in a one liner that cracked me up.

Rating:
Summary: A delightful stroll through the woods
Review: This was my first experience with this author and i will venture to say it won't be my last. Definitly funny, wonderfully informative, a very distinct look into the author's experience's both on the trail and in life. Full of jovial discontent but still keeps hiking the AT an attractive prospect. I was most impressed by the desciptions of the Shenandoah National Park, and now plan to hike there myself next spring. I hope the reader of this review would take the time to read this wonderful book.