A Walk in the Woods : Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Rating:
Summary: A good book, almost great but not quite
Review: * Spoilers ahead *

This review refers to the Audio CD version. I'll echo another reviewer by saying this book is partly about hiking and partly about Bryson's personal and environmental observations. Having never done any appreciable hiking, I had to take the author's word as to how difficult the AT is, how much he and his friend Katz struggled, etc. That being said, it does sound as if they went through a great deal. The humor is great and helps keep the story moving along even as they trudge ever forward through seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

What kept me from giving this book a full 5 out of 5 stars is that Bryson gets off on a few too many tangents. His opinions on the environment and American ways in general start off as interesting, but then he seems to let them drag on a bit too long each time. The middle part of the book, especially, gets bogged down with long discussions of regional history, geology, etc. Perhaps it's no coincidence that these are the parts of his travels he did alone, without Katz.

Fortunately, Katz returns for the final few chapters and we are once again treated to our Laurel and Hardy of the mountains.

I enjoyed listening to this book and hope that other Bryson works are available in Audio CD format as well.


Rating:
Summary: AT 'lite'
Review: I disliked the book and Bryson.

I found Bryson to be unbelievable. I actually found myself rechecking the cover to make sure this was supposed to be non-fiction. Bryson appears to have a real gift for exaggeration, if not outright lying. Early on, when we meet his friend Katz, Bryson explains that Katz must eat doughnuts around the clock or else he will begin to seize--some sort of brain injury from Katz past drug use, Bryson tells us. This sparked skepticism in my mind that lingered throughout the book. Almost every character Bryson describes thereafter has equally cartoonish features. But that is where he gets most of his laughs: describing how ridiculous and stupid everyone else. When that isn't enough, he resorts to adolescent jokes about characters from the movie 'Deliverance.'

His blurbs about geology, the Forest Service, environmentalism, history, etc. are generally superficial, sometimes incorrect, and certainly not original. There is nothing here that hasn't been hashed around many times before. His attempts at hiking small sections of the trail later on are boring. One day ended in Bryson not even able to find the trail.

If it doesn't matter that Bryson is unable or unwilling to finish the trail, why does he feel it necessary to drive along portions he decided not to hike? Why does he give lame reasons for giving up at various stages? Why does he claim to have truly hiked the AT in the end? I'm not sure he deserves to be on the trail. It is clear that Bryson doesn't appreciate the AT. Complaining about the endless trees and lack of quaint towns like you would find hiking in Luxemburg, he seems most happy in the comfort of a Holiday Inn Express or gorging at a Applebees. Did he really not understand what he was getting in to in the beginnning?




Rating:
Summary: Just what I have come to expect from Bryson-Excellence!
Review: It would seem that Bill Bryson and I enjoyed many of same idyllic misconceptions about the Appalachian Trail that only the uninitiated can harbor. The difference though is that while I got to be dispelled of those fancies sitting in my comfy leather chair Bryson got to learn the hard way... the extremely hard way, by actually attempting to hike it.

Having spent my early childhood near the tail in Virginia the Appalachian had always been something that would tumble through my mind from time to time- something of a distant symbolic power for me. With that background A Walk in the Woods was the perfect Christmas gift and a great read. Bryson and his ill prepared sidekick Stephen Katz provide an often funny, occasionally poignant but always engaging narrative. While the narrative is studded all along with well researched nuggets of history, lore and science as is characteristic of other Bryson books I have read the additional elements of the book that come from the bond that develops between Bryson and Katz was something new to me from his work but blinded in nicely.

The more I read of Bryson's work the more I enjoy it-regardless of if hiking, nature writing, Bryson or the Appalachian Trail itself drew you to this book you will not be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Hold on to your sides...
Review: Truly a funny book. I am not known as an "outdoor" gal, but after reading this wonderful book, I just might try a stroll along the trail. Laughing out loud is so good for one's soul. This author has a terrific way with words and situations--you want to be there and meet these wacky people. I, too, would have opted for a motel every 3 days or so. Am planning on reading more of Bryson's work whenever I travel. I have given this book to many friends, who have enjoyed it and passed it on to others.