A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail) Review

I have to be honest -- as someone who loves the outdoors and who likes to hike a little, the Appalachian Trail is one of those things that I've known about. Truth be told, it would be cool to thru-hike it. BUT, the reality is I'll never do it. So, to see a book like this, it gives readers the feel of what it would be like out there.

Two people recommended this book to me and I'm glad they did. It's one I am glad I read.

If you are looking for a book that shows you every mile of the Appalachian Trail and about how great and successful of a hike this can be, look elsewhere.

If you are looking for an entertaining read and the reality of what is this amazing trail, look no further.

Bill Bryson delivers a wonderful story of the trail, hiking with a long-lost friend, realities of the trail and how hard and demanding a trip like this can be. It's not all pie and candy, that's for sure. Bryson gives readers a view of the trail in many different ways and mixes in a history lesson at times, too.

He's witty, funny and, at times, emotional. He shows how hard this trip can be and what it can do to a person. The wear and tear to a person's body and mind and what it's like to be away from loved ones for so long. I laughed many times throughout the book at Bryson and his traveling pal, Katz.

This book also gives you a real respect for those that make it through this whole trail. Bryson and Katz did a lot, but it's almost incredibly amazong to know how much they actually did when it's all said and done.

The ending is fitting -- and one I almost saw coming with how the book went.

If you are thinking of hiking this trail, or just like the stories and tales about it, this book is a good one. It gives you a glimpse of people and life on the trail and some of the most wonderful things you'll ever see. It's worth every penny and an excellent read.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail) Feature

• ISBN13: 9780767902526
• Condition: New
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A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail) Overview

Back in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. The AT offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes--and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings.

For a start there's the gloriously out-of-shape Stephen Katz, a buddy from Iowa along for the walk. Despite Katz's overwhelming desire to find cozy restaurants, he and Bryson eventually settle into their stride, and while on the trail they meet a bizarre assortment of hilarious characters. But A Walk in the Woods is more than just a laugh-out-loud hike. Bryson's acute eye is a wise witness to this beautiful but fragile trail, and as he tells its fascinating history, he makes a moving plea for the conservation of America's last great wilderness. An adventure, a comedy, and a celebration, A Walk in the Woods is destined to become a modern classic of travel literature.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail) Specifications

Your initial reaction to Bill Bryson's reading of A Walk in the Woods may well be "Egads! What a bore!" But by sentence three or four, his clearly articulated, slightly adenoidal, British/American-accented speech pattern begins to grow on you and becomes quite engaging. You immediately get a hint of the humor that lies ahead, such as one of the innumerable reasons he longed to walk as many of the 2,100 miles of the Appalachian Trail as he could. "It would get me fit after years of waddlesome sloth" is delivered with glorious deadpan flair. By the time our storyteller recounts his trip to the Dartmouth Co-op, suffering serious sticker shock over equipment prices, you'll be hooked.

When Bryson speaks for the many Americans he encounters along the way--in various shops, restaurants, airports, and along the trail--he launches into his American accent, which is whiny and full of hard r's. And his southern intonations are a hoot. He's even got a special voice used exclusively when speaking for his somewhat surprising trail partner, Katz. In the 25 years since their school days together, Katz has put on quite a bit of weight. In fact, "he brought to mind Orson Welles after a very bad night. He was limping a little and breathing harder than one ought to after a walk of 20 yards." Katz often speaks in monosyllables, and Bryson brings his limited vocabulary humorously to life. One of Katz's more memorable utterings is "flung," as in flung most of his provisions over the cliff because they were too heavy to carry any farther.

The author has thoroughly researched the history and the making of the Appalachian Trail. Bryson describes the destruction of many parts of the forest and warns of the continuing perils (both natural and man-made) the Trail faces. He speaks of the natural beauty and splendor as he and Katz pass through, and he recalls clearly the serious dangers the two face during their time together on the trail. So, A Walk in the Woods is not simply an out-of-shape, middle-aged man's desire to prove that he can still accomplish a major physical task; it's also a plea for the conservation of America's last wilderness. Bryson's telling is a knee-slapping, laugh-out-loud funny trek through the woods, with a touch of science and history thrown in for good measure. (Running time: 360 minutes, four cassettes) --Colleen Preston

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