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5.0 out of 5 stars
Beware of the Bears, July 22, 2011
This review is from: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America Along the Appalachian Trail (Mass Market Paperback)
Hiking is probably my favorite non-professional activity. If I could, I would probably go on a long hike every single day. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I am way too busy with my other personal and professional responsibilities, and where I live there aren't that many good hiking opportunities. So I cherish all the opportunities that I get to go on the long hikes, and sometimes when I am feeling more ambitious I fantasize about going on one of the really long trails, such as the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and of course the Appalachian trail. At this point going on any one of these trails for a "thru hike" (i.e. from one end of the trail to the other in a single hike) seems highly unlikely, so I was really happy to read "A Walk in the Woods" for a visceral enjoyment of following Bill Bryson along the Appalachian Trail.
"A Walk in the Woods" is in many respects vintage Bryson - funny, irreverent, informative, sprinkled with a heavy dose of personal experiences. Many people consider this to be his best, or at least most entertaining, book. The narrative, just like the trail itself, is linear. Bryson and his companion started the trek at the southern end of the trail in March, hoping to finish it in Maine before the really cold winter weather set in. Even seasoned hikers would probably encounter many hardships and setbacks on a hike of this magnitude, and people like Bryson who are self-admittedly not in the best of physical shapes would have a particularly hard time, at least in the initial stages of the journey. Indeed, the slow acclimatization to the trail and the increasing realization of the sheer enormity of such an undertaking provide much of the impetus behind the narrative in this book. Bryson is a masterful storyteller, and he has a particular knack for describing and capturing the people and their various personal foibles. This turns out to be one of the most charming aspects of this book. Even though Appalachian Trail goes through thousands of miles of largely pristine wilderness, one is bound to encounter many colorful characters at various stages of the journey.
This is a very charming and well-written book, and weather you are a big fan of Bryson's writings or are an avid outdoors enthusiast you'll find many aspects of this book to be exceptionally interesting and entertaining.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Into the Woods!, August 24, 2011
This review is from: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America Along the Appalachian Trail (Mass Market Paperback)
This book was a fun read. It also had some interesting facts about the Appalachian Trail that was eye-opening for me. I did not know too much about the trail before (except to say that I had hiked just a bit of it for awhile) but learned to love the mere thought of its existence. Enjoy the chuckles as you read about one of the purest treasures of America.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
great book, July 25, 2011
This review is from: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America Along the Appalachian Trail (Mass Market Paperback)
Loved this book, have read other Bryson books, and this one is the best by far...veryyy informative but not to the point of being boring and dry..
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