A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
By Bill Bryson
You can view this book's Amazon detail page here.
Bill Bryson’s dry sense of humor makes what would otherwise be a really basic story a terrific one. This book is in no way as funny as his Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid (http://www.2-speed.com/library/bill-bryson/the-life-and-times-of-the-thunderbolt-kid-a-memoir/) which, as George Carlin once said, “made me pass an entire grilled cheese sandwich through my nose” because I laughed so hard. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few belly laughs, but for the most part, I read the book with a smile on my face.
The story is about Bryson’s attempt to hike the entire Appalachian Trail (AT). There are few characters in the book, but Bryson seems to get the most out of each one of them. Between quips about the the AT, his walking partner, the people he meets and the towns he visits, he inserts a boatload of information about the trail, the environment and history. It’s quite informative. He gets a little preachy at times, but that’s an entirely minor element of the book.
A very enjoyable quick read. Lot’s of laughs.
- Started reading:
- 4th November 2010
- Finished reading:
- 14th November 2010