Author: Bill BrysonGenre: Travelogue
Published: 1998
Personal Rating: 4.25/5
Yearly Count: 70
Bill Bryson with his college buddy, Stephen Katz, take on the Appalachian Trail (AT) without much experience in the great American outdoors. The desired outcome was to complete the 2,100+ mile trail that traverses Georgia to Maine.
Traveling on the AT with Bryson and Katz was the highlight of the book, while the other half, which was dispersed throughout the book, was the preparation and history of the AT. The history was interesting (it really was), but I was so entralled with getting back to walking the trail with the guys that I didn't care to hear it.
Ultimately, the expedition was filled with witty and comical comments, along with some blunders and eye-opening experiences. Katz, being a one-of-a-kind character, together with Bryson, made quite a team. I could have listened to their conversations forever.
I'm about 4 or 5 cahpters into this book at the moment and really enjoying it. I love the way Bryson writes
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed that one too - I'm currently reading his "Short History of Nearly Everything", which is making science enjoyable for me :) (not a science enthusiast)
ReplyDeleteI loved this book. I was literally laughing out loud reading it, luckily only my doctor caught me.
ReplyDeleteKatrina ~ Oh! You have some more fun ahead of you. :)
ReplyDeleteTammy ~ Well, that's a good thing! I think it could be an interesting read. I look forward to your final thoughts.
Carrie K ~ I wanted more! I thought the two of them were so much fun. I loved the quips, as well as the snide remarks.
I tried several times to get into this book, but never could.
ReplyDelete:(
Everyone else I've chatted with loved it...bummer.
J. Kaye ~ I know exactly how you feel. I have read many books that I really wished I had enjoyed. It is a bummer when that happens.
ReplyDeleteVery nice review! This one is on my TBR. I listen to the audio of 'The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. Bryson narrated it himself, which I think really added to it. I love his humor!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVED this book - was a laugh out loud in public book.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stuck in my mind was the discussion on if you should play dead or run like mad if you meet a bear in the wild. He favoured running because it gave you something constructive to do with the last few minutes of your life - LOL
This is the one made me a big Bryson fan.
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to read this one for so long! In fact, I was all set to for the Unread Authors Challenge, but when I went to start it I couldn't find it anywhere amongst our bookshelves, (hubby must have lent it to someone and then forgot) so I ended up reading a different Bryson book. Hubby and I hiked a small piece of the AT for our honeymoon, so I've always thought this would be a fun one. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteTeddy Rose ~ I'm thinking you'll really like this one. Even when they weren't funny, their conversations were intriguing.
ReplyDeleteSally ~ I liked that discussion, too. :)
Bybee ~ What would you suggest for my next Bryson read? You, Bryson-lover, you. :)
Debi ~ Oh Debi, you MUST read this, especially being that you have an AT connection! This book actually made both my husband and me want to walk the trail. You could read it for the 2nds Challenge beginning in September! Plug, plug, plug. :)
This is my favorite Bryson book. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteNyssaneala ~ It seems to be a favorite among most Bryson readers. Did you read others? If so, do the others contain as much humor?
ReplyDeleteKatz cracked me up. I too, enjoyed this book and have been toying with the idea of reading his History of Everything book. Sounds like it is getting good reviews also.
ReplyDelete*smiles*
Kim
Kim ~ I want to read the next funniest. :)
ReplyDeleteI finally finished it! I loved it so much it was a great read and made me want to go off and hike - although in flat East Anglia I'd be lucky to find a small hill let alone a mountain! My full review is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://katrinasreads.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-thoughts-walk-in-woods-bill-bryson.html
Katrina ~ I left a comment on your blog. :)
ReplyDeleteJoy, my husband read this years ago and I remember that he really liked it. Glad you did, as well.
ReplyDeleteMary ~ It's a good men and women's book. :)
ReplyDeleteI snagged this book as an ARC in 97(?) and took it with us to Maine. We went hiking and I kept thinking my hubby Bryson and myself Katz! Oh, this can of essential food is too heavy. I'll just throw it out, but I have to save the chocolate! :)
ReplyDeleteMaggie ~ You're probably thinking . . . now why did she put this on the Southern Reading Challenge. Right? Well, I decided the part in Georgia and running into the people down there was a fit. Also, I knew that I would be reading more southern novels that would qualify without question, so I wasn't concerned. I'm actually reading Mudbound now and really enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI thought chocolate was an essential food. :)