The Next Best Thing to Hiking the Appalachian Trail Yourself
Written: Oct 29 '01
Product Rating:
Pros: Simply wonderful - tells the joys and challenges of walking the Appalachian Trail.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: Highly recommended if you ever want to someday walk the AT, or if you'd like to know about what it's like but don't want to break a sweat.
thessa's Full Review: Bill Bryson - A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering A...
I've always had this secret desire to someday hike the Appalachian Trail with my belongings in a backpack on my back, so when I spotted this audio cassette book in the library, I was eager to get it home and listen.
I've only just recently discovered the joys of audio books. One of the things I've found, however, is that some readers can really detract from listening enjoyment. I'd never read or listened to any of Bill Bryson's books before this one, so I was hoping he would be pleasing to listen to. I wasn't disappointed.
Bill Bryson reads his own book. His voice is clear and easy to understand without having the "speech-major" quality that can sometimes, in my opinion, detract from an audio book. One of the wonderful things about getting the audio book rather than just buying the book is that you'll hear his inflection and hear him smile as he relates funny experiences on the trail.
Bill tells about gearing up for the trail and how a sort of distant, out-of-shape friend agrees to join him. His friend is a bit ditzy, always making strange, impulsive decisions, such as throwing out most of their food because his pack is too heavy. He also often lags behind, huffing and puffing til Bill has to backtrack and make sure he's still okay. At one point the friend gets lost in the woods but eventually Bill finds him.
If you've ever wondered what it would be like to walk the Appalachian Trail, listening to the audio book is really the next best thing. It gives you an insider's view of some of the worries, the exhaustion, the relief, and the sense of accomplishment, and it does it all with occasional humor.
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...More at HotBookSale
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...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.