A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
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- ISBN13: 9780307279460
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the additional hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the fantastic outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).Amazon.com Review
Your initial result 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 starts to grow on you and becomes reasonably engaging. You immediately get a hint of the humor that lies yet to be, 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 language for his to some extent surprising trail partner, Katz. In the 25 years since their school days together, Katz has place on reasonably a bit of weight. In fact, “he brought to mind Orson Welles after a very terrible night. He was limping a small and breathing harder than one ought to after a walk of 20 yards.” Katz regularly 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 leader has painstakingly researched the history and the building 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 amusing trek through the woods, with a touch of science and history thrown in for excellent measure. (Running time: 360 minutes, four cassettes) –Colleen Preston
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A fantastic book to read if you are looking for a way to escape reality for a bit. I loved it a lot. If you want to another read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a gorgeous tale of unrequited like. . .for certain the like tale of the nineties. I proposed to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the tale that I couldn’t place the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter’s battle with lupus and her growing like for Don Lipton. This like, in the face of Julie’s impending death, makes for a tale that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are fantastic, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I’ve never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie’s tale will remind your readers that life and like are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I’m grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to weep. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for a name who ongoing college late in life, fell in like too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to know a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever.
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
I read the first chapter. Then I chose not to read the whole book through. I skipped to the third chapter. I read a few words here and there, then i read the last page. I don’t care what anyone says, I have read A Walk in the Woods.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
At first a wonderful read, until page 250. The leader is conversing with a christian couple. He questions them if theu have ever thought of quitting (the hike). Their response: “we had a couple of low moments in the early phases but we place our faith in the lord and His will prevailed” The wife adds “Praise Jesus”
Then the leader writes:
“I made a mental note to lock the door when I went to bed”
Now what posessed him to make such needlessly unpleasant remark IN PRINT about a decent couple he met briefly. This book is going to be pitched in the trash.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
If this book were a movie, it would have an R-Rating. Many “four letter” words and some haltingly hideous “humor”.
This book does have some helpful information on a few detestable diseases that a hiker might be infected with. Encephalitis, Lyme Disease, and Hantavirus. This book has some brilliant information on the history of The Appalachian Examination (AT). This book has some helpful information on trail sense and hiking preparedness.
A reader who is a Christian might be very offended by several parts of this book. Also, a reader who likes the South, especially Georgia and Tennessee, might be insulted by several parts of this book.
Still, a very excellent book, and an entertaining book in many places. Lots of laughs in copious places.
Trail tip from this reviewer: When hiking, I regularly carry a tiny plastic container of glass cleaner with a small bit of rubbing ALCOHOL added to it. Note: Rubbing alcohol and ammonia are very toxic if swallowed. I use glass cleaner that has AMMONIA in it. You see, ammonia and rubbing alcohol are both disinfectants. When I find a tick on me, I address and promptly toss the tick, then I apply this mixture to my fingers, etc. Applied to places where the tick came into the most sustained contact with my body. This may decrease the danger of the ghastly diseases that ticks can and do sometimes carry.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
Well, lets see we have two clueless yankees that can not hike more than five to ten so called treacherous miles in March in Northern Georgia and Tennessee lacking of course (finding a hotel and resting a couple of days. And lets see everyone in the South is ignorant if they are not saving the behinds of these two moroons. Oh yes, walking ten miles and complaining. In mortal agony. Did not even know how to place up a single man tent. Frightened to no end from black bears and wolves????from georgia????? Yes they made it 30 percent of the way, of course, half that was taken admittingly by a taxi cab. And yes, they are smart, and everyone from the South is like a idiot. Kinda of got a luagh out of it myself. Since I walk around my back yard- more than they did on this excursion. Thought I was getting a book about hiking the AT, what I got was a moaning book about how Iam out of shape and cant hack it and yes like people from the south is idoits. Didn’t buy it. Didn’t End it!
Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5