Bill Bryson?s, A Walk in the Woods was published by Broadway Books New York, in 1998. A Walk in the Woods is split into two parts and is 274 pages long. The first part describes the first time Bill and his friend hiked the Appalachian Trail and their adventures. While the second part illustrates when Bill decides to take another shot at finishing the trail. This book has a very broad audience, the length makes it seem like a book for older people but teenagers could also enjoy this diary of exploring the Appalachian Trail. Bill?s purpose is to give Americans a taste of the true outdoors and what truly ?roughing it? is like. The book also gives people a better sense of the environment that we live in.
In my opinion I thought that this was a very well written book. I agree with the Miami Herald who said ?[A Walk in the Woods is] a mix of tenderness, humor, and an awakening environmental consciousness.? It is really a well-rounded book. Bryson not only shares the truthful accounts of what occurred on his amazing journey of the Appalachian Trail (AT) but he also shares with us vivid descriptions of the beautiful forests, and mountains along with countless funny stories. This book was so captivating that I just couldn?t put it down.
As mentioned before this book is the actual account of Bryson?s 1996 expedition through the AT. The two main characters are Bill (the author) and his college friend Stephen Katz. A Walk in the Woods takes place in the AT, as well as the towns just off the trail. It starts out with Bryson determined to hike the famous trail, and also find someone to hike with him. After many attempts he still cannot find anybody to hike the approximately 2000-mile trail with him. So finally Bryson asks on his Christmas cards for people interested in hiking with him to give him a call. He waits and waits, when finally an old friend from college named Katz calls and says he would love to hike with him. The rest of the book is a diary almost of the two men?s trek through the AT.
This is not only a travel record of two men?s hiking expeditions but also informs us (the public) of the environment that we live in. The beauty of the environment is one item stressed in this book. Bryson advises his readers many times that they two should enjoy the outdoors, and if possible hike even just a small part of the amazing AT, and it will most definitely inspire them. He also expresses that people take the modern comforts of today for granted, and you don?t realize that you do until you are without them. This book also shares striking statistics about the AT.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend others to read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, the hilarious account of he and his friend?s hike in the Appalachian Trail.
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