Play Book Tag discussion

Bill Bryson writes fairly well, but I read this because I had heard he is funny. He is, but some of this book was also depressing for me. I have known about the environmental issues he discussed almost all of my life (for example, when I was 10 my dad used superior logic to convince me that I couldn't walk everywhere I went but had to ride in a car even if it polluted the air. Even electric cars do because they use electricity which is often generated by burning fossil fuels and various other means, but of course we weren't driving those back then.) So when I pick up a book for its humour, I don't want depressing stuff (that also included murders on the trail, by the way, not just other things.)

Back to the book. I personally would never, ever in my entire life wanted to hike this entire trail. I have backpacked in mountains, but it was part of a much longer program and even though I did it successfully have never once wanted to do it again, and certainly never for so many miles in such uncomfortable conditions. That said, I do, at times, read about people who do this sort of thing.

I learned things about the Appalachian trail, of course, including its history, and may read more books by Bryson. However, I'll vet them first to be sure that any book I read will be fun for the entire book, since that's why I opt to read funny books.

I hated this book. This is one of my least favorite books I have ever read and I'm not sure I'll pick up another book by Bill Bryson since this one made me so mad. His lack of planning and putting himself in situations that could have potentially dire consequences is why volunteer search and rescue organizations have to exist in areas where there are lots of trails. I also remember that he was wrong about several things that he wrote about. I can't remember off the top of my head but I had a few examples in the review I did. This book just made me so mad. lol

Charlotte wrote: "I hated this book. This is one of my least favorite books I have ever read and I'm not sure I'll pick up another book by Bill Bryson since this one made me so mad. His lack of planning and putting ..."

I can see why you'd have hated this. I was quite upset with his lack of training prior to going and other asinine things he did. I waivered between 2 and 3 stars, but in the end decided I liked enough of his humour, etc, that I gave it 3.

While I would never do a hike like this outside of the week I had to for a leadership training program, I was also taught all the right stuff to do. His walking partner was an even bigger idiot.

One thing they didn't have--just one very basic thing, in my mind--was a compass.