tiny pink books

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Harper Collins, 1998

Another perfectly accounted Bill Bryson adventure, this time along the Appalachian Trail, is presented in A Walk in the Woods.  Despite his limited wilderness survival and backpacking experience, Bryson becomes intrigued with the idea of hiking the Appalachian Trail, a more than 2000 mile trail stretching from Georgia to Maine.  His old friend Stephen Katz tags along too, providing just the right dose of humor and drama to round out this travel account into the kind of perfect balance of sarcastic wit, historical fact, ecological science, and emotional drama that makes Bryson’s books so readable.

Bryson presents a good background and history of the trail, and of American wilderness in general, deliverying factual information without every sounding like a textbook.  His humble treatment, particularly his fear of all wild animals, especially bears, makes him a funny and likable narrator.  His attention to the little details, sometimes absurdly so, makes you feel like your traveling with him, from small Southern towns in Georgia to the deepest, darkest woods of Maine.

I think the appeal is also very wide when it comes to A Walk in the Woods.  Backpackers and hikers, of course,  will enjoy it, not just for its scrupulous attnetion to life on the trail, but also for its humorous take on the hardships of backpacking.  I also think that anyone looking for a humorous personal account of travel or a nonfiction book about one of America’s largest, yet possibly least well known landmarks, will also be satisfied with this one.

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Random House, 2001

Everyone likes to learn about Australia!  Okay, maybe not everyone, but as I am planning a visit there soon, I was truly excited to get my hands on this book (I “read” the audio version, a highly coveted, long hold queue item at my public library).  I have read some Bryson before and enjoy the way that he makes travel narratives fun and educational, including just the right amounts of humorous anecdote with thought-provoking fact.  One thing that is clear from In a Sunburned Country is that Bryson has a passion for Australia.  The personal attachment he has for the country interjects itself into every chapter, making the book feel personal in a way that many travel narratives cannot.  In addition to being amusing, In a Sunburned Country is also very educational if you don’t know much about Australia.  A perfect light read for someone craving some non-fiction.  Even more perfect for someone planning (or just dreaming) a visit to Australia someday…

The audiobook is a rare “read by the author” piece that actually isn’t painful! Bryson’s reading tone is simple and proper, delivering this narrative with even more personal flair.