My brother has been trying to get me to read Bill Bryson for ages but I always thought that he enjoyed hem because they where written about places he had been to (he's travelled the world twice - I've been to 3 countries outside England!). I tried Byrson's book on Shakespeare, thought it was ok but I didn't learn much as I studied Shakespeare so often I've pretty much got the gist of the little bit of information there is to no about him.
So, when I saw that this was a bookring on Bookcrossing and I could read it just for the price of postage I signed up for it. And I'm so glad I did! I hadn't even heard of the Appalachian Trail that Bryson and his friend hike up across several states of America, I have no interest in hiking (well I hadn't when I started) and I'm not much of a non-fiction fan so it was a great surprise to enjoy this.
Bryson charts his trail, the problems, boredom, his annoyance at fellow hikers alongside an entertaining account of the history and nature of the trail. He writes so well that I felt that I could see the woods surrounding him, feel his frustration at Kratz his fellow hiker and at theAmerican government for not keeping the trail as well preserved as it should be. He comes across as a really interesting guy with a lot to say but with the ability to keep it short and focused.
I will certainly be digging out the copy of The Short History of Nearly Everything that has been lurking on my bookshelves since it got brought.
If you have read this book feel free to comment or leave a link to your own review.
2 comments:
I agree about the Shakespeare book. It's definitely the one with which to start Bryson, but the one you did read is. I also definitely recommend A Short History of Nearly Everything, which is brilliant.
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I'm so glad you liked this as much as I did! Fun stuff! :) I've heard good things about A Short History of Nearly Everything and now another positive comment by Bryan. Hmmm, I may have to add it to my TBR list!
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