How can one's trek through the woods and America be so interesting? Bill Bryson, author of I'm a Stranger Here Myself and A Walk in the Woods, somehow weaves together stories from his life, interesting facts, and humor into two extremely different, but interesting books.
…more One could not read a chapter of the book without some sort of giggle, that may soon evolve into a hysterical laugh.
I'm a Stranger Here Myself is a collection of articles that Bryson wrote while living in America that he sent to his British publisher. He describes his adventures that would usually seem dull, but Bryson writes with such a wit that you can not help but find his enterprises humorous, no matter what he writes about. The style of the book itself is very lighthearted. Bryson describes his return to America after 30 years in England with a sense of nostalgia, but he always points out why America is a great place to live. The chapters in this book were once articles in a magazine, so they are short and precise. Each one is designed to entertain you for as long as the article lasts. There is no continuation between the chapters, so it is a great book to read for a short time when you have a few minutes to spare. However, once one has started to read the book, it is difficult to put it down.
A Walk in the Woods is a different type of book. In this book Bryson describes his hike through the Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz. Katz himself is a great source of humor, almost always grumbling and bringing lightheartedness to any situation, even if he doesn't mean it. The book doesn't just analyze Bryson's and Katz's journey through the Appalachian Trail, it is also broken up by interesting facts about the trail, like how it came to be and how it has developed over the years. In almost every chapter you are bound to find at least one page devoted to some kind of historical fact. Though the information is usually interesting, it sometimes tends to make the reading a bit dry.
Each book has a lot of good qualities about them. They both make for easy reads and will to appeal to a large audience. I'm a Stranger Here Myself, though written for a British audience, any audience can relate to the stories that he has to tell. “No it will be great. We'll get sand in our hair, our shoes, our sandwiches and then our mouths. We'll get sunburned and windburned. And when we get tired of sitting, we can have a paddle in water so cold it actually hurts. At the end of the day we'll set off at the same time as 37,000 other people and get in such a traffic jam that we won't get home till midnight.” The way Bryson writes in this novel is filled with sarcasm. The above excerpt relates to something almost everyone has done, gone to a beach. He tells the story humorously enough that it doesn't matter if you agree with his opinion or not, it's still funny.
A Walk in the Woods can be read by anyone. The story may be about an odyssey through the Appalachian Trail, but hikers will not be the only ones drawn to the book. Bryson starts out his adventure quite excited, but this quickly changes to despair when he realizes how long the AT (as he affectionately grows to call it) is. Not just people who are thinking or preparing to go on the trail would find it amusing and interesting. Anyone who just wants to read a book that they will find both factual and entertaining should read the story. It isn't just a story about hiking, but a story of two friends who take on something they weren't ready to handle. Some of the highlights of the story are when they encounter the most unusual characters along the trail. But another driving point in the story is the interaction between the two main characters, Bryson and Katz. There relationship is so odd and dynamic, that is hard to believe you are reading a nonfiction book. The two characters are so distinct that you would never believe they would be friends, and the interactions they have are hilarious. Bryson also encounters other amusing people that leads to comical confrontations. Bryson tries ordering a cab and this only leads to amusement for the audience:
“ 'How much would it be to take two of us to Ernestville?' I asked.
'Dunno,' came the reply.
This threw me slightly. 'Well, how much do you think it would be?'
'Dunno'
'But its just down the road.'
There was considerable silence and then the voice said: 'Yup.'
'Haven't you ever taken anybody there before?'
'Nope'
'Well it looks to me on my map like it's about twenty miles. Would you say that's about right?'
Another pause. 'Might be.'
'How much would it be to take us twenty miles?'
'Dunno.'
I looked at the receiver. 'Excuse me, but I just have to say this. You are more stupid than a paramecium.' “
The whole book is filled with these amusing stories, which makes it hard to put the book down.
Bryson delivers two great books here. The stories are both amusing and unbelievably interesting. It is hard to understand how Bryson writes about the most insignificant things yet still manages to keep his books alluring. The book is one of the most entertaining stories I have ever read and would recommend it to everyone.
Bryson, Bill. A Walk in the Woods. New York: Broadway Books, 1998. .
Bryson, Bill. I'm a Stranger Here Myself. New York: Broadway Books, 1999. (less)
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