Re[2]: [at-l] Re: The Bryson Book, wade right in and stir it up

[rickboudrie@hotmail.com (rick boudrie)]

The thing is, everyone who has ever done a thru-hike will have a friend or 
relative that reads the book.  I finally read it (a through skim anyway) at 
my mom's house after spying it on her shelf.

I liked a number of things about the book, but didn't find it funny.  Most 
do, I understand.  I just didn't see his portraits of people and the 
experience to be close enough to my reality to be funny.  For something to 
be really funny, it has to mirror reflect your own experience right?  I 
liked parts, like the backgound info on Palmerton.  I liked his story with 
the security gaurd there, too.  Somehow that did mirror my own experiences, 
albeit way off trail.   I remember thinking something was strange about that 
area, but had no clue.  So I learned something from Bryson.  To be honest, I 
learned a number of things.

What I didn't see in the book was a lot of joy, nor a celebration of all the 
good you see in people along the Trail.  I'm not talking about a free soda, 
either.  It wouldn't take too much effort to find examples of truely 
selfless, inspiring acts along the AT. And make them funny. EVERY thruhiker 
has them, or knows of them.  Perhaps I missed those in my skimming.  I also 
didn't see much evidence of the inspiration that all hikers can gleam from 
other backpackers.  Not just the famous ones like Bill Irwin, but the 
everyday people who have rearanged thier lives to make a dream come true.  I 
didn't see much appreciation for the beauty that is the Trail, nor of the 
volunteers that give so much back to it.  I know he is first a humorist, but 
again I think humor is better when it reflects our reality.  Aren't sit-coms 
better when we care about the characters?

Again, I skimmed the book so I don't pretend to be an expert. I'll save that 
pretention for later.  I just think it missed the mark.  Its the kind of 
book that looks to be written on someone's bad grumpy day, rather than on a 
good one.  Sort of like some of our posts.

Rick B




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