Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

2 reviews

bridge_to_narnia's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

1.5

Most chapters can be divided into two parts: really interesting forestry related knowledge (tree conservation, mountain deaths incidents, the initial idea and establishment of the Appalachian Trail, etc) and a single moment at some point during his hike (put in chronological order though). As far as the factual information, it was well written, there were other sources presented for further in depth study and was easy to consume. The memoir portion was (as of 2024) quite dated in the jokes made and the language used. Some of it was ‘the times’ a lot of it was that both of them seemed to be unpleasant people to be around in different ways. I did not like either person, there were 2 chapters where the memoir writing didn’t bother me, but most of them made me just want to skip to the next really interesting tidbit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Misogyny, Alcoholism, and Addiction

Minor: Pedophilia and Abandonment

The memoir parts of the book make it extremely clear that the writer did not like the man who joined him on the trip. The portrayal is often degrading, with inner thought insults and mean spirited descriptions. On the other hand, the man who joined the writer is thoughtless and makes ill-humored jokes (about women, dating and one out of pocket pedophila ‘joke’). Both of these men are clearly jerks, but this is a memoir so you are supposed to like them? Not worth it, just read the information parts and skip the rest.

tomnoor's review against another edition

3.0

Really liked the travelogue, really disliked how mean the author was  in the name of humor, I guess 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Bullying, Murder, Fatphobia, and Death

Moderate: Misogyny

Minor: Alcoholism and Addiction