Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

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

24 reviews

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Murder

Minor: Pedophilia

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.

kingaion's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming and Alcoholism

Minor: War, Murder, Violence, Pedophilia, and Slavery

Besides the body shaming, which is persistent throughout the piece, other content warnings were passing historical footnotes or singular, off-color jokes.

am4man's review

adventurous informative medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism

c0eus's review

adventurous funny informative lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism and Murder

saltycoffee's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Misogyny, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Classism, Fatphobia, and Xenophobia

astoldbyangela's review

informative reflective slow-paced

not my favorite bryson. obviously it’s 1998 but the fatphobia is just hard to read when the book is about two guys WALKING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL like ….. cmon. but man, it made me want to hike. and i’ve hiked in maine! actually terrifying spectacle!!! but beautiful and fulfilling 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Fatphobia and Alcoholism

lily1304's review

adventurous informative lighthearted slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Lesbophobia, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism

Brief section about murders on the Appalachian Trail, including the attempted murder of two lesbians (hate crime) Descriptions of hypothermia and dehydration

leefox's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia and Alcoholism

aeriecircus's review

adventurous funny informative medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia

Minor: Alcoholism, Classism, and Religious bigotry