Review: A Walk in the Woods
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5 stars. Recently, I blew up my life. I decided to quit my toxic, incredibly unhealthy job and travel through the end of the year. I just returned from my first trip, and man, has it been worth it so far. Worth it, and also incredibly challenging. But that's partly why I'm doing it - I want to face the anxiety, solve problems on my feet, and power through it.
My supportive partner gifted me this book on my last day of work. I'd never read it, and he knew it'd be appropriate and helpful. I didn't realize it would be so charming, funny, and heartwarming! I've known about Bill Bryson for years (he was a fixture on the coffee table in my childhood home), but for some reason resisted. Now I'm obsessed!
A Walk in the Woods is a sort of single experience memoir, written by an intellectual, hilarious dude who decides to hike the AT. The Appalachian Trail is a subject close to my heart. I'm a Virginian, an introvert, a nature-lover, and possess that singular bit of crazy that makes me want to push myself and do it, knowing it'll suck. Maybe one day. After reading this, CERTAINLY one day. Watch me.
Bill Bryson documents his experience with wit and delight, dropping fascinating tidbits on the history and wildlife in the places he visits. He never shies away from the reality of it all - acknowledges the strangeness of trying to conquer the trail - and identifies the true and natural beauty of this country as a reward.
I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of the meditative rhythm of walking.
"There is no point in hurrying because you are not actually going anywhere. However far or long you plod, you are always in the same place: in the woods. It’s where you were yesterday, where you will be tomorrow. The woods is one boundless singularity. Every bend in the path presents a prospect indistinguishable from every other, every glimpse into the trees the same tangled mass. For all you know, your route could describe a very large, pointless circle. In a way, it would hardly matter."
Sounds like absolute heaven to this burned out girl. I’m so tired of complexity.
I also loved his happiness in experiencing simple pleasures: restaurant food, soda, a shower. "Low-level ecstasy" is my new favorite phrase.
There are a lot of lessons to be drawn from this book, as many have done and will do so a lot more articulately than I. But I think it's important to note that this is an important read, for folks of all ages, of all nationalities - nature lovers, nature haters, hikers, non-hikers, East Coasters and West Coasters and everyone in between. We must protect our planet. We must simplify. We must respect nature. We must revel in it. We must embrace our strange and wonderful instincts to push ourselves through the mud and the rain and the snow even if we don't - especially when we don't - reach our goals. And we must laugh along the way.