Wholeheartedly agree with you. I was bored to tears by the book and felt she was a total poser the more pages I turned. And I really really WANTED to like it! And I loved Eat, Pray, Love – even though Gilbert was paid to go on her journey, she admitted it, and didn’t seem to exaggerate her story. Having been very close to several bona fide heroin addicts who’ve gone through recovery, having gone on many solo trips myself (including one after the death of my father), and being a native Northwesterner who backpacked for years, I kept getting the feeling she was BS-ing a lot of this and making light of committing adultery and sleeping around, like a spoiled brat. I actually thought it was perfect to have Reese Witherspoon play her in the movie as they do seem similar – like those rich cheerleaders in high school who ‘go slumming’ at the parties where they can temporarily escape and come back with street cred to tell all their friends…sigh…oh and changing her name to Strayed? (eye rolling). I’m going to change my last name when I publish my book to Kickass.

Yeah, I could have used the term incorrectly. I thought from what I read in “Just Passin’ Thru” it meant essentially doing large portions of the trail on the road and just day hiking up access points to the trail.
Regardless once he stopped actually hiking the trail I didnt enjoy the book as much, although I was interested in the environmental message.

I suspect Bryson had a contract to fill as much as anything. I did find the PA information (the sinkhole) interesting actually.

I wouldn’t call what he did yellow blazing, but more of a series of day hikes up and down the trail. To me, yellow blazing is intentionally skipping something to get ahead.

Cherry picking day hikes once you are done with a thru-hike attempt has a different vibe. At least to me.

Yeah, I thought Bryson’s was fantastic until he started yellow-blazing. After that point I wasnt sure what the point was and I felt the tale actually grew a little gray and depressing.

Oh, you should definitely check out the Letcher sister’s first book. Particularly since you read & reviewed Wild. I think you’ll be intrigued by the contrast between the two.

Thanks Mercer. Have to check out the Barefoot sisters book at some point. I met them several years ago at the PA Ruck.

I never really looked in Bryson’s or Strayed’s story as I just shrug my shoulders. Whether their story is true or not? Eh…not really an issue for me. Both books we were OK. Strayed’s genre does not appeal to me. Bryson’s had too much filler once Katz and he left the trail. I did love the southern AT and Maine sections (e.g. non filler portion)

I do like Bryson as an author however. Brit-like humor and not taking himself all that seriously. Entertaining! Check out his other books.

I will read the book-but I have a hard time with her statement. If this is true she should be outraged at the “dramatic license” taken in the film… It just rings false to me.