On three attempts, I made it all the way to page 9. This is just not my kind of thing, so I'm not going to even rate it. 

Why do I have this on my shelf? I've had the hardcover on my shelf for 6 years and I have no idea why. But the Book Genie picked it for my next TBR read, so here we go. 

Funny and entertaining. Loses a couple stars for endless dated hyperbole about how acid rain is going to wipe everything out (actually serves as a good warning to take whatever today's environmental panic of the moment with a big grain of salt) and his several unneeded shots at religious people (He skips most of the trail in the south because they are Christians there). He's a New Englander who rails against commercialization and environmental damage while he and his buddy litter all over the AT, smoke in the woods, and drink soda and eat fast food. Hard to take him seriously on those points, but it is otherwise a fun read.

Two things helped push the number of books I read this month higher than usual: 24in48 Read-a-thon and binge reading series via COYER. Since the start of COYER, I have managed to read through 4 series (1 was a duet, the others were longer). I will not be adding any more books to the list in August because I want to finish off the list. I am finding myself to be a definite mood reader (see binge reading a series) rather than a list follower.

 

Reading for the Pop Sugar challenge went better this month than last month's lonely 1 book. Again, thanks to that read-a-thon! I completed one challenge already - Library Love Challenge (hosted by Angel) "OverDrive Junkie" level (36+ books). I also earned all four badges within my library's summer reading program (adult level goal is to read 990 minutes; I am at 1200 and some change). My son earned all three badges and my daughter earned two at the kids level (goal of 660 minutes).

 

 DNFs: 2. The Rake's Redemption by Regina Scott was supposed to be read for RB Bingo but I couldn't stand either the hero or heroine - I don't think I made it to 25%. Whispered Promises by Nora Roberts was a 2-in-1 anthology of two 1980s category romance she wrote for Silhouette....1980s category romances DO. NOT. AGE. WELL. Just the sheer amount of smoking by both hero and heroine was enough to give me the dry heaves. I read a chapter from each story and then tossed it on the donation pile. And the descriptions of the clothes/hair/makeup/facial hair....NOPE.

 

Challenges

BL/GR: 117/150

Pop Sugar: 3; 40/52 prompts completed

COYER: 26/45 books

RB Bingo: 14/25

Library Love Challenge: 5; 40/36 for the year 

 

1. Rock Courtship: A Rock Kiss Novella by Nalini Singh (RB Bingo) (Library Love Challenge) - 1 star

 

2. Licensed for Trouble (PJ Sugar #3) by Susan May Warren (Library Love Challenge) 3.5 stars

 

3. Mayhem in High Heels (High Heels #5) by Gemma Halliday (COYER) - 3 stars

 

4. The Doctor's Undoing by Allie Pleiter (COYER) - 4.5 stars

 

5. The Soldier's Dark Secret by Marguerite Kaye (COYER) - 4.5 stars

 

6. A Charming Potion: A Magical Cures Mystery Novella (#2.5) by Tonya Kappes (COYER)- 2 stars

 

7. A Charming Wish (A Magical Cures Mystery #3) by Tonya Kappes (COYER) - 2.5 stars

 

8. A Family for Christmas (Texas Grooms #3) by Winnie Griggs (COYER) - 2 stars

 

9. A Charming Spell (A Magical Cures Mystery #4) by Tonya Kappes (COYER) - 2 stars

 

10. A Charming Magic (A Magical Cures Mystery #5) by Tonya Kappes (COYER) - 2 stars

 

11. A Charming Christmas (A Magical Cures Mystery #6.5) by Tonya Kappes (COYER) -2 stars

 

12. Bearly Awake (Providence Paranormal College #1) by D. R. Perry - 2 stars

 

13. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (Pop Sugar) (COYER) (Library Love Challenge) - 3.5 stars 

 

14. The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Pop Sugar) (COYER) (Library Love Challenge) - 5 stars

 

15. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan and Robert Venditti (Pop Sugar) (COYER) (Library Love Challenge) - 3 stars

 

16. Honeymoon in High Heels (High Heels #6.5) by Gemma Halliday (COYER) - 2 stars

 

17. Fearless in High Heels (High Heels #6) by Gemma Halliday (COYER) - 1.5 stars

 

18. A High Heels Haunting (High Heels #) by Gemma Halliday (COYER) - 1 star

 

19. The Greek Tycoon's Green Card Groom by Kate McMurray (COYER) - 2 stars

 

20. A Sultry Love Song by Kianna Alexander (COYER) - 3 stars

Read this for Pop Sugar Challenge prompt "set in wilderness".

 

I had never read a Bryson book before, so the beginning chapters took me longer to read as I was trying to get into the groove of his writing. I will admit that it took me more chapters to find that groove than my usual and I almost DNF'd it. But today I decided, with 16 chapters left, to work through as much as possible before the end of the month. The beginning chapters made Bill out to be very impulsive - the decision to hike all 2100 miles, the money spent on equipment, the books he read. It seemed gimmicky, like he knew he was going to write a memoir out of this experience without thinking through what this experience was going to be like.

 

Luckily, I hit my stride when Bill and Katz decided to leave the trail in Gatlinburg and drive up a little into Virginia and finish the first leg of their trip somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley. The best part of the book for me was Bill's solo journeys into Pennsylvania and New Jersey; the Delawere Water Gap is on the outskirts of where I grew up (Matamoras, Pike County - if you use Google maps to try and find that tiny speck of dirt, you will need to zoom in....a lot). The section on Centralia reminded me of an episode of Disaster Area podcast about that coal fire; reading a first hand account of someone who was there years after the evacuation and bulldozing added greatly to my knowledge of the disaster.

 

I also really enjoyed his day hikes in the New England region, except for the last march through Maine (mainly because of Katz). Katz got on my last nerve and the time spent in Maine I was just done with him when he admitted to drinking again. I did enjoy the natural and social history that is found throughout the book. I almost DNF'd after another Mary Ellen story and could not have been happier to see she left the trail early and I wouldn't have to read about her clearing her ears through her nose again.

 

This isn't really a book about hiking or very introspective; it is much more an outsider's perspective on what he finds along the trail that catches his attention. I am not one for camping, but I do enjoy the occasional day hike (when it is started and finished at a hotel with running water). I was amused by Bill's humor, but didn't really laugh.