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rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
1.0
I did not finish this book. This is unusual because I tried to plow through hoping that books get better, but there is too much Christianity and not enough love of nature. After only 20 minutes of reading, I had enough.
catrev's review against another edition
5.0
Hiking Through by Paul Stutzman is the story of one man's journey on the Appalachian trail, through grief, and to understanding about God. Stutzman spent his life working at a restaurant to make enough money for he and his wife to enjoy when he retired. Unfortunately, his wife, Mary, died of breast cancer, and he was left along and struggling with guilt, grief, and depression. He decided to fulfill a life-long dream of hiking the entire Appalachian trail, all 2,176 miles and fourteen states as a way to find God and to spread his message to husbands to cherish their families and take time to enjoy them. God hijacked Stutzman's journey and gave him a very different message, one that the author shares with readers about hope and trusting in God. I've always had a fascination with the Appalachian trail, and as my illness keeps me from ever fulfilling it, I enjoy reading about others' experiences on it. Stutzman's writing is part travelogue, part journal, part devotional. He does a great job of allowing readers to see through his eyes the beauty he witnessed in God's creation: the storms, the butterflies, the majestic mountaintops. He doesn't just stop to smell the flowers; he tastes them! Stutzman shares many stories about small miracles on the trail, strange coincidences that have God's fingerprints all over them, and he encourages readers to seek out God on their own journey and see what He has to tell them. One of the most powerful messages Stutzman has for readers is that of trusting God in the midst of grief. Here's my own coincidence: I signed up for this blog tour months ago, never knowing that I would need to read a book on grief. But last week Saturday, my dog Cooper was hit and killed by a car. I would never consider weighing the loss of a dog with that of a spouse, but my grief and pain is very real, and I've been struggling all week with the question of "Why, God? Why?" Toward the end of the book, Stutzman stops writing about the trail and for a few paragraphs addresses this very question in such a way that I couldn't help but sob, and then began to feel some peace. He's a great plainspoken writer with a gift for detail and self-deprecation that keeps readers hooked for mile after mile. God gave Stutzman a mission on that trail, and he fulfills it well with this book. I hope he decides to take another journey someday and take the rest of us along with his again.
heatherliz's review against another edition
3.0
I liked most of the hiking parts, but the religious parts got a little hooey for me.
bookash's review against another edition
4.0
Although I really liked this book, it did get a little preachy. If you aren't religious, you will find the reading to be tedious. I am not religious, but I do enjoy a good Appalachian Trail account and this did a decent job projecting what the trail is like.
dpageteach00's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars. Great hiking story. Interwoven with a spiritual aspect which was difficult for Me at times. Reminded me of Bill Bryson's a walk in the woods a bit.
erincmc's review against another edition
5.0
A good adventure/hiking read - I enjoyed the spiritual element as well.
dreesreads's review against another edition
2.0
Too much religion. Just too much Christianity. The author is shocked that he gets along with a Catholic priest--that kind of Christianity. I am completely lost as to why the subtitle does not reflect this, especially has he tries to convince the reader that God talks to him (and you too! just listen!). GAH.
The hiking parts (other than when he thinks God is talking to him) are pretty good. I find it fascinating that so many middle aged men head out on the trail after their wives have died. As a woman who really wants to do a thru hike (and whose husband has no interest)--did their wives not like hiking, or not like anything more than a day hike, so this vague dream came forward when they were at a loss as to what to do? Or do they all not think this is for women? Other than 1 overnight hiker who came in high heels and people from a few church groups, Stutzman mentions no female hikers. None. I know male thru hikers outnumber women by a lot--but what about section hikers? No women really?
And how can he have spent 25 years in the restaurant business yet have no idea about "pasta and beans" in soup? Minestrone? Or pasta fagioli? (p 286). He thinks it's weird--too Catholic maybe?
And why the racing? I appreciate he likes the sounds and sights of nature (or God, as he says) and enjoys hiking without headphones to hear what's out there. So why does he race to Maine, 20+ miles on many days? He was not racing winter, or a scheduled break from work, he just wanted to get there faster? This was not clear to me.
The hiking parts (other than when he thinks God is talking to him) are pretty good. I find it fascinating that so many middle aged men head out on the trail after their wives have died. As a woman who really wants to do a thru hike (and whose husband has no interest)--did their wives not like hiking, or not like anything more than a day hike, so this vague dream came forward when they were at a loss as to what to do? Or do they all not think this is for women? Other than 1 overnight hiker who came in high heels and people from a few church groups, Stutzman mentions no female hikers. None. I know male thru hikers outnumber women by a lot--but what about section hikers? No women really?
And how can he have spent 25 years in the restaurant business yet have no idea about "pasta and beans" in soup? Minestrone? Or pasta fagioli? (p 286). He thinks it's weird--too Catholic maybe?
And why the racing? I appreciate he likes the sounds and sights of nature (or God, as he says) and enjoys hiking without headphones to hear what's out there. So why does he race to Maine, 20+ miles on many days? He was not racing winter, or a scheduled break from work, he just wanted to get there faster? This was not clear to me.
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