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karennn's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
elsiebrady's review
3.0
I really enjoy this book, perhaps more than my 3 star rating but am a bit jealous and want to experience it myself. I'm not as sure about the rainy days but definitely the physical exhaustion and exhilaration from hiking all 2,190 miles.
lavicenrose's review
5.0
I greatly enjoyed this book since I was interested in the daily life on the AT- didn't find it boring at all.
lisahelene's review
4.0
This is probably one of the best Appalachian Trail memoirs I have read. Much of it was because of the epilogue and afterward.
liralen's review
3.0
Of the AT books on my radar, this was one of the ones I was most looking forward to reading—the title evoked, I think, a combination of inner and outer journeys, and it has really solid ratings on Goodreads.
As it is, it's fine as a hiking narrative, but I think a) I was expecting more and b) I've read so many memoirs about walking the Camino that I've tired somewhat of the standard day-by-day narrative. Miller's tale is about the external (walked this far, stayed here, stayed there, it rained, talked to these people about those topics, got some blisters, took some rest days) with very little digression to the internal; his title/trail name (he named himself Awol (only the A capped, as far as I can tell) because he'd quit his job to hike the AT), too, remains an external thing—no sense of lostness physically or emotionally, simply a reflection of the fact that his bosses wouldn't let him take time off to do the AT.
If you haven't read much about long hiking journeys and are looking for a memoir that gives you an idea of the day-to-day experience, this isn't a bad one to start with; if you have read a fair amount about hiking/walking and want something in more depth, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
As it is, it's fine as a hiking narrative, but I think a) I was expecting more and b) I've read so many memoirs about walking the Camino that I've tired somewhat of the standard day-by-day narrative. Miller's tale is about the external (walked this far, stayed here, stayed there, it rained, talked to these people about those topics, got some blisters, took some rest days) with very little digression to the internal; his title/trail name (he named himself Awol (only the A capped, as far as I can tell) because he'd quit his job to hike the AT), too, remains an external thing—no sense of lostness physically or emotionally, simply a reflection of the fact that his bosses wouldn't let him take time off to do the AT.
Spoiler
They did, however, hire him back when he was done.If you haven't read much about long hiking journeys and are looking for a memoir that gives you an idea of the day-to-day experience, this isn't a bad one to start with; if you have read a fair amount about hiking/walking and want something in more depth, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
jackpando's review
3.0
Just like the trail this book was long and sometimes became a struggle to finish. However, Miller's constant narration of his surroundings and internal dialogue makes you feel you're there with him.
lewismillholland's review
3.0
In 2015, BuzzFeed recruited then-President Barack Obama to act out a video titled "Things Everyone Does But Doesn't Talk About." It opens with a young man slowly mouthing the word "Wed-nes-day" in front of a mirror, and then we cut to Obama struggling to say that the deadline to sign up for the ACA is February. "Febrerary. Fe-ru-ary." The back-and-forths continue, with both men alternately taking selfies and miming free-throws. The most iconic piece of the video is when Obama dips a cookie into a glass of milk, only to realize the neck is too narrow. He shakes his head and mutters, "Thanks Obama."
To some, it was a clever homage to a dank meme. To others, it was the end of an era, specifically to the subreddit r/ThanksObama which shut down that same day. "THE MAN HIMSELF USED THE DAMN JOKE," user kvachon posted. "CANT TOP THIS. WE'RE DONE."
Similarly, consider "AWOL on the Appalachian Trail." It's the end of the A.T. travelogue. The book is written with utilitarian intent, in the same sense as Animal Farm -- there's a purpose to the book, a purpose that is accomplished without deviating into poetic language or auxiliary ideas. And what it sets out to do it accomplished magnificently and, more importantly, with finality. Barring a fundamental change in Appalachian Trail, this is the end of the A.T. travelogue-style genre.
So what comes next? If a person hikes 2,200 miles, they'll likely have something to say. There's always room for amateur, hyper-specific accounts on trailjournals.com. And there's room for works on the emotional products of hiking (although "Wild" may have dominated that particular subgenre). And there's room for stories with the A.T. as a piece of the whole, rather than the focus. But any story that tries to succinctly yet comprehensively discuss the act of hiking the A.T. is now unnecessary. Thanks, AWOL.
To some, it was a clever homage to a dank meme. To others, it was the end of an era, specifically to the subreddit r/ThanksObama which shut down that same day. "THE MAN HIMSELF USED THE DAMN JOKE," user kvachon posted. "CANT TOP THIS. WE'RE DONE."
Similarly, consider "AWOL on the Appalachian Trail." It's the end of the A.T. travelogue. The book is written with utilitarian intent, in the same sense as Animal Farm -- there's a purpose to the book, a purpose that is accomplished without deviating into poetic language or auxiliary ideas. And what it sets out to do it accomplished magnificently and, more importantly, with finality. Barring a fundamental change in Appalachian Trail, this is the end of the A.T. travelogue-style genre.
So what comes next? If a person hikes 2,200 miles, they'll likely have something to say. There's always room for amateur, hyper-specific accounts on trailjournals.com. And there's room for works on the emotional products of hiking (although "Wild" may have dominated that particular subgenre). And there's room for stories with the A.T. as a piece of the whole, rather than the focus. But any story that tries to succinctly yet comprehensively discuss the act of hiking the A.T. is now unnecessary. Thanks, AWOL.
grayxen's review
3.0
kind of bland. unemotional, almost robotic. a lot of mentioning the same trail names of hikers encountered and the foods eaten, but nothing really that interesting or paradigm-shifting as i’ve come to expect from long hike stories.
mjeaton's review
5.0
This was a great book, if not just a bit repetitive.
I went back through the highlights I made with my kindle and there are definitely nuggets of wisdom throughout.
I went back through the highlights I made with my kindle and there are definitely nuggets of wisdom throughout.
wagers57's review
5.0
Adventure
Wow. What an inspiring journey. The author gives a detailed a count of his hiking experience. I could feel the calm of the woods.
Wow. What an inspiring journey. The author gives a detailed a count of his hiking experience. I could feel the calm of the woods.