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chrissiebee611's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this - it's a cool concept, and there was even a lovable dog in the mix. However, Jenkins managed to make a very interesting (I'm sure) trip into a boring book. He flat out can't write, and he really doesn't focus too much on the walk itself.
rponzo's review against another edition
1.0
In 1973, Mr. Jenkins decides to walk across America. He just graduated from college and is disillusioned with the country; Vietnam and Watergate, Attica Prison riots, all the awfulness of that era…..Which, sure, but I can’t help but be a little nostalgic about those times...pay phones and paper maps. Newspapers and magazines. So charming the use of land lines and the writing of letters. No internet, not ATMS, no cell phones.
Mr. Jenkins wants to give the land of the free and home of the brave a chance so sets out with his plan being to walk and walk, stopping along the way for a few weeks or months to earn money, then continue on his way.
It’s actually a walk halfway across half of America—Jenkins starts in New York State and ends up in New Orleans. (The second half is covered in another book called The Walk West.)
The book began as an article for National Geographic, and Mr. Jenkins comes out of the gate saying he’s not a writer, which, sorry for being so crude, is kind of a dick move.
One might say this book just didn’t age well. But it really couldn’t have that great to begin with. Partly because the narrator is not particularly self-reflective; he is a traveler lacking in curiosity. Also, there’s no central conflict and no metaphorical quest for anything. The whole endeavor seems unimportant.
The plot includes his dog dying, spiritual awakening, and falling in love, but each are just another scene along the way. He stays at “The Farm” in Tennessee (a hippy community that still exists—including the midwives.), almost dies in a snowstorm, and gets hassled by small top cops. He hangs out with a hermit living off the grid. In rural North Carolina, he befriends and lives with a Black family. He describes their poor living conditions and bad diets.
Eventually he moves on, through Alabama which he finds quite lovely. He enjoys meeting the governor, George Wallace. (GW was a racist segregationist well into the 70s. Wikipedia says he changed his views later in life.)
It is probably not fair to hold the book to standards of these woke times. But I don’t know how someone can walk around the south for months and not delve into the topic of racial segregation, the legacy of slavery, generational poverty. Something? Not that this book gives serious consideration to anything.
I swapped it back to the used book shop, maybe someone else will enjoy it more than I did.
Mr. Jenkins wants to give the land of the free and home of the brave a chance so sets out with his plan being to walk and walk, stopping along the way for a few weeks or months to earn money, then continue on his way.
It’s actually a walk halfway across half of America—Jenkins starts in New York State and ends up in New Orleans. (The second half is covered in another book called The Walk West.)
The book began as an article for National Geographic, and Mr. Jenkins comes out of the gate saying he’s not a writer, which, sorry for being so crude, is kind of a dick move.
One might say this book just didn’t age well. But it really couldn’t have that great to begin with. Partly because the narrator is not particularly self-reflective; he is a traveler lacking in curiosity. Also, there’s no central conflict and no metaphorical quest for anything. The whole endeavor seems unimportant.
The plot includes his dog dying, spiritual awakening, and falling in love, but each are just another scene along the way. He stays at “The Farm” in Tennessee (a hippy community that still exists—including the midwives.), almost dies in a snowstorm, and gets hassled by small top cops. He hangs out with a hermit living off the grid. In rural North Carolina, he befriends and lives with a Black family. He describes their poor living conditions and bad diets.
Eventually he moves on, through Alabama which he finds quite lovely. He enjoys meeting the governor, George Wallace. (GW was a racist segregationist well into the 70s. Wikipedia says he changed his views later in life.)
It is probably not fair to hold the book to standards of these woke times. But I don’t know how someone can walk around the south for months and not delve into the topic of racial segregation, the legacy of slavery, generational poverty. Something? Not that this book gives serious consideration to anything.
I swapped it back to the used book shop, maybe someone else will enjoy it more than I did.
elijahdavidson's review against another edition
One of my favorite books when I was a kid. I think I first read it in like sixth grade or something. It's neat to read now and think about the love of the outdoors, walking/hiking, experiencing different places, and pursuing God are all essential parts of who I am. I didn't know that when I was 12. It's interesting how parts of who we are seem to always be there.
haleyc927's review against another edition
2.0
The story is interesting but it was not well written. I don’t think I’ll read the other books written by him. Had higher hopes for this book. Took me awhile to read it and get into it.
kaitquinn's review against another edition
4.0
As someone with an adventurous spirit that's bogged down by general/social anxiety, I loved living vicariously through Peter Jenkins while reading this book. I was fascinated with his reason for the journey and the people and experiences he had on his walk. Particularly his time with Homer and Mary Elizabeth's family.
I agree with another review that his language, particularly regarding race, does not stand the test of time and was cringey to read through.
I knew from the book's description and other reviews that Jenkins finds God on this walk and that some of the book would cover it. As someone who is not religious, I wasn't looking forward to that aspect of the book, but he didn't spend as much time on it as I thought he would. It was mostly in the last couple of chapters.
The last few chapters of the book did feel a little rushed. I missed the lush detail, stories, and awe he had in the first half or so of the book by the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, despite its downfalls. I'm tempted to read the follow up that he wrote with Barbara, but I'm worried that religion might play a bigger role in that one. I'm curious to see how his experiences change when traveling with Barbara.
I agree with another review that his language, particularly regarding race, does not stand the test of time and was cringey to read through.
I knew from the book's description and other reviews that Jenkins finds God on this walk and that some of the book would cover it. As someone who is not religious, I wasn't looking forward to that aspect of the book, but he didn't spend as much time on it as I thought he would. It was mostly in the last couple of chapters.
The last few chapters of the book did feel a little rushed. I missed the lush detail, stories, and awe he had in the first half or so of the book by the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, despite its downfalls. I'm tempted to read the follow up that he wrote with Barbara, but I'm worried that religion might play a bigger role in that one. I'm curious to see how his experiences change when traveling with Barbara.
jquigs14's review against another edition
4.0
I had been looking forward to reading this for a long time. I love this sense of adventure; I'm a little jealous 'cuz there's a part of me that wants to set off on a similar walking journey. I really like Peter's honesty; his very personal writing style makes this feel more like a journal, not a final, polished work. And I greatly admire his adventures with Cooper. My only disappointment is that at some point I was looking for him to arrive at some broader universal truths. Peter stuck pretty much to the nuts and bolts of his journey. I could tell that he was profoundly influenced by the folks he met along the way, but I was looking for more introspection: some clues about how those people would have an impact on his life. Maybe I'll find out more in book #2. So far we've only gotten as far as New Orleans...there's a lot more of the journey still to come.
dougawells's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of those place and time books. I read this during a time in my life where I was exploring myself and America. Doing a log of hiking and backpacking and living out of the back of my car. I remember reading this book in a shelter on the Appalachian Trail and he was describing hiking and being in a shelter on the Appalachian Trail - we were in the same shelter! That always stuck with me and made this somewhat schmaltzy book a favorite.