Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods

I loved this book. Bryson is both funny and insightful and reading this book will make you appreciate walking in the woods in a whole new, and better, way. He has a great sense of humor that comes out in his writing and definitely in this book.

Very occassionally an author will be blessed by the perfect narrator for his works. As Frank Muller is to Martin Cruz Smith and Alan Bennett if to Kenneth Graham so Kerry Shail is to Bill Bryson.

Shail plays both the demon and angel that sits on Bryson's shoulders, delivering Bryson's blend of sarcasm, irritablity, gentleness, honesty and bewilderment in a way that no other, even Bill himself, can match.

Not only is Shail an exceptional narrator his actor's provenance bring Bryson's wonderful population of strange characters to life. Stephen Katz' pop-eyed dismemberment of his rucksack at finding a 2,500 mile walk harder than a stroll around the park, had me steering blurry-eyed for the hard shoulder

The miles fly by with this duo in harness.

Bill, no one else please.

Miles Kirke