A Walk in the Woods

It's not as obvious in the first part of the book, but I think overall I'd consider this a travelogue more than a trail walking book: The dips in and out of trail sections, the areas nearby explored, the number of chapters that focus on history related to the trail but not their walking if it. While over half the book is Bryson and Katz's adventures, it's not exclusively a recounting of the trail experience. 
I like that Bryson is openly charmed by the wilderness, that he wants to draw attention to the damage that's been done, the underfunding of the organizations that ensure the preservation of public park ecosystems as well as park and trail facilities, but there's something in the cynical, satirical tone critiquing these resource gaps that put me off. 
Complaints in regards to environmental concerns valid, researching trail dangers understandable, but I didn't love that anytime the subject matter moved off actual trail experiences it was often to focus on a negative aspect of the trail's history or present day. 
I'm used to Appalachian Trail narratives being bulked out with trivia at this point, but there was something a little sensationalist about digging out the gory details to provide wry commentary on. 
Likewise Bryson can paint an exquisitely vivid portrait of the humanity encountered on trail, but that also means that when he's displeased he becomes wittily acerbic when I'm not always sure it's warranted.  
I appreciate the vulnerability shown in recounting their final struggles on the trail, and the relatable idea of the experience being worthwhile even if it wasn't ‘the whole thing.' 
I think if the whole book had been Bryson and Katz keeping each other grounded (and being a haplessly hilarious double act at times) it would have appealed to me more. 

⚠️ Fatphobia, animal death