A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson

Title: A Walk In the Woods

Author: Bill Bryson

Genre: Travel writing; non-fiction

Bill Bryson has just moved back to the United States after living in the United Kingdom for the past 18 years. In order to reacquaint himself with his homeland, he has decided to walk the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail is a hiking trail that stretches 2,194 miles, from Georgia to Maine. Along for the ride, or walk in this case, is Bryson's friend Katz, who he has not seen in 20 years and is not a hiker. After purchasing the whole of an outdoor store to carry on his back, Bryson tells the story of their journey, while weaving the history of the trail and the lands that surround it.

I picked this up after visiting the Smoky Mountains and doing an incredibly brief two mile hike on the Appalachian Trail (it did not feel brief at the time). I cannot imagine the hundreds of miles and nights of camping that Bryson and Katz did on their journey. Bryson's writing has enough humor to keep you reading and wanting to know, do they make it? It almost leaves you thinking, if these two can hike that much, maybe I could too. Reader, I could not.

- Beth

Check out A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson @ the library!

Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton

Title: Leave Only Footprints

Author: Conor Knighton

Genre: Memoir; Travel Memoir; Nonfiction

After a breakup, the author decides to go on an adventure, visiting 59 national parks in a year. Rather than tell his story chronologically, the author groups his visits by theme. For example, "Canyons," "Caves" and "Mountains" as well as "Mystery," "Love" and "Forgiveness." He weaves in the history of various parks and stories of contemporary visitors and workers along with his personal journey. For instance, he describes the "conscience pile" of wood once stolen and then returned to Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona as he contemplates forgiving his ex. This thoughtful and at times funny tale will have you planning your next visit to one of the national parks.

- Sarah

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Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby

Title: Ten Steps to Nanette

Author: Hannah Gadsby 

Genre: Memoir 

If you enjoyed the author’s Netflix comedy specials or just a well-written, funny and sad memoir, check out this book from the library. Comedy is often based on tragedy. Hannah Gadsby tells her complete story of what is was like growing up queer and neurodivergent in rural Tasmania (part of Australia.)

- Mary

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Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Title: Small Great Things

Author: Jodi Picoult

Genre: Fiction

 As so many people try to better themselves and the way that they see the world around them, it is hard to face so many topics that we might feel like we don't excel at. This story is the story of a murder trial. An infant has died while still at the hospital, and the parents are devastated. Through a series of events, they end up bringing charges against a nurse that was one of many medical staff present when their son died. This description, while completely accurate, sounds pretty standard, and not a terribly compelling read. As this book was one I think will stay with me for a long time now that I have finished it, I am clearly telling it wrong.

This story is told from three separate points of view. The defense attorney, who has finally been named lead chair of her first murder trial and feels like she may be moving up from the menial tasks she has been juggling for years. The African-American nurse who suddenly finds herself on trial for the death of an infant that she had been ordered by her superiors at the hospital not to treat, and who is now struggling with the concern over what will happen to her high-school-aged son if she is not able to be present to continue to raise him. The infant's father, who spoke to the nurse's manager to make sure that "no African-American staff will touch my child" and who is careful to wear a hat to cover up the swastika tattoo on his bald head when he wants to blend out in society.

The complicated plot and characters are interwoven beautifully in this novel, and the revelations that each one brings are something that will continue to leave me questioning my own ability to relate to those around me for years to come. One of my favorite descriptions of the purpose of fiction is to "help us connect with our own humanity". There are few books that can compare to this one in that task.

- Katrina

Check out Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult @ the library!