Week 12: Reader Advisory Maxtrix

 The Reader Advisory Matrix for A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson

1.) Where is the book on the narrative continuum? 

    Highly narrative (reads like fiction)

2. What is the subject of the book? 

    Hiking the Appalachian Trail

3.) What type of book is it? 

    A travel memoir

4.) Articulate Appeal: 

    What is the pacing of the book? Fairly quick, but easy to follow 

    Describe the characters in the book: There are two main characters. The first is Bill Bryson, a middle aged man of 44, with an ambitious goal of thru-hiking the A.T. His companion is Katz, an old friend he hadn't seen in 25 years that arrives for this endeavor quite overweight and out of shape. 

    How does the story feel? Lighthearted and funny

    What is the intent of the author? The author wants to reveal his adventures and enlighten the reader to the trials and tribulations along the trail. 

    What is the focus of the story? Building bonds of friendship and teaching personal perseverance.

    Does the language matter? Yes

    Is the setting important and well described? The setting is very important as it is the subject of the book. The scenes are well described and the reader feels right there on the trail. 

    Are there details and if so, what? The entire book is riddled with fun historical facts of the A.T. 

    Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? One of the opening pages is a map of the east coastline, showing the 14 states the trail crosses through. It is very useful because the reader gets a visual idea of the enormity of the A.T. 

    Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? It stresses all three. Learning because it teaches the basics of hiking, from the proper gear to what sort of wildlife to expect on the trail. Understanding because it stresses the fact that the trail affects everyone differently. Experience, because the whole point of hiking is to experience the beauty of nature. 

5.) What would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)? 

    1.) Tone   2.) Details    3.) Learning/Experience

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