Naomi Robert - Post Two

I think that the factual information presented in asides throughout the book is a way for Bryson to make the reader aware of environmental problems. Sometimes Bryson presents these facts with humor and irony, but I think that overall, they detract from the narrative. While learning about the history and ecology of the Appalachian Trail is very interesting, the history becomes boring in comparison to the humor and irony associated with the travels of Bryson and Katz. In addition, Bryson’s nature lectures are usually quite depressing, and they bring down the upbeat tone of the novel.

In chapter 10, Bryson spends a considerably long amount of time telling the history of plant cultivation in America. Since the days of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Americans were always trying to find new plants, name them, and find beneficial uses for them. He talks about how these struggles of various botanists led to the extinction of many plant species, in a sarcastic, bitter tone. The history and ecology lesson diverts from the story, right when the hikers have set off into a new part of their journey. By itself, the information would probably be very motivational. But within the novel, the passage only serves to depress the reader about how horrible the stupid human race has become.