kickerdad - , reviewed on 12/30/2010 + 123 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I eagerly began 'The Lost Continent' after previously reading 'A Walk in the Woods'. Eloquent as always, Bill does what he does best - paints a portrait, this time of small town America, using our childhood memories as a canvas, his cynicism as a paintbrush, and his choice of words for color and texture.

While I somewhat enjoyed the book, if Bill was attempting to make us feel like we were living out of a suit case then he succeeded. I found the flow of the book choppy, pages about some tiny detail, like Playboy, yet in other places he travels through Idaho in less than 3 pages. Then again, thats what always makes his writing fun, lengthy thoughts about everyday things that most people wouldn't give an extra second considering. However, in many places throughout it felt as if the point he was expounding upon felt contrived, as if the details from the trip weren't enough to fill the book so he needed more filler.

Most all of the places he visits East of the Mississippi River I have had the opportunity to visit and in several cases live, either as a child or an adult. I can't say he misses the mark with his observations of Mississippi, Savannah, Gettysburg, New Hampshire, Vermont, or even Des Moines.
While the journey through the book isn't a smooth one - it was definitely stop and go reading for me - it is a worthwhile trip. Maybe one day I'll be fortunate enough to make a similar drive!

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