[at-l] A Walk for Sunshine

[Jim Bullard]

To be absolutely clear, I did not say it was a bad book, just ordinary. He
wasn't willing to accept anything less than outstanding as a review and I
was unwilling to post disingenuous praise even if sales supported a good
cause.

Jim Bullard
http://jims-ramblings.blogspot.com/
http://members.photoportfolios.net/Jim_Bullard
http://jim-bullard.photoshelter.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/jim.bullard


On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Mark Mathis <trails66 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Interesting on the review response...  I read the book some time ago - iirc
> it didn't stand out as being a great book, but I don't recall disliking it
> too much, either.  Been awhile since I read it, to be honest.  I did,
> however also purchase his Sierra Hike book (unread as of yet), and recently
> the Sunshine DVD (so must not have disliked the original too much :)  Have
> not looked at the DVD yet, maybe I will get a chance over the weekend and
> can report back.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 10:12 AM, Jim Bullard <jim.bullard at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> I read the book and wrote a review he didn't like. I thought the book was
>> okay but not one of the better thru-hike accounts. I think I rated it about
>> 3 stars on both my website (now gone) and Amazon. He wanted only 5 star
>> reviews because he was using proceeds from the book to fund the charity that
>> he did the hike for so that it would sell a lot of copies. While that was an
>> admirable thing to do, it did not alter my opinion of the book relative to
>> much better written AT books. He sent me several emails trying to convince
>> me to retract or rewrite my review praising it. He even wanted my phone
>> number so that he could "talk this over". I declined to give him my phone
>> number. It was also noted by some on the list that early 2, 3 and 4 star
>> reviews on Amazon disappeared and/or were replaced by 5 star reviews. From
>> that I assume he also pressed others for favorable reviews. I see on Amazon
>> it is now in a 3rd edition and my 1st edition Amazon review has disappeared.
>>
>> This is by no way meant to denigrate the film. As anyone who has read a
>> book before seeing the film made from it, they are two different animals. In
>> the hands of a capable film maker it might well be an excellent movie but
>> that would be mostly due to the film maker IMO and I would not judge the
>> film based on the book or its pushy author whose tactics I did not
>> appreciate.
>>
>> Jim Bullard
>> http://jims-ramblings.blogspot.com/
>> http://members.photoportfolios.net/Jim_Bullard
>> http://jim-bullard.photoshelter.com/
>> http://picasaweb.google.com/jim.bullard
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 9:54 AM, Carla & Dave Hicks <
>> carla_dave_hicks at verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Anyone seen an advance on this movie -- or read his book?
>>>
>>> Opinion?
>>>
>>> http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/267091
>>>
>>> **
>>> If you'd like to see a firsthand account of what it's like to hike the
>>> entire
>>> 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail, author Jeff Alt has assembled a movie about
>>> exactly that.
>>>
>>> His documentary "A Walk for Sunshine" premieres at 3 p.m. Saturday at the
>>> Lyric Theatre in Blacksburg.
>>>
>>> SNIP
>>> **
>>>
>>> I tend to not like books about walks for causes, other than for the
>>> experience, itself -- e..g., 'cause I want to.
>>>
>>> However, thought I'd ask.
>>>
>>> Chainsaw
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
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