The Twenty: One Woman’s Trek Across Corsica on the GR20 Trail

This book recounts Bohr’s (Gap Year Girl: A Baby Boomer Adventure Across 21 Countries) journey on the notoriously rigorous 112-mile hiking trail known as the GR20 on the French island of Corsica. The hike requires ascending 20 rough peaks on what’s been called the toughest long-distance footpath in Europe. Bohr’s account is similar to narratives about trekking, hiking, and walking in such classics as Tracks by Robyn Davidson and Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Bohr’s story differs, however, in that her trip includes her husband, a group, and an experienced guide to ease the difficulty. Other challenges include her recent discovery that she has rheumatoid arthritis, and she and her husband are about to enter their 60s. But the author is determined to complete the hike, ultimately triumphing in her own way and on her terms. The book lacks the depth of personal insight, and re-creations of conversations between the author and fellow hikers seem stilted and contrived.