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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I have, in the past, loved Bill Bryson's writing. Raved about it to others, encouraged them to read, so I was excited to read another of his travel books, and started with great enthusiasm... but alas. Despite distinctly mentioning at the outset that he didn't wish to revisit old haunts only to hurrumph at the unfortunate changes to what he remembered, Bryson does exactly that, more than once, and he was right to fear it, because it is boring and bland reading, as is his declaration of every second person as an idiot, their intelligence and education obviously paling beside his own, and annoyingly so, because it is obviously very tiresome for him to have to deal with people who earn very little or don't treat him with the reverence that he seems to be accustomed to.
If you are after a funny yet informative travel book I urge you to read one of Bryson's earlier works; there isn't much more here than a grumpy old man doddering about in a piecemeal fashion, and humorlessly at that.
If you are after a funny yet informative travel book I urge you to read one of Bryson's earlier works; there isn't much more here than a grumpy old man doddering about in a piecemeal fashion, and humorlessly at that.
I'm strugging with the star rating but "I liked it" seems to fit my feelings better than anything else, so 3 it is. I am a fan of Bill Bryson in general, and this book had moments of brilliance. It was, however, a bit slow, and I had a harder time getting into it than I did previous works. Still, I enjoyed it overall and I learned some interesting things about England that I didn't know before, and that is always fun.
I enjoyed this a lot. It was great summer holiday reading. Bryson's at his best when he gets fascinated by the history of people and places, particularly those who are obscure and largely forgotten by others.
It wasn't up with my favourite Bryson reads as there was just a bit too much curmudgeonly railing of a sort I can get from an average newspaper column: what is with the kids these days, why does everything cost so much, what happened to manners. These are minor parts of the book though, and overall I liked it.
It wasn't up with my favourite Bryson reads as there was just a bit too much curmudgeonly railing of a sort I can get from an average newspaper column: what is with the kids these days, why does everything cost so much, what happened to manners. These are minor parts of the book though, and overall I liked it.
Not my favorite, the grumpy old man shtick wore a bit thin.
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
How disappointing! Let me say right off that I'm a huge fan of Mr Bryson and his work and that I think he's scarcely put a foot wrong. Until now.
This came across, for me, as far too grumbling in nature. This has often been a feature of his past work but, partially buried as it normally is in an abundance of interesting biographical and historical information, it's never been a problem for me. Here, sadly, such information is noticeable by its paucity and consequently the complaints (amusing as they undoubtedly are) poke through to the surface, like a corpse in a too shallow grave.
Another failing is the brevity with which large tracts of the country are dealt. I'm fully aware that an exhaustive (or even an in-depth) examination of every location visited would result in a prohibitively enormous tome but for a work that purportedly deals with a journey from the south coast of England to the north coast of Scotland to have the vast majority of it describing the southern quarter of England seems disproportionately unbalanced. Also (and I'm admittedly biased here, being a Scotsman myself) to give Scotland - the whole country - a mere dozen or so pages, makes the whole "north to south journey" idea feel like a post hoc cobbled-on afterthought.
Don't mistake me, though; I liked this. But it could have and (given Mr Bryson's proven ability) should have been much better.
This came across, for me, as far too grumbling in nature. This has often been a feature of his past work but, partially buried as it normally is in an abundance of interesting biographical and historical information, it's never been a problem for me. Here, sadly, such information is noticeable by its paucity and consequently the complaints (amusing as they undoubtedly are) poke through to the surface, like a corpse in a too shallow grave.
Another failing is the brevity with which large tracts of the country are dealt. I'm fully aware that an exhaustive (or even an in-depth) examination of every location visited would result in a prohibitively enormous tome but for a work that purportedly deals with a journey from the south coast of England to the north coast of Scotland to have the vast majority of it describing the southern quarter of England seems disproportionately unbalanced. Also (and I'm admittedly biased here, being a Scotsman myself) to give Scotland - the whole country - a mere dozen or so pages, makes the whole "north to south journey" idea feel like a post hoc cobbled-on afterthought.
Don't mistake me, though; I liked this. But it could have and (given Mr Bryson's proven ability) should have been much better.
I've always been a big fan of Bryon's style of writing. As usual this is highly amusing, hugely compelling and, above all, a (mostly) warm-hearted look at Britain. I fully agree with the reviews that essentially call the author grumpy, but I wholeheartedly endorse that point of view in most places and feel that it serves a purpose here. Why should there not be annoyance at some aspects of modern Britain and I, too, am most aggrieved that - for better or worse - modern convenience has been focussed on more than character in some areas of the country.
The only reason I mark this book down is due to the fact that I felt it was slightly southern focussed. Yes, most of the population is based in the south (and I am a southerner). If I was Welsh, or from Scotland I'd feel slightly aggrieved that this is a book about Britain that only dedicates a chapter to each country.
A fun book, an easy read and a welcome tonic to the doom and gloom we often read on a daily basis.
The only reason I mark this book down is due to the fact that I felt it was slightly southern focussed. Yes, most of the population is based in the south (and I am a southerner). If I was Welsh, or from Scotland I'd feel slightly aggrieved that this is a book about Britain that only dedicates a chapter to each country.
A fun book, an easy read and a welcome tonic to the doom and gloom we often read on a daily basis.
funny
informative
medium-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced