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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this one but the bar was set high with A Walk in the Woods. This was funny and informative and I loved learning so much about England, Wales, and Scotland. Gosh why did I not discovered Bill Bryson sooner?
A wonderful follow-up to Bryson's "Notes from a Small Island", recording his experiences on a more-or-less northwest journey up the entire length of the UK. I found it hilarious, as I do most of his books; he's one of the few writers whose humor still makes me laugh out loud.
As an American with a British partner, I very much enjoyed Bryson's grumbling and comparisons. Toward the end, he felt disengaged and a bit rushed, but the ambling parts in the middle piqued my interest in places I've not yet been.
I managed to get to Chapter 11. I just didn’t enjoy the commentary overall. Some of the descriptions of the countryside was lovely, and some historical information very interesting. However some of the comments made about certain groups of people just wasn’t for me.
This book is definitely written for people of the authors age, gender and background. It’s not meant for me. He actually muses that he’s a “grumpy old man” and points.
Disappointing as I love A Walk in the Woods. But just under halfway through is enough for me.
This book is definitely written for people of the authors age, gender and background. It’s not meant for me. He actually muses that he’s a “grumpy old man” and points.
Disappointing as I love A Walk in the Woods. But just under halfway through is enough for me.
My biggest problem with this book is how negative Bryson is about nearly everything (except Oxford, thank goodness). This was a good intro to British geography and spots to see while I'm abroad, but I'm sure there are more enjoyable books out there that achieve the same goal.
I like reading about the little hidden places, like a little garden near the highway. But the proselytizing got a bit heavy-handed.
Bill Bryson is SO funny, and there were definitely moments in this book that I laughed out loud while reading. BUT, I didn't think this book was as good as the first in this sort of companion-travel-memoir-duology. Bill seems to be getting a smidge grumpy in his impending dotage; when once he commented benevolently on people's quirks, he now seems to do a lot more griping about their deficiencies. And actually, he spends a lot less time even mentioning the characters he meets on the road and more time ruminating on the landscape (which is still interesting - because everything Bill Bryson writes is interesting - I just miss the funny interactions that took place between him and folks he meets in his travels). He clearly still loves his adopted country, but he also clearly longs for time (or country, as the case may be) past. I really enjoyed Little Dribbling still, because Bill Bryson could write about concrete drying and I'd want to turn the pages, but I just didn't enjoy it as *much* as some of his other books.
Bryson is a reliably entertaining read, whatever the topic. He's a curious crank who can craft a killer sentence and shares his often insightful and frequently funny observations and peeves. One gets the impression that he'd be doing what he's doing *anyway* - taking walks, visiting museums, reading up on names and places and ideas he encounters along the way - and he'd probably be writing about it for himself in a journal. That we get to follow along with him is a treat. I often chuckle out loud reading Bryson, and read bits aloud to B & M. I could NOT get through the following passage - literally doubled over with tears streaming down my face. He's describing an odd guided tour through some stuffy castle or country house or other: "The rooms were small, airless, and cramped. To make matters worse, somebody in our group was making the most dreadful silent farts. Fortunately, it was me, so I wasn't nearly as bothered as the others."
3.5* I loved reading about parts of Great Britain that I'd like to visit and hearing anecdotes along the way. The map in the front is beautiful and I kept referring to it while reading. Bryson is still occassionally funny, but can be a bit pompous, full of complaint, and sometimes treats wait staff abominably (deservedly? Maybe, but I doubt it.) The audiobook includes a song called "The Bryson Line" in the beginning, which is just perfect.