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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
Bill Bryson is seriously classist, proudly ageist, and casually racist, so from time to time this (audio)book made me want to roll my eyes and/or shake him.. but still, when he wasn't going off on random tangents about the people he met that made him sound like the worst kind of elderly curmudgeon, there were parts that were pretty fascinating. He is good at working facts and details into the narrative in a pretty seamless way that doesn't make it feel boring but actually integral. But sheesh, the guy is blind to what life might be like for those who AREN'T the privileged in the 'pretty, prosperous', mostly rural Britain he fondly remembers and longs for.
The description described it as hilarious, it was not. Author was bitter about changes to areas from what they were before (OK, granted, we all think that for some areas but not everything). The author also did not seem to like people very much and made fun of pretty much anyone he ran across (and probably me now). Gave up after 4 chapters.
Maybe better to say just not my cup of tea.
Maybe better to say just not my cup of tea.
This is the book that makes me chuckle laugh out load soo much that people on the train start shifting away from the loony giggling to herself. Bill Bryson you sir are a legend and I would like to say thank you for putting a smile on my face and laugh like a maniac and making me forget my black cloud that hovers above me or so it seems so thank you
So much complaining! Bottom line, you can never go back again. I couldn't finish it.
I don't tend to read non-fiction books, nor books about travelling. I'm more of a fiction reader, reading to escape into other people's minds and experience, through them, things I will never see. However, I make an exception for Bill Bryson. Wayne and I read 'A Walk In the Woods' - or we read the first half, where it is a walk, rather than the second where it becomes 'A Lot of Driving and the Occasional Walk Through the Woods') a year or two ago and loved his wit, his intelligence, and how we'd unwittingly learn new facts throughout. So when I saw this - a follow-up to 'Notes from a Small Island', which I own but have never read - I had to buy it. I have to admit it though: the main reason I bought it wasn't the author. It was the Jolly Fisherman skipping on the front page. I wanted to know what Bryson thought to a hovel such as Skegness.
Reading about places I'd been to and been past was a pleasure and always interesting. I got a laugh when he accurately described places and rolled my eyes when I knew for a fact that he'd made something up or exaggerated a place's features. I learnt a lot, but most of the things I learned were forgotten within minutes.
I don't have a lot else to say about this book. While I enjoyed it, I probably won't reach for it again in a while.
Reading about places I'd been to and been past was a pleasure and always interesting. I got a laugh when he accurately described places and rolled my eyes when I knew for a fact that he'd made something up or exaggerated a place's features. I learnt a lot, but most of the things I learned were forgotten within minutes.
I don't have a lot else to say about this book. While I enjoyed it, I probably won't reach for it again in a while.
Bill Bryson takes another trip around the country, following a different route to the one he took in [b:Notes from a Small Island|13542048|Notes from a Small Island|Bill Bryson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1331775349l/13542048._SY75_.jpg|940892].
Somewhat "south-centric", it takes 300 pages to reach the Midlands, followed by a short detour to Wales, 400 pages to get up north, and the final pages see him in Scotland.
He has an amiable style, and describes the places and people well. Tends to go on a rant about the decline of them when compared to his first impressions when he arrived in the 1970's for his longer than expected stay.
As usual there's side tracks into the history of people who had a connection with the places, as well as some of the impressive things built that now tend to be overlooked or forgotten.
Somewhat "south-centric", it takes 300 pages to reach the Midlands, followed by a short detour to Wales, 400 pages to get up north, and the final pages see him in Scotland.
He has an amiable style, and describes the places and people well. Tends to go on a rant about the decline of them when compared to his first impressions when he arrived in the 1970's for his longer than expected stay.
As usual there's side tracks into the history of people who had a connection with the places, as well as some of the impressive things built that now tend to be overlooked or forgotten.
Weak. I've been a big Bryson fan up until this one. Repetitive, mean-spirited and predictable. Getting more like Jeremy Clarkson. Swears too much as well.
Rather too much moaning that things aren't as good as they used to be, but it made me laugh
Notes from a Small Island was first published 20, yes 20 years ago. In that book he visited place new and revisited old haunts from when he first came to UK in the seventies. His points of view as an outsider were refreshing, fairly blunt and quite frequently very funny. The book came about after his publisher remarked that it might be worth having another look at the country now he was actually a citizen.
He did consider doing a journey between what most people think of as the two furthest points, Lands End and John O’Groats. But a couple of coincidences mean that he starts in Bognor Regis of all places, with the intention of aiming to end at Cape Wrath. He follows a very erratic journey round the country visiting new towns and passing through some of the places he visited in the first book. He unearths a variety of factual nuggets and anecdotes on each place, reminds us of how it once was and is often pretty blunt with his opinions on some of the changes that have taken place. Being older now he is a little more of a curmudgeon too, but it does make for some hilarious encounters with surly and unhelpful staff in hotels, restaurants and the attractions that he visits.
This is a country though that he loves with a passion; he is not afraid to point out the dumb things we do as a country, and he is particularly scathing of mediocrity, be it celebrity and political leaders. But he also celebrates the places we have, the beautiful natural country, the history and culture that stretches back thousands of years. He has even compiled a list of just how long it would take to visit each historic site. But even though he has lived here for years now, this country still has the ability to perplex, madden and more importantly gladden him.
A new Bryson book is always a treat, and this is no exception. Brilliant stuff.
He did consider doing a journey between what most people think of as the two furthest points, Lands End and John O’Groats. But a couple of coincidences mean that he starts in Bognor Regis of all places, with the intention of aiming to end at Cape Wrath. He follows a very erratic journey round the country visiting new towns and passing through some of the places he visited in the first book. He unearths a variety of factual nuggets and anecdotes on each place, reminds us of how it once was and is often pretty blunt with his opinions on some of the changes that have taken place. Being older now he is a little more of a curmudgeon too, but it does make for some hilarious encounters with surly and unhelpful staff in hotels, restaurants and the attractions that he visits.
This is a country though that he loves with a passion; he is not afraid to point out the dumb things we do as a country, and he is particularly scathing of mediocrity, be it celebrity and political leaders. But he also celebrates the places we have, the beautiful natural country, the history and culture that stretches back thousands of years. He has even compiled a list of just how long it would take to visit each historic site. But even though he has lived here for years now, this country still has the ability to perplex, madden and more importantly gladden him.
A new Bryson book is always a treat, and this is no exception. Brilliant stuff.