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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I love Bill Bryson's writing, but the lack of flow due to the format (a collection of articles he wrote for a London magazine) made it difficult to get into. Nevertheless, Bryson's observations make me snicker, causing people around me to give strange looks.
So this was mildly entertaining, and definitely made me laugh out loud a few times. I love the way Bryson thinks and the way he carefully phrases things for maximum absurdity! The reading experience wasn't my favorite because of the format.
This is a collection of columns written over a few years' time. The upside to this is that the book is small pods of 4-page stories. Easy to fly through. The downside, which had me dreading the last paragraph of each column, is the pithy ending to each. You know how comedians end their sets with a joke that ties back to something they said in the beginning? Each column is like that. Probably cute and great when reading one per week, but ten or more in a row really wore on me.
I was also hoping for more contrast between the way things are done in England and America. I picked up a few things (America has lots of variety when shopping for anything, wait staff is much friendlier in the States...) but would have loved more.
I recommend this book for people who like sentences with humor, but I wouldn't say it's going to teach you much about either country or be a book you can't wait to finish.
This is a collection of columns written over a few years' time. The upside to this is that the book is small pods of 4-page stories. Easy to fly through. The downside, which had me dreading the last paragraph of each column, is the pithy ending to each. You know how comedians end their sets with a joke that ties back to something they said in the beginning? Each column is like that. Probably cute and great when reading one per week, but ten or more in a row really wore on me.
I was also hoping for more contrast between the way things are done in England and America. I picked up a few things (America has lots of variety when shopping for anything, wait staff is much friendlier in the States...) but would have loved more.
I recommend this book for people who like sentences with humor, but I wouldn't say it's going to teach you much about either country or be a book you can't wait to finish.
I'm a huge fan of Bryson's humor, and many of these stories had me crying and unable to breathe because I was laughing so hard. A definite must-read.
Four starts mostly because I wish it was longer! These little articles ate great for subway/bathroom reading. You can pick up the book and not worry about remembering what he was writing about.
Bryson's writing is wonderful here - I always love his crazy-yet-accurate descriptions of stuff.
A few of the 'chapters' are still spot-on; others are quite dated (some hilariously so) at this point. Only a few gave me the vibe of "crochety old man" but it doesn't really ruin anything. Just turn the page and read a new one.
Bryson's writing is wonderful here - I always love his crazy-yet-accurate descriptions of stuff.
A few of the 'chapters' are still spot-on; others are quite dated (some hilariously so) at this point. Only a few gave me the vibe of "crochety old man" but it doesn't really ruin anything. Just turn the page and read a new one.
This offers a good view of American life of a person coming back to it.
If you are a bill bryson fan, this is your book. I loved it.
I've decided that I would love to do a reading of Bill Bryson or hear HIM read these aloud. His stories make the perfect monologues. "At a Loss" in this particular book had me howling out loud. There's nothing like a good book that makes you giggle while sitting completely alone!
Fun vignettes of America in the 90s, told through the eyes of an American who has been living in the UK for the preceding 20 years. Lovely.
His sarcastic, witty, and hilarious observations keep me laughing. He's got a lot of perceptive power AND he's funny. Love it.
What I read: I’m a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson
Why I picked it up: It’s our June selection for book club.
How I read it: On paperback over almost a month, which is a long time for me.
What it’s about: It’s a collection of Bill’s newspaper column during his first few years back in the states after moving home from being in England for almost two decades. It’s 1997-1999 or so throughout the essays. The thing they all have in common is that they’re written by Bill, and that’s about it.
What I liked: There were plenty where I laughed out loud. They were funny.
What I disliked: There were a LOT of them. I was done with this book at 25%. If it had ended at 1/3 the length, I’d have given it five stars. But knocking off two for the two superfluous thirds.
Genre: Humorist essay, non fiction.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and pick it up in the bookstore and read two essays, then put it back. Congrats you’ve read enough of this book.
Why I picked it up: It’s our June selection for book club.
How I read it: On paperback over almost a month, which is a long time for me.
What it’s about: It’s a collection of Bill’s newspaper column during his first few years back in the states after moving home from being in England for almost two decades. It’s 1997-1999 or so throughout the essays. The thing they all have in common is that they’re written by Bill, and that’s about it.
What I liked: There were plenty where I laughed out loud. They were funny.
What I disliked: There were a LOT of them. I was done with this book at 25%. If it had ended at 1/3 the length, I’d have given it five stars. But knocking off two for the two superfluous thirds.
Genre: Humorist essay, non fiction.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and pick it up in the bookstore and read two essays, then put it back. Congrats you’ve read enough of this book.