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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
(Entered info about the book on 7/21/21) As a big Bryson fan I was pretty disappointed in this one. For one thing Bryson wasn't narrating his own book. His comedic timing makes his books as funny as they are, without him speaking, some of the jokes fall falt. Plus this book was writing pre-9/11 so some of the jokes were in bad taste. He didn't know. Not his fault. I didn't finish this one.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
I expected to enjoy this more, but, despite lots of funny parts, it got a little boring and repetitive. The chapter on the glories of American junk food had us in stitches. We listened to the audiobook while driving from PA to Colorado.
This was Alex's bedtime book the past month or so. (Not my first read of it - of course?)
Travel books must be difficult to sustain-- Bryson is bright and articulate but his books are a tad too cynical at times. This book turned cynical but he seemed to round the bend at the end.
About 5 years ago, I saw this book sitting on a dock somewhere. I was drawn in by the title. What sort of new perspectives could I gain from reading a book about new perspectives? Anyway, I made a mental note to read it soon, soon turning out to be five years later when I remember that it existed.
I'm a Stranger Here Myself is a collection of newspaper articles that Bill Bryson wrote about America. They start out mostly talking about how strange America is in comparison to England, where Bryson had lived with his family for the past 20 years. Fast food is different, as is late night TV and how towns are set up. However, the essays soon take on an analytical quality towards American Society, without really needing to draw comparisons anymore. Why do people keep gardens? What's the point of going to the beach? Why do our children grow up so fast?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Each article is just a few pages long and don't overstay their welcome. There's humor, heart, and sarcasm in appropriate doses, and even a bit of melancholy when you aren't expecting it. The real idea of it is, "Wow, America sure is weird!", so if you like that sort of juxtaposition, then you will like this book.
When I had first looked at this book five years ago, I had expected it to be more comparisons between Britain and America, but it's really not as much as you would expect. But that's fine, as I'm sure there are plenty of other books about that.
I'm a Stranger Here Myself is a collection of newspaper articles that Bill Bryson wrote about America. They start out mostly talking about how strange America is in comparison to England, where Bryson had lived with his family for the past 20 years. Fast food is different, as is late night TV and how towns are set up. However, the essays soon take on an analytical quality towards American Society, without really needing to draw comparisons anymore. Why do people keep gardens? What's the point of going to the beach? Why do our children grow up so fast?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Each article is just a few pages long and don't overstay their welcome. There's humor, heart, and sarcasm in appropriate doses, and even a bit of melancholy when you aren't expecting it. The real idea of it is, "Wow, America sure is weird!", so if you like that sort of juxtaposition, then you will like this book.
When I had first looked at this book five years ago, I had expected it to be more comparisons between Britain and America, but it's really not as much as you would expect. But that's fine, as I'm sure there are plenty of other books about that.
I read "A walk in the woods" and liked it enough that I wanted to read more Bryson. Bryson, originally from the U.S., lived in England for 20 years before returning home. Each chapter is an article he wrote to an English journal describing his adaptation back into American culture. Some chapters are more redundant in humor but some made me laugh out loud - such as him lamenting on how many accidents a year occur in the U.S. involving ceiling, walls and couches or something like that.
I like Bill Bryson very much. I have enjoyed several of his books in the past and I think he is very funny. However, I listened to a couple hours of this audiobook before concluding that this is not the right book at the right time for the right person (ie me.) Here is why:
1) I very rarely enjoy collections of newspaper columns because of their length. By the time I start warming to the topic, the column ends abruptly and we're on to the next thing. I felt the same way about "My Planet" by Mary Roach.
2) In the case of this book, the next thing was often another complaint about America Today. It came across as very middle-aged white man "things were better in my day!" get off my lawn-ish. Even if I agreed with him (although often I didn't) I wasn't particularly interested in hearing about it.
Still planning to read other Bryson books I've missed over the years, but this one is not my cuppa.
1) I very rarely enjoy collections of newspaper columns because of their length. By the time I start warming to the topic, the column ends abruptly and we're on to the next thing. I felt the same way about "My Planet" by Mary Roach.
2) In the case of this book, the next thing was often another complaint about America Today. It came across as very middle-aged white man "things were better in my day!" get off my lawn-ish. Even if I agreed with him (although often I didn't) I wasn't particularly interested in hearing about it.
Still planning to read other Bryson books I've missed over the years, but this one is not my cuppa.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced