Scan barcode
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure what to make of this book, which sees Bryson travel round America in search of "prototypical small town America" (the first half sees him travel round the eastern states, while he travels round the western half of the country in the second half of the book).
The book is funny but I'd forgotten I read this book when I reread it over the last few days, and I'm surprised how little of it came back. I recognised the odd description, joke, and turn of phrase, but beyond that there wasn't much that came back to me.
In addition, I'm surprised how reliant on stereotypes that Bryson was. I don't recall getting that sense the first time I read it.
My final grumble would be that this book's old now (it was first published in 1989), and I'm not sure it's dated well. My first instinct when he quotes prices (we're supposed to be shocked at) is to think they don't sound bad.
So, in short, it's an easy read, but I don't think you'll ever say it was memorable.
The book is funny but I'd forgotten I read this book when I reread it over the last few days, and I'm surprised how little of it came back. I recognised the odd description, joke, and turn of phrase, but beyond that there wasn't much that came back to me.
In addition, I'm surprised how reliant on stereotypes that Bryson was. I don't recall getting that sense the first time I read it.
My final grumble would be that this book's old now (it was first published in 1989), and I'm not sure it's dated well. My first instinct when he quotes prices (we're supposed to be shocked at) is to think they don't sound bad.
So, in short, it's an easy read, but I don't think you'll ever say it was memorable.
lethaldose's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, there was some disappointment is this book and Bill Bryson felt a little to cynical in writing this book.
My disappoint here is he does not go to all the states he sets out to go to, so I felt cheated out of part of my journey here.
That being said, Bryson does a great job of making you feel and see what he felt in his travels and gives America a feel of unexplored country that you want to set out into like Lewis and Clark.
My disappoint here is he does not go to all the states he sets out to go to, so I felt cheated out of part of my journey here.
That being said, Bryson does a great job of making you feel and see what he felt in his travels and gives America a feel of unexplored country that you want to set out into like Lewis and Clark.
nsheep's review against another edition
1.0
Having finished this book I couldn't tell if Bill Bryson hated or loved small town America. This may be a product of the narrator instead of Bill Bryson himself (I listened to the audiobook) but he came across as snarky and condescending in this novel, making fun of multiple people he met on the road. This is not really a side of the author I enjoyed, and frankly I'll probably stay away from any other of his American road trip novels.
artbookshelfodyssey's review against another edition
4.0
This book Bryson seems to grumble a lot more than in the other ones I've read, and it was getting kind of old after awhile. But I can't help but think that most of his adventures (getting lost, can't find the place he's looking for, or disappointed in the patheticness of the place he's looking for) would have been avoided if he had the internet, gps, cell phone, etc. But since this took place in 1990 none of that was around. Which led me to an interesting thought...has gps, internet, etc made our travels more boring, or more enjoyable? Getting lost is half the fun, right?
vortimer's review against another edition
2.0
Since starting reading Bryson almost exactly a year ago, I've found his output varied: some I've greatly enjoyed, and some I haven't. This is towards the latter.
It covers much the same ground as some of his other US set writing - perhaps if I'd read this first I'd have given it a higher score - and the mean spirited edge to some of his humour is more evident here.
It covers much the same ground as some of his other US set writing - perhaps if I'd read this first I'd have given it a higher score - and the mean spirited edge to some of his humour is more evident here.
mccluskey's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5
I didn’t know it was possible to laugh out loud so much at a book!!
kcrouth's review against another edition
4.0
the quote on the cover sucked me in:
". . . the kind of book Steinbeck might have written if he'd traveled with David Letterman instead of Charlie the poodle." - New York magazine. (sic)
"The Lost Continent" is a hilarious, irreverent, yet thoughtful trek around the mainland US during the mid 1980s. If you have ever read anything by Bill Bryson, you know what a wonderfully entertaining smart-ass he can be. Well what better traveling companion on a jaunt literally around the entire US in an aging Chevrolet Chevette shit-wagon?
This book is a wild, thoroughly entertaining 14,000 mile ride, taking the back roads (hats off to William Least Heat-Moon's "Blue Highways" and Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley") and stopping to smell the roses along the way. I really enjoyed this journey, particularly because my wife and i have traveled a good portion of it over the last 4 years. Having taken three driving trips to Colorado, New Mexico, California, Missouri and Kansas, we actually saw and stopped at many of the same places Mr. Bryson writes about. I can't say that my comments are the same as his, but it was great to hear his clever sense of humor narrating the places we've visited so recently. All in all, this book is a trip worth taking!
". . . the kind of book Steinbeck might have written if he'd traveled with David Letterman instead of Charlie the poodle." - New York magazine. (sic)
"The Lost Continent" is a hilarious, irreverent, yet thoughtful trek around the mainland US during the mid 1980s. If you have ever read anything by Bill Bryson, you know what a wonderfully entertaining smart-ass he can be. Well what better traveling companion on a jaunt literally around the entire US in an aging Chevrolet Chevette shit-wagon?
This book is a wild, thoroughly entertaining 14,000 mile ride, taking the back roads (hats off to William Least Heat-Moon's "Blue Highways" and Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley") and stopping to smell the roses along the way. I really enjoyed this journey, particularly because my wife and i have traveled a good portion of it over the last 4 years. Having taken three driving trips to Colorado, New Mexico, California, Missouri and Kansas, we actually saw and stopped at many of the same places Mr. Bryson writes about. I can't say that my comments are the same as his, but it was great to hear his clever sense of humor narrating the places we've visited so recently. All in all, this book is a trip worth taking!
booksarecoolwhoknew's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
2.75
The oldest but also most dated of Bill Bryson’s books I’ve read. Informative and funny like the others, but he comes across as particularly abrasive in regards to problematic views & language in this book and it was draining by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Racial slurs