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amylg's review
I don’t think short stories are for me. Some of these were funny but I kinda lost sight of the point most of the time.
khuizenga's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 - some of these essays are so funny I choked, notably the ones where he talks about going on adventures with his family. Others are not funny at all - like the fictitious renting a car or setting up a computer. I actually used to live in the parts of NH he describes here, and that was pretty exciting. A fun quick read.
traceyelder's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - a collection of columns Bryson wrote over the course of a couple of years after spending many years living abroad. While the book is a bit dated (it was published 13 years ago), it's written in true Bryson style: witty, sarcastic, educational, and entertaining. Given the format, it reads very quickly, and I recommend to people looking for a smart, funny read.
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first experience with Bill Bryson and I loved it. I had to keep reading parts aloud to my family, and I would laugh so hard they couldn't understand what I was saying! Great for a good laugh.
seclement's review against another edition
4.0
Bill Bryson is always entertaining, and this book did not disappoint. Perhaps I appreciate this more as an American expat who is baffled by my home country when I visit (though I have only been away 6 years...I can only imagine what it's like to return after 20!). There was a lot of laughing out loud, a lot of cute, curmudgeonly old man comments, and a whole lot of nodding of heads when I read this. It's a fun book that doesn't take long to read, and because it's written for a British audience, I actually think it's more honest than it would perhaps be otherwise. I'd recommend this book not just to fans of Bill Bryson, but to Americans who want to actually get a sneak peak into how peculiar the country can seem, even to an insider turned outsider.