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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Interesting take on things. Nice combination of history and general topics. A bit depressing in parts, as not necessarily the aspects of history you want to hear about in a book called "Home". It is true to Bryson's style though to go a little off topic or key in too heavily on one area to the detriment of others. For me, the first half of the book was more interesting than the last.
This is the first Bryson I've read (well, listened to in this case), and I really enjoyed it. Tons of fascinating tidbits, great stories, and interesting histories. I learned a lot from it, and it was well-written.
As for the audiobook, overall it was very well done. I had some issues at the beginning - Bryson sort of sounds like he has cotton balls in his mouth, and could be hard to hear clearly - I had to turn the volume up in my car much higher than for other audiobooks. Once I got used to his voice though, he really does a great job narrating (I always prefer when the author narrates their own work). Highly recommended, and I'll be looking for more Bryson.
As for the audiobook, overall it was very well done. I had some issues at the beginning - Bryson sort of sounds like he has cotton balls in his mouth, and could be hard to hear clearly - I had to turn the volume up in my car much higher than for other audiobooks. Once I got used to his voice though, he really does a great job narrating (I always prefer when the author narrates their own work). Highly recommended, and I'll be looking for more Bryson.
I liked this book, but wanted to like it even more ... Bryson's concept for the book is unique--take a tour of his home in the English countryside and hang broad swaths of social history from whatever is inspired by the rooms. On the halves scale, I would give this a 3.5 star rating, but I bumped it up to a 4, given the likelihood that a fair number of the anecdotes will stay with me as time goes on.
My biggest challenge is in the organizing principle of the book. Very few of the chapters stayed very long in the rooms themselves. My favorite passage by far is the section on the staircase, which provides statistics on stair falls and commentary on the design elements that contribute to such accidents. I would have appreciated a similar straight-line approach to the other rooms.
Granted, most of what Bryson volunteers is worthwhile information. I enjoyed especially the beginning of the book at the Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The salt and pepper commentary is also compelling (why do we favor these over other spices when it comes to what is on the kitchen table?). Much of the story of cholera was also presented in The Ghost Map, which I've read before, so it was nice to see that story surface here too.
Overall, Bryson presents makes a very solid argument that regardless of what most Europeans and Americans feel about the perils of the present time, today's challenges are nothing compared to the struggles of earlier generations. Reading about some of the horrendous mistakes that people made throughout history, decisions that through wrong thinking, selfishness, or outright ignorance resulted in the injury or deaths of so many people, made me feel grateful for the level of comfort that my privilege and opportunity have afforded me. It does make me wonder what might surprise us in the future as further research and discovery sheds light on what we are wrong about today.
Some might also quibble with the Western focus of the book. Very little time is spent in the East. The great majority of the book focuses on England, as might be expected since the house that inspires the tour is located there, with enough coverage of the United States to make it appeal to its purchasing citizens as well. Monticello and Mount Vernon get lively and sizeable coverage. I was attracted to these chapters too, which focused on those landmark destinations because I'd like to tour them myself.
Bryson's memoir, which is on my to-read shelf, will likely be the next of his books that I will read.
My biggest challenge is in the organizing principle of the book. Very few of the chapters stayed very long in the rooms themselves. My favorite passage by far is the section on the staircase, which provides statistics on stair falls and commentary on the design elements that contribute to such accidents. I would have appreciated a similar straight-line approach to the other rooms.
Granted, most of what Bryson volunteers is worthwhile information. I enjoyed especially the beginning of the book at the Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The salt and pepper commentary is also compelling (why do we favor these over other spices when it comes to what is on the kitchen table?). Much of the story of cholera was also presented in The Ghost Map, which I've read before, so it was nice to see that story surface here too.
Overall, Bryson presents makes a very solid argument that regardless of what most Europeans and Americans feel about the perils of the present time, today's challenges are nothing compared to the struggles of earlier generations. Reading about some of the horrendous mistakes that people made throughout history, decisions that through wrong thinking, selfishness, or outright ignorance resulted in the injury or deaths of so many people, made me feel grateful for the level of comfort that my privilege and opportunity have afforded me. It does make me wonder what might surprise us in the future as further research and discovery sheds light on what we are wrong about today.
Some might also quibble with the Western focus of the book. Very little time is spent in the East. The great majority of the book focuses on England, as might be expected since the house that inspires the tour is located there, with enough coverage of the United States to make it appeal to its purchasing citizens as well. Monticello and Mount Vernon get lively and sizeable coverage. I was attracted to these chapters too, which focused on those landmark destinations because I'd like to tour them myself.
Bryson's memoir, which is on my to-read shelf, will likely be the next of his books that I will read.
Not my favourite Bill Bryson book. While it is informative it is lacking the usual humour, occasionally raising a smile but never laugh out loud funny. The only reason I've marked this as a keeper is that I've kept all my other Bill Bryson books so I'll keep this one as well.
informative
medium-paced
Had forgotten how much I enjoy Bill Bryson’s books.
This was an informative read about a topic that interests me. Others have listed the book’s shortcomings: it is very Britain- and US-centric and addresses mostly the life of the gentry and middle classes. However for what it is, it’s written with wit and very entertaining while also educational.
This was an informative read about a topic that interests me. Others have listed the book’s shortcomings: it is very Britain- and US-centric and addresses mostly the life of the gentry and middle classes. However for what it is, it’s written with wit and very entertaining while also educational.
Just had a re-read (really a re-listen) as I love the chill vibe of this audiobook. I enjoy the way Bryson delves into history in interesting ways, and his narration for the audiobook is excellent.
informative
medium-paced
This is not a history of the home or private life, as it purports to be. It is mostly 500 pages of fun facts sometimes tangentially related to the home and of questionable scientific merit. Women's contributions to the home throughout history are seldom mentioned, as are non British/American contributions. I'm giving this 1 star because some of the facts were indeed interesting.
I'm not sure I was ready for the sheer amount of meandering that happened in this book. It's my first every Bill Bryson, and I didn't know what to expect. Well, I expected a book about his house that then became a book about houses in general, but Bryson goes all over the place. A chapter on the library gets into Palladian architecture. A nook in the house for the phone goes into Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison and electricity and phones, oh my. I should've gathered what I was in for when Bryson set the stage and went in depth on the Crystal Palace.
Mind you, all of these digressions are delightful--probably the whole point of the book, in fact--but I'm not sure I was in the place to appreciate this book as much as I could have. Since I'd checked it out of the library, I kinda had to read it or not. If it'd been in my personal collection, I would've put it back until I was in the mood. I'll definitely check out other Bryson works. I might even revisit this one someday.
Mind you, all of these digressions are delightful--probably the whole point of the book, in fact--but I'm not sure I was in the place to appreciate this book as much as I could have. Since I'd checked it out of the library, I kinda had to read it or not. If it'd been in my personal collection, I would've put it back until I was in the mood. I'll definitely check out other Bryson works. I might even revisit this one someday.
Yet another Bill Bryson book of weird & wonderful and interesting facts. I thoroughly enjoyed this history of the home and found myself saying, "ohhhh, now I understand!" a lot.