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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Reading this book is kind of like picking up an encyclopedia, flipping through randomly, and reading only the most interesting entries you come across before flipping randomly to another part of the encyclopedia. It's akin, I suppose, to falling into a wikipedia hole--wholly interesting but ultimately a somewhat scattered experience.
The book is fine and, really, the book is full of fascinating little details and stories. But I don't know that it works as a book. Though the real problem may be that I was expecting this book to be something quite different.
I didn't realize this book would largely focus on 19th century England, and so I was a bit disappointed in general. I have a great interest in less documented history, especially the history of how people have actually lived at different time periods...but Victorian England isn't one of those times.
Anyrate, the book isn't bad, it's just not what I expected or wanted.
The book is fine and, really, the book is full of fascinating little details and stories. But I don't know that it works as a book. Though the real problem may be that I was expecting this book to be something quite different.
I didn't realize this book would largely focus on 19th century England, and so I was a bit disappointed in general. I have a great interest in less documented history, especially the history of how people have actually lived at different time periods...but Victorian England isn't one of those times.
Anyrate, the book isn't bad, it's just not what I expected or wanted.
As Bill Bryson goes through each room of his 1851 home in England, he takes the reader through a journey of the histories of each room. While this may seem like a boring premise on the surface, it was everything but. From the history of the spice trade in the kitchen, to the history of hygiene in the bathroom, this book took me on a nonstop journey back in time. Normally I find history books difficult to read due to feeling overwhelmed by the information overload, however Bryson has a way of making these anecdotes easy to digest through his humorous takes and tone. Thanks to Bryson, I now have more places I would like to visit including where Crystal Palace stood in Hyde Park and to visit Otzi (a man who lived between 3350 and 3105 BC).
funny
informative
lighthearted
Just superb, especially the history of servitude in England.
Random tidbits galore! 3.5/5 because if I didn’t audiobook I honestly would not be able to finish. One takeaway is no way should early 1800s Europe be Romanticized, sorry Bridgerton but I’m not buying it. Also wish I could live in Bill Brysons head for a day.
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
I wanted to like this so much more than I did. It was interesting enough to just barely keep my attention, but the book was rambling and very loosely connected to the themes of home and private life, which I found disappointing. There were many little gems of facts and surprising connections, but overall, I ended up wondering if I'd actually learned anything of substance. It was also depressing or disgusting most of the time, though I suppose Bryson can't help is subject matter. I'm hoping the next book of his that I read is better.
informative
slow-paced