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A review by snow_phie
Notes from a Big Country by Bill Bryson
2.0
"Notes from a big country" is a collection of columns by journalist Bill Bryson reflecting on his move back to the US after spending 20 years in the UK.
The culture shock he experiences is apparently similar to any outsider coming to live to the US. Bryson's observational humour may appeal to those, like myself, who briefly lived in the United States and had similar frustrations, or those, also myself, who occasionally like to indulge in bashing the worst aspects of American culture.
Despite having been written 24 years ago, much of the commentary remains scarily on point. The excesses of capitalism and consumer culture in America, bureaucracy, corporate hypocrisy, the obliteration of nature, the American desire to sue everything that moves, the lack of sidewalks. Some things are, of course, dated - technology for example - and this is clearly written in a pre 9/11 world (the column on airport security makes that very clear!), but there's something entertaining about the nostalgia / outdatedness of it all.
Bryson's joy for things, from diners and motels to the outdoors and tree leaves in the Fall in New England, is truly communicative and these were my favourite moments. That and bashing aforementioned consumer culture and corporate hypocrisy.
Overall, I enjoyed much of the columns (though I would have included fewer) but it's a difficult book to read in one go. The tone is light, the observations funny, but it all starts to feel very samey after a few chapters. For that reason, I would recommend it as a palate cleanser between books, or perhaps one for the toilet bookshelves.
The culture shock he experiences is apparently similar to any outsider coming to live to the US. Bryson's observational humour may appeal to those, like myself, who briefly lived in the United States and had similar frustrations, or those, also myself, who occasionally like to indulge in bashing the worst aspects of American culture.
Despite having been written 24 years ago, much of the commentary remains scarily on point. The excesses of capitalism and consumer culture in America, bureaucracy, corporate hypocrisy, the obliteration of nature, the American desire to sue everything that moves, the lack of sidewalks. Some things are, of course, dated - technology for example - and this is clearly written in a pre 9/11 world (the column on airport security makes that very clear!), but there's something entertaining about the nostalgia / outdatedness of it all.
Bryson's joy for things, from diners and motels to the outdoors and tree leaves in the Fall in New England, is truly communicative and these were my favourite moments. That and bashing aforementioned consumer culture and corporate hypocrisy.
Overall, I enjoyed much of the columns (though I would have included fewer) but it's a difficult book to read in one go. The tone is light, the observations funny, but it all starts to feel very samey after a few chapters. For that reason, I would recommend it as a palate cleanser between books, or perhaps one for the toilet bookshelves.