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Bill Bryson likes hedgerows, yelling at people, the English language, complaining, pretending to be a hiker, the fifth Duke of Portland, W.J.C. Scott-Bentinck, and himself . He tries too hard to be clever, and although you're being introduced to some interesting mental pictures ("a mid-face snack dis Leggi tutto

This book combines several of my favorite things: travelogues, England, and the charm of Bill Bryson. It is the book version of comfort food. So you can understand why I instinctively reached for this audiobook on the the first day of my new job. I wanted something comforting. And humorous. And Britis Leggi tutto

Newsflash: I have a new entry into my Top Ten Authors (past and present) that I would like to invite to a night out at the pub for a session of heavy drinking and tall tales. Bill Bryson, with his sly humour and irreverent atitude towards tourism, is a strong contender for the top position right af

After 20 years in England, Bill Bryson decided to tour Britain in 1995 by public transport over ~6 weeks and write a book about it. HUMOUR There are snippets of humour and insight: “a young man with more on his mind than in it”; “carpet with the sort of pattern you get when you rub your eyes too hard” Leggi tutto

I first read this book back in the late 90s, 20 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed. This is my first re-read, and it was enjoyable, as good as the first read ? Hmm, probably not (which was a little disappointing), but still fun. I shall write more thoughts anon but shall leave you with Bill’s thought Leggi tutto

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson is an ode to Britain, lovingly written by an American who lived there for almost twenty years and wanted to revisit it before departing for his home country. I have especially enjoyed the audio version. If you do not like curmudgeons, this will not be the boo Leggi tutto

Ambling know-it-all wanders around the UK, complaining about architecture, getting drunk, finding delight in little, and generally having a hard time deciding where to eat (always Indian or Chinese in the end). It paints a pretty depressing picture of the UK, when I think his intention was the oppos Leggi tutto

Britain viewed through an American's eyes.Although both the British and American speak English, their words and cultures are hilariously different. A quick look at the local magazines at a boarding house I'd intended to turn in early, but on the way to my room I noticed a door marked RESIDENTS' LOUNGE Leggi tutto

Taking a trip with Bill Bryson is always a crap shoot. Am I getting the funny self-effacing Bill? Am I getting bilious Bill? Am I getting drunken Bill on a murderous rampage? Okay, that last one, sadly, was never published. Here, Bill wants to get a last look at Great Britain before he moves back to Leggi tutto

It took me forever to read this because I was constantly picking it up and putting it down, not because I wasn’t enjoying it, but because it’s one of those books where it works to read it in this way, and I read so many other books during the times I took breaks from reading this book. Sometimes I ju Leggi tutto