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 Notes from a Small Island :: 0380727501
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| Reacting to an itch common to Midwesterners since there's been a Midwest from which to escape, writer Bill Bryson moved from Iowa to Britain in 1973. Working for such places as Times of London, among others, he has lived quite happily there ever since. Now Bryson has decided his native country needs him--but first, he's going on a roundabout jaunt on the island he loves. Britain fascinates Americans: it's familiar, yet alien; the same in some ways, yet so different. Bryson does an excellent job of showing his adopted home to a Yank audience, but you never get the feeling that Bryson is too much of an outsider to know the true nature of the country. Notes from a Small Island strikes a nice balance: the writing is American-silly with a British range of vocabulary. Bryson's marvelous ear is also in evidence: "... I noted the names of the little villages we passed through--Pinhead, West Stuttering, Bakelite, Ham Hocks, Sheepshanks ..." If you're an Anglophile, you'll devour Notes from a Small Island. Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
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Author: Guest
If you are thinking of travelling to Great Britain, the UK, England, the Old Country...however you want to put it, make sure you have this book with you.
If you want to see the off beat, view what most Americans will miss, find out what makes our cousins over there tick...this is essential reading!(and if you to do all the above and get a good insight to the British humour, be sure to get 'Shakespeare My B*tt!' by John Donoghue )
Should be issued in the departure lounge!
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Author: Guest
If you like Bryson, like I do, it's a fun read. The sense of humor perhaps a little too predictable by now, this is no "walk in the woods" where my sides hurt I laughed so much. But nevertheless entertaining, although I think I am about done with his books.
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Author: Guest
I love Bill Bryson's books, even though I've criticized a couple of them. He's witty, urbane, insightful and an all around fun guy. In fact, he's my favorite liberal and one of only 4 or 5 with an I.Q. above 95. This book is just a wonderful insight into the mind of the British, and a sad eye-opener to some of the tragic destruction of the environment that made Great Britain what it was. If you want to have a wonderful, relaxing and quite funny journey through Great Britain from the eyes of an American who lived there for many years, do read this book. In fact read all of Bill's books, you won't be sorry. Thanks Bill, you're my hero!!!
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Author: Guest
The book is brilliant, no question about it. His stories are great, his humor dry and culturally insightful. The problem is that, like all audio books, the voice of the narrator can make or break the experience. And in this case, unfortunately, the voice of the author fails the material.
Sorry, Bill, but your voice is just too droning and monotonous for an audio book. It's hard to get past the first few discs as his voice tends to lull you to sleep. I wouldn't recommend this audio book for listening while driving or in traffic (as I did, and almost got into an accident).
If you want this book, get the paperback.
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Author: Guest
This is the third Bill Bryson travelogue I have read. This has several laugh-out-loud sections, particularly if you have travelled in the United Kingdom. It is excellent for relaxing on weekends or on a plane. If you have never been to the UK and don't know any British people, then don't form all your opinions based on this one book, but Bryson does a good job distilling some of the differences between our nations into an amusing few hundred pages.
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