Notes from a Small Island

Bill Bryson offers the most wonderful "travelogue" of England one could ever imagine. There are quote marks around travelogue because this genre is often viewed aa a boring publication attune to looking at someone's vacation photos. Not so with Bryson! The reader experiences the journey as though traveling along as Bryson's boon companion. His comments on food, architecture, people...every aspect of his journey...are funny, poignant, amusing, and fascinating. The occasional resulting diatribes, particularly regarding the issue of modern architecture, are no-holds-barred clear, intelligent, thoughtful and intense. If one loves England, his Bryson's work brings back to life all of what makes that country such a unique and pleasurable place to visit, and his exploration of unusual villages and vistas makes one yearn to return to see the sights for yourself. For those who have never had the pleasure of traveling in England (visiting in London doesn't count), Bryson allows a peek into the diverse and intriguing trip-worthy places through the the country and the joys, and frustrations of communicating with those with whom we share a common language...or do we?. This is a marvelous book to read at any time, but particularly when you need an amusing distraction. The volume makes a wonderful gift for all occasions as I cannot think of a soul who would enjoy the brisk and breezy style in which Bryson writes, his marvelous sense of humor, and his intriguing topic. This is truly a FIVE star book! Read! Enjoy!

Actually, a previous reviewer sums up this book and author quite nicely - Mr. Bryson is much better with places than with people. That being said, I must say I have never laughed so hard while reading a book as I have with this particular publication; good thing I read it at home and not someplace public as people would have been giving me funny looks. I am going to be traveling to the UK soon and thought it would be nice to read someone else's thoughts and views about the country. So I logged onto Amazon and picked up this book, in which Mr. Bryson (an American who lived in Great Britain for 2 decades) details his travels via train, bus, and on foot through various portions of the country. I appreciated the author's candidly hilarious experiences, thoughts and views, and almost poetic (well, sometimes more like a limerick than a poem - ahem) descriptions of the countryside, towns, buildings, and people. The only time I take issue with this book is during a few of his less-than-happy encounters with some of those people described, where Mr. Bryson occasionally comes off as being rather rude (ok, sometimes it felt justifiable - to me - as when he was up against an older couple who used him as their whipping post regarding their recent trip to the US). But I took issue with his treatment of a poor young man working at a McDonalds in Scotland who was simply doing his job and didn't deserve the fractious diatribe to which Mr. Bryson subjected this kid. Granted, the author was suffering an apparently large hangover, but even I wouldn't be so rude(well, I don't *think* I would, and I've had my own share of hangovers). Perhaps it's also because I used to work in the service industry and have myself dealt with less-than-cheerful customers who tended to blame the order-taker for a variety of ills. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and do recommend it to anybody interested in reading about the beauty, vagaries (funny as well as sad), and small histories of a country as seen through the eyes and experiences of a non-Brit who loves this country whole-heartedly.

The golden retriever in a cat suit who sprawls on my lap when I read demotes this book to one star for not being solemn enough. I often writhed with laughter, accidentally dislodging the other critic which left him disenchanted. Since I am the one who can type, however, the book gets all five stars. NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND is a tour of contemporary England, taken in 1994 when the author, an American, was about to move his family stateside after two decades on said island. Bill Bryson ranges far and wide, giving us a broad civic tour. He travels by foot, bus and train and, ever so briefly, by rental car. He has a sharp eye for reporting the layers of human endeavor or whim that are stacked on English soil. In his 20 years on that ground, he has obviously absorbed the national penchant for irony and wit and uses adjectives and adverbs like a native. Words like "splendid," "properly" and "crushingly" dot his prose without affectation. He includes a glossary at the back, but is apparently unaware that far more words and phrases that are now second nature to him still require some explanation over here. What is a flyover? Bryson does not hesitate to speak his mind. While he is quick to pounce on folly and annoyances, he is equally quick to offer heartfelt praise where due. Much of the laugh-out-loud humor is at his own expense; he takes a spectacular pratfall every once in awhile. With impeccable rhythm, he integrates observation, history, storytelling and the occasional stand-up comedy riffs (some belonging to the lower rungs of the comedy ladder, some a little higher). The result is that I feel closer to England, have discovered an engaging writer and have toned the abs a bit for all the laughing.

Ein Muss für UK-Fans!

Vingt ans après son arrivée en Angleterre, Bill Bryson décide de refaire son voyage initiatique Outre-Manche - le tour de la Grande-Bretagne jusqu'à John O'Groats avant de repartir aux Etats-Unis avec femme et enfants. Il raconte son périple dans ce livre plein d'humour, d'anecdotes pittoresques et d'histoires cocasses telle que la véritable histoire de Harry Gordon Selfridge et des Dolly Sisters, ou encore celle de la "chanson des Orcades" composée par les tommies morts d'ennui qui y étaient postés pendant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale. Le tout écrit dans un style alerte et dans un anglais très correct et recherché, ce qui est un plus pour le lecteur non anglophone. Ce livre est le meilleur de la demi-douzaine que je possède de cet auteur. Seule réserve: Mrs Smegma, la patronne tyrannique de la pension de famille au tout début du livre, a été affublée d'un patronyme moins répugnant dans les éditions récentes. What a shame!

I could read Bill Bryson's travel tales forever. Something about his endless enthusiasm for the oddities of people and places, his sense of humour, and his unique insights on history and culture. Notes from a small island is a very interesting read, whether you've visited the UK or not. Also, in the modern age of Trip Advisor, Google and other technologies to make travel plans, reading about Bryson's misadventures and spontaneous detours is excellent.

Excellant writing. Very engaging , funny and informative. Highly recommend it

I’ve read this a couple of times now and enjoy it just as much. He packs so much humour into each paragraph but so much of it is subtle and self-deprecatory that it never gets in the way. This must be one of my favourite books.