After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. ("I had recently read," Bryson writes, "that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.") But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.
Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.
"Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it."After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i>The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to return to the United States. ("I had recently read," Bryson writes, "that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.") But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.
Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.
...ContinuaAbsolutely funny. The author decides to start again his first travel across the Great Britain because he is planning to come back to USA.
The book is a trip all around British places and habits, from the very beginning, a ferry boat travel from France, to the alienlike landscapes in Highlands. Bryson is able to complain or explain his happiness about weather, food and train in a way that let the reader thinking about booking a flight to UK.
Being a while in Scotland and England, I can confirm lots of situations in the same funny or annoying way, like the impossibility to understand people from Glasgow, having fun in Exeter after sunset or British way to be absolutely kind and respectful.
This book shows Bryson's love for the island he lived in and could be uses as a guide to discover Great Britain.
Being a regular traveller, Bryson has the ability to compare the UK with many other places, while also providing an almost native kind of insight and background, after living there for over 20 years.
With his usual blend of humour he describes many cities and towns, with their long history (maybe more than they can comfortably handle), mild weather, friendly people. I have lived in the UK for a few years and feel embarrassed that I haven't seen or understood nearly that much in my days there.
UK is not without its share of shortcomings (e.g. architectural blunders), and Bryson is not blind to these, but still he maintains loving and supportive tone in his criticism.
...ContinuaA terrific read! It's humourous, observant, funny and well-written, by an author who knows what he's talking about and shows a genuine love for the heritage and the architecture of the little island. Especially liked the observations on English character :)
It occasionally slows down and gets a little repetitive, for example in the parts about the English riviera during low season, but I think that's not enough for me to stop appreciating the book.
You'll enjoy it if you have been to Britain, but also if you haven't, since Bryson's writing is so much fun. It was my first book by this author, but I'll definitely look for other books he published!
...ContinuaFunny, but a bit too long, sometimes it gets boring. It's a thicker book than "Neither Here Nor There" but here Bryson travels within a small island, not across a whole continent.
This book will make you laugh a lot and learn about the United Kingdom and some of its most interesting places. This book is full of anecdotes about each of the city that Bryson visits on a trip around Britain.
