Notes from a Small Island: Bill Bryson: 9780380727506: Amazon.com: Books
Notes from a Small Island Paperback – May 15, 2001
by Bill Bryson (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 6,977 customer reviews
Before New York Times bestselling author Bill Bryson wrote The Road to Little Dribbling, he took this delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation of Great Britain, which has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie’s Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey.
----------------------
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
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.
From the Back Cover
Before New York Times bestselling author Bill Bryson wrote The Road to Little Dribbling, he took this delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation of Great Britain, which has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie’s Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey.
About the Author
Bill Bryson's bestselling books include One Summer, A Short History of Nearly Everything, At Home, A Walk in the Woods, Neither Here nor There, Made in America, and The Mother Tongue. He lives in England with his wife.
Return to Product Overview
-----------------
Top customer reviews
Ari87
5.0 out of 5 starsBill Bryson Binge!July 11, 2014
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
Right. Well this book completely derailed my reading list for the summer. I was supposed to be catching up on Criminal Justice texts and memorizing terms from Barron's Law Dictionary... Instead, I purchased Notes from a Small Island and things went out of control from there. It is literally the first time in my life that reading a book made me laugh out loud and uncontrollably, to TEARS. This gem was highly recommended by English friends as a must-read before I make the move to the UK for my year of study abroad this fall. I obliged. Not even halfway through the book, I decided to order more of his books right away in order to have them ready when I finished with this one. That is how my Bill Bryson binge began. Currently I am on my third book (by order of what arrives in the mail first) called A Short History of Nearly Everything.
Bryson is merciless in his observations of British towns and the British in general, but it's all in the spirit of that endearingly cynical, self-deprecating, quintessential British humour. (see what I did there?!) His way of writing puts you at ease and it's like a cross between travel guide, government & history lesson and stand up comedy, as Bryson loves to go off on barely relevant and hilarious tangents. You never get the sense that he is trying too hard or being pretentious, either. A bonus is the glossary he provides in the back of the book for British words like "dual carriageway" and "naff."
The fact that it was recommended to me by English and Welsh friends is testament to the authenticity of Bryson's observations and his comedic genius. Seriously recommend this read if you're an Anglophile or just enjoy a good, fun read.
Read less
50 people found this helpful
Helpful|Comment|Report abuse
McKenna Family Member
5.0 out of 5 starsVery Entertaining!October 24, 2017
Format: Mass Market Paperback|Verified Purchase
As a teenager, I have enjoyed hiking since I was very young. Friends and family have always talked to me about the Appalachian Trail and how they wish to hike it someday. I never knew the hardship one could face, and the history of the trail, until I read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Bryson is accompanied by his old friend who is very clumsy and completely unprepared for the trail. Together, these two middle aged men work hard every day to move swiftly across the path and in doing so, they slowly become closer and closer as friends. You do not have to be an avid hiker to enjoy Bryson’s experiences and be captivated by situations that occur throughout his journey.
Bill Bryson faces many challenges in the story, such as dealing with annoying people, being forced to stay in shelters that are in bad condition, and his struggles to push himself to finish the vigorous trek. Bill Bryson balances the hardships of this endeavour with comedy in almost every page of the story which makes the book funny to read and strengthens his point of view of the conflicts he encounters. An example of Bryson’s quick wit is shown when he talks about how hikers complain too often about wild animals, “Hunters will tell you that a moose is a wily and ferocious forest creature. Nonsense. A moose is a cow drawn by a three-year-old.” As a Maine resident, I can respect Bryson’s humorous interpretation of a moose, yet most people know there are definitely times this animal should be completely avoided! Bill Bryson’s interpretation of the AT provides valuable information, while his comedic writing style captures your interest, which in turn, makes you laugh.
This book has inspired me to do further research on the AT and motivated me to want to hike it when I am older. Bill Bryson illustrates the problems one may face and in doing so has helped me to understand how I can better prepare for a hike of this magnitude. I would recommend this book to anyone, whether you live in the city and have never hiked before, or to those of us whose passion is conquering peaks in the wilderness.
Read less
3 people found this helpful
Helpful|Comment|Report abuse
Lupine Smile
5.0 out of 5 starsInteresting View Of AustraliaJune 2, 2017
Format: Audio CD|Verified Purchase
Author Bill Bryson takes readers on a walkabout through some of the most beautiful, the most dangerous, and the most breathtaking portions of Australia. Narrated by the author himself, In a Sunburned Country brings alive a world that many are not privileged to see in their lifetimes. Bill's enthusiasm, as well as his propensity towards mishaps, provide a charming backdrop to the interesting information and fascinating details. Whether readers are just interested in learning more about Australia, or are seriously thinking about a visit, I would definitely recommend In a Sunburned Country as a reference.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful|Comment|Report abuse
frances c.
4.0 out of 5 starsWorth a visit!January 25, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
An engaging light-hearted travelogue about the less traveled areas of Great Britain. If you are an Anglophile, or if you have ever traveled to, or lived in the UK, you will enjoy reading this book about some of the cities, towns, villages, and places beyond the beaten track of most American tourists (i.e. London and environs). Bryson, an American journalist living in Great Britain, is the perfect travel guide; his experiences of living and working in the UK, and his rifts on British and American customs are quite entertaining and give the reader unique insights into the British way of doing things. If you are looking for an armchair vacation, this might be it.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful|Comment|Report abuse
cej
4.0 out of 5 starsAlmost an Excellent BookJanuary 30, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Almost an excellent book. It has been said that Bill Bryson can write about anything and make it interesting and I have found this to be true. This book, while entertaining and sometimes laugh out loud funny, becomes a rather lengthy gripe session about what bothers him about England. And these gripes are repeated for every town or village he visits. Still, it is a good read and no one other than Mark Twain could have done it so well. It does remind me of Innocents Abroad.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful|Comment|Report abuse
See all 6,977 reviews
Write a customer review
No comments:
Post a Comment