Comments on: Review: Notes from a Small Island, Bill Bryson

By: Molly

Molly — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:49:51 +0000

Definitely on my TBR shelf to read soon. I am slowly becoming a Bryson groupie — I truly love his witty writing style and delightful narratives.

By: Meghan

Meghan — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:39:12 +0000

This is definitely changing, but it’s still not quite the same. For example, in York there are still medieval walls and they are completely unprotected. When I started grad school there our American professor took us around and we all agreed that in the US, the same wall would have been treasured and protected rather than left to sit in the middle of the busy town with no plaque.

By: jessicabookworm

jessicabookworm — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:16:58 +0000

Well except for the fact that I do care about historical buildings everything you mentioned is so true! However I do think I’m of a more modern generation that believes we should protect our history so still see where he is coming from, many beautiful historical building were torn down in 1960/70s in my own home town, which is now frowned upon. The Brits are most definitely absurd, eccentric and too polite…but gotta love us for it I wouldn’t want us any other way

By: Amused

Amused — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:39:58 +0000

My British step-grandparents made me read this book before I went to study in London for 6mo and absolutely loved it. I’ve been a Bryson addict ever since. So glad you loved it too!

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 17:39:45 +0000

I think I had similar reactions to Nymeth and Janel – I started out amused and ended up being annoyed by his constant complaints, which I thought boiled down to “everything was better way back when!”. However I’ve heard from a lot of sources that A Walk in the Woods is really excellent, and I’ve read part of The Mother Tongue and enjoyed that. Maybe this just wasn’t the Bryson for me.

By: Beth F

Beth F — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 12:59:36 +0000

I love Bryson — and you’re take on this memoir (and the fact that I lived in the UK for a short time) has convinced me that this should be a must-read for me in 2011.

By: Janel

Janel — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:52:48 +0000

I had mixed feelings about this book. I felt at times I could easily picture the places Bill referred to, but by the end I was over his voice and exploration. Glad to her you enjoyed the book though!

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:19:48 +0000

Isn’t there a book about those miners who formed an art club? I think there is; I vaguely remember seeing something about it.

By: zibilee

zibilee — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:26:10 +0000

I read and loved Neither Here Nor There after you reviewed it, and now am excited to try this one. Bryson is so funny he makes me snort, which is a great feat indeed. I am going to have to check this one out very soon. Thanks for the incredible review!

By: Nymeth

Nymeth — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:33:10 +0000

I wanted to love this book, but in the end I found Bryson’s tone too grumpy for me, even when he’s right. Perhaps I was feeling grumpy myself