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evdv's review against another edition
2.0
Gripes and grumbles galore.
A lot of the book describes the ways in which everything was better in the past. Unfortunately, in my opinion this includes Bill Bryson himself. Though there are wonderful parts in the book where Bill describes the beauty of the British countryside, and the quirks of British life, a lot of the book is written in a complaining tone. Countless times people or officials are described as idiots, for example. It is not laugh-out-loud funny as the older Bill Bryson books, most of which rank among my favourite books of all time.
A lot of the book describes the ways in which everything was better in the past. Unfortunately, in my opinion this includes Bill Bryson himself. Though there are wonderful parts in the book where Bill describes the beauty of the British countryside, and the quirks of British life, a lot of the book is written in a complaining tone. Countless times people or officials are described as idiots, for example. It is not laugh-out-loud funny as the older Bill Bryson books, most of which rank among my favourite books of all time.
dangerousnerd's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
He’s become such a curmudgeon!
alreadyemily's review against another edition
3.0
A cute read in the Bryson way: witty, informative, humorous, thought-provoking, and a bit self-deprecating. A Walk in the Woods is still my favorite, but probably only because the subject matter has more dear to my heart.
geenyas's review against another edition
2.0
You know, I am a fan of Bill Bryson -- usually. And it's not that this is a bad book, but the overall tone slips over the line from crotchety to just plain mean-spirited sometimes. How many times can you use the word "idiot"? Taken in small doses, each of these rants might be amusing, but as a whole the book becomes a bit of a bummer after a few chapters. Sorry, Bill.
erickibler4's review against another edition
4.0
Another enjoyable book by Bill Bryson.
Following up on his Notes From a Small Island, published in 1995, Bill Bryson revisits Great Britain, traveling mainly in the south of England, but making side trips into Wales, the north of England, and Cape Wrath, the northernmost tip of Scotland.
Bryson's love of the British countryside and the policies which preserve it are apparent. I must go there someday, visit friends, and enjoy the long walks that the numerous footpaths seem to call for.
But Bryson laments the dumbing down of society he sees happening, the austerity policies that threaten to destroy everything he loves about his adopted country, and the unrelenting drive toward economic growth that too often erodes human happiness.
Although I enjoyed this book a lot, I still like several other of his books better. A Walk in the Woods, In a Sunburnt Country, Thunderbolt Kid, A Short History of Nearly Everything, so I'm docking it the one star. I think the reason I don't like it as well is the crankiness he's developed. His humor is less observational and more that of a rant of a cranky old man yelling at you to get off his lawn. Still, if that's the only kind of Bryson, we get these days, I'll still take it.
Following up on his Notes From a Small Island, published in 1995, Bill Bryson revisits Great Britain, traveling mainly in the south of England, but making side trips into Wales, the north of England, and Cape Wrath, the northernmost tip of Scotland.
Bryson's love of the British countryside and the policies which preserve it are apparent. I must go there someday, visit friends, and enjoy the long walks that the numerous footpaths seem to call for.
But Bryson laments the dumbing down of society he sees happening, the austerity policies that threaten to destroy everything he loves about his adopted country, and the unrelenting drive toward economic growth that too often erodes human happiness.
Although I enjoyed this book a lot, I still like several other of his books better. A Walk in the Woods, In a Sunburnt Country, Thunderbolt Kid, A Short History of Nearly Everything, so I'm docking it the one star. I think the reason I don't like it as well is the crankiness he's developed. His humor is less observational and more that of a rant of a cranky old man yelling at you to get off his lawn. Still, if that's the only kind of Bryson, we get these days, I'll still take it.
davechua's review against another edition
3.0
Bryson comes across as kind of grouchy here, and there's a lot of repeated stuff, such as his irritation with indifferent British shopkeepers and littering.
zoer03's review against another edition
5.0
This is the book that makes me chuckle laugh out load soo much that people on the train start shifting away from the loony giggling to herself. Bill Bryson you sir are a legend and I would like to say thank you for putting a smile on my face and laugh like a maniac and making me forget my black cloud that hovers above me or so it seems so thank you
m13ka's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.5
Bill Bryson has yet to write anything I haven’t voraciously read and enjoyed. This was my second time reading it and I liked it just as much this time around, if not more.