Scan barcode
juwench's review against another edition
4.0
I pretty much universally love Bill Bryson, and his books. I loved A Walk in the Woods many years ago, and the audio version of him reading it himself is my favorite thing to put on in the background when I need soothing (we don't talk about the movie with robert redford *spits*). I read all of his travel books years ago, and as a big fan of armchair travel I love these. I saw him at a reading several years ago in Atlanta, which was a joy. At that event he signed my copy of AWitW, as well as his new book One Summer, and talked about how his real training and passion is journalism, and that he prefers research to travel writing. One Summer is a joy, wonderfully researched, but written in his usual chatty journalistic style, with all the wit of a child brought up on comic books in middle america and then schooled in wit living in Britain for 40 years. So I was excited to get his new book, and was not disappointed. He is still candid, charming, occasionally grumpy (but about the right things), and curious about interesting fact while traveling. I will only say that having read One Summer, as well as his book on Shakespeare and the home, I actually agree with him. I like the researched books ever so slightly better.
booklover_2406's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoy Bill Bryson's writing and humor. I have not been reading his books in sequence and so far this one has been my least favorite. It is well written and there is still a lot of humor in it, but I felt that he complained a lot in this book. When he wrote about interactions he had with people or establishments he came off as rather rude and curmudgeon. That is why I gave it 3 stars, overall I did enjoy it, just not as much as The Body and Down Under. I will continue reading the other books and hope they are not as whinny.
wigwam12's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book but felt that maybe more time could have been devoted to Scotland.
leemac027's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
I love a good laugh with Bill Bryson, and this is exactly what I got when reading The Road to Little Dribbling.
Over twenty years ago Bryson wrote Notes From A Small Island describing his travels around Britain and this book is a follow up. What happened to those places he visited so long ago? He vaguely follows his original route and travels from Bognor Regis down south right up to Cape Wraith meandering through the countryside via car, rail and foot.
The people he encounters along the way add much to his story as do his descriptions of the various landscapes he ventures through.
It's a bit of a romp with some reflection on what is good and not so good about Britain. So much changes over time with what is called progress - but is it really? What do we lose on the path to streamlining, upgrading, upscaling and never-ending development?
Another very entertaining Bill Bryson book.
Over twenty years ago Bryson wrote Notes From A Small Island describing his travels around Britain and this book is a follow up. What happened to those places he visited so long ago? He vaguely follows his original route and travels from Bognor Regis down south right up to Cape Wraith meandering through the countryside via car, rail and foot.
The people he encounters along the way add much to his story as do his descriptions of the various landscapes he ventures through.
It's a bit of a romp with some reflection on what is good and not so good about Britain. So much changes over time with what is called progress - but is it really? What do we lose on the path to streamlining, upgrading, upscaling and never-ending development?
Another very entertaining Bill Bryson book.
lizzielou356's review against another edition
3.0
I actually found myself thinking ,OK Boomer, which doesn’t look good on Bill Bryson or on me. But for all his grumpiness, I appreciated his argument against HS2. No HS2!
And I loved it when he found loveliness. More of that please.
And I loved it when he found loveliness. More of that please.
tmatlin's review against another edition
4.0
I love Bryson's writing and his musings while he wanders around, well, anywhere. A lot of reviews have complained about how cranky he seemed in this book, but his crankiness cracked me up.
cqshah's review against another edition
1.0
I usually like Bill Bryson, but he's just kind of a jerk in this one.
kristin_roemer's review against another edition
2.0
Oh, Billy B. You know that I love you and find your accent and writing charming. But man oh man did I find this book a bore. By the last third of the book I did not bother to fully comprehend the names of all the cities you listed, because, invariably, you would write "there are some charming shops but let me tell you about how things were different/better 20 years ago." You make yourself out to be a grumpy old man in this book and I found this book sincerely disappointing. P.S. I still love you.
howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Bill Bryson is always a treat, but he’s gotten better with age. Now he detests stupid people more than he used to, and it comes across in his writing. His informative prose is very well-written, but the glimpses into his thought process are more hilarious than ever.