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A review by katiescho741
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
4.0
Although this book is dated now, it's still a great read for any fan of Bryson's. He wrote it 26 years ago so I had to google a few of his references to various celebrities and politicians of the 80s! On the plus side, some of the towns he visits that were in a slump seem to have improved since 1992.
I love Bryson's writing style and general tone-dry, sarcastic but also honest and joyful. This book taught me more about my country than I ever learned in school! And it made me want to drink many cups of tea and say "ooh lovely" I always feel Bryson is one of the most honest travel writers; you know he's enjoying himself but sometimes things go wrong and they don't "add to the fun of travelling" they just make you feel miserable.
Sometimes your quaint, independent hotel is dirty and run by a horrible person, sometimes you have a meal that wasn't worth the price, sometimes you're really looking forward to something but it turns out to be shut or a let down. And then there's the actual travelling-bus and train timetables that don't work well together, cancelled trains that only run once a day, and most of the time the people you speak to while travelling are boring or weird and not lifelong friends in the making.
Despite all this, Notes from a Small Island is such a happy jaunt around the mainland UK, and really makes you want to get out there and explore your own country-and see what's new 26 years later!
I love Bryson's writing style and general tone-dry, sarcastic but also honest and joyful. This book taught me more about my country than I ever learned in school! And it made me want to drink many cups of tea and say "ooh lovely" I always feel Bryson is one of the most honest travel writers; you know he's enjoying himself but sometimes things go wrong and they don't "add to the fun of travelling" they just make you feel miserable.
Sometimes your quaint, independent hotel is dirty and run by a horrible person, sometimes you have a meal that wasn't worth the price, sometimes you're really looking forward to something but it turns out to be shut or a let down. And then there's the actual travelling-bus and train timetables that don't work well together, cancelled trains that only run once a day, and most of the time the people you speak to while travelling are boring or weird and not lifelong friends in the making.
Despite all this, Notes from a Small Island is such a happy jaunt around the mainland UK, and really makes you want to get out there and explore your own country-and see what's new 26 years later!