Notes from a Small Island
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By Bill Bryson
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4 reviews
After nearly two decades in Britain, Bill Bryson took the decision to move back to the States for a while, to let his kids experience life in another country, to give his wife the chance to shop until 10 p.m. seven nights a week, and, most of all, because he had read the 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, and it was thus clear to him that his people needed him. But before leaving his much-loved home in North Yorkshire, Bryson insisted on taking one last trip around Britain, a sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. His aim was to take stock of the nation’s public face and private parts (as it were), and to analyse what precisely it was he loved so much about a country that had produced Marmite, a military hero whose dying wish was to be kissed by a fellow named Hardy, place names like Farleigh Wallop, Titsey and Shellow Bowells, people who said ’Mustn’t grumble’, and ""Gardeners’ Question Time"". So in ""Notes from a Small Island"", Bryson turns a laconic but affectionate eye on his adopted country. Britain will never seem the same again.
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Bill Bryson is an American. This book tells of his travels around England, Scotland and Wales. It was felt by some members of the group that some sections were overplayed and that there was a bit too much repetition of certain themes such as the irony of Britons thinking they lived on a large island.
On the whole, the light wit of this book was really appreciated.
It was felt by some members of the group that some sections were overplayed and that there was a bit too much repetition of certain themes such as the irony of Britons thinking they lived on a large island.
Bill Bryson is an American. This book tells of his travels around England and Scotland and Wales. It's really funny and cleverly written.
