Here are some customer reviews of
Notes from a Small Island
: I seldom laugh out loud; no, I NEVER laugh out loud, but while reading this book, I thought they'd throw me off the train. Put it in your shopping cart, proceed to checkout, then wait impatiently by your mailbox for the funniest book you'll ever read
 When I first picked up the book I was optimistic, his work being praised by those that had read it. His work on Notes from a big island was a huge success for me, so i was very disappointed with Notes from a small island. On the whole it was boring, Bryson always talking of his pet hates for bad architecture, among many, many other hates. He doesn't half moan about them all the time. In some parts he actually seems offensive, and when he shouts at the poor guy working in McDonalds, he just seems like a grumpy, bitter old man. There are however a few parts in the book that gave a smile to my lips, the well known 'Vodaphone man', and everyone knows a Mrs Smegma. I would buy this book if it were on special offer, but it would probably sit on my shelf and collect dust.
 The best (and the worst) thing about this book is the realization that yes, in large part, we are just as Bill describes us. The book turns on a sixpence from being killingly hilarious as you wonder what planet this weird American is actually from as he commits some outrageous faux pas to the sudden realization that he has us bang to rights on some point or another.
For example, as a people we really do like a nice cup of tea, and the best route from A to B really is a valid topic of conversation down the pub...
This is quite clearly the best book I have ever read. Bryson manages to convey humour every step of the way. This book, although the first I have ever read, sets the standard as far as I am concerned in terms of writing style and making th book an enjoyable read. If I were to pick some bad points from the book however, I would say that Bryson tends to go a bit too far with some points in the book. This is particularly apparent where he takes the mickey out of people too much, as with the case of Vodafone man. Here he quite clearly preys on this man and uses far too many scathing comments to describe this unfortunate man. This is only a minor point however, and I did actually really enjoy reading this book.
If you haven't read a Bryson book before then you're in for a lot of catching up. He has quite an addictive style and as a travel writer will take his loyal readers to the ends of the earth. Unfortunately he doesn't always remember to bring them back. Bill Bryson writes like a sort of Clive James without the political edge. If you don't know who Clive James is, he's like Bryson but with politics! This book is a freewheeling and fairly rapid take on the many idiosyncracies of the inhabitants of Great Britain. Bryson is an anglo-american with enough wit to see the foibles of both his parent cultures and the style to juxtapose them. He is a brillant author with an eye for the ironic and bitter sweet. This book won't disappoint established fans. It is Bill at his best, the amiable yarn spinning uncle who doesn't mind using a few words and stories that you wouldn't dare share with your mother! Indeed, if you have an amiable, yarn spinning uncle, then this would be just the sort of book to give him for Christmas. Bryson is a charming and often funny storyteller. He would be a pleasure to sit next to on a long haul flight. But make sure that he's sitting in Business Class. Bill is a man who likes his home comforts. In fact, sometimes his writing gives the impression that he'd really rather be at home in front of the fire with the wife and kids. It is this trait that makes him so likeable but also means that this book and several others end rather rapidly, with less anecdotes and more brief "been there, tick that town off on the itinerary" type comments. Unfortunately this means that Scotland which came last on his "circumnavigation" of the British Isles got rather a poor showing. However, it is hard to be brilliant all the time, and Bryson is nearly always so. As far as "Notes from a Small Island" goes, buy it, read it and pass it on to your uncle. Don't show it to your mother...she won't understand. And anyway she'll probably feel sorry for this poor man travelling alone writing about some of the most interesting and funny things that I've ever read about.
|
