funny & poignant
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Can't remember a book that made me laugh out loud, and in public! Not sure why the other reviewers didn't like it but when I read the passages that had me doubled over to my partner he didn't seem to get it either, so I guess it's a case of 'suck it & see'. It's refreshing to read something that doesn't constantly sing America's praises. I'll definately read more.
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Listenable, but nothing special....
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In The Lost Continent Bryson revisits America having lived in England for his adult life. He returns to his hometown and treats smalltown American with large doses of sarcasm and scorn, for somebody who has never been to the States i found it funny and informative; two essential ingredients of Bryson's type travel writing in my opinion. Kerry Shales' reading can become quite irritating as he reads, intentionally, very quickly, but this is remedied by his fantasic imitations of all types of American accents. An amusing tape, this is worth listening to, but don't go out of your way for it!
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Maybe it's me, but....
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What's wrong with the most recent reviewers of Bill's hysterically funny debut? Has there been a recent upsurge in humour bypasses? I first read the Lost Continent not long after it was published and I've gone back to it several times since. It's very witty, well-observed and thoroughly to be recommended. I admit that his (very personal) take on America isn't exactly gushing with praise but it's a cracking read and it had me choking back laughter on public transport on many occasions. And I write this as a USA-phile with a particular affection for modern-day small town America. You don't have to agree with his opinions, but you have to admire his presentation. I lent my copy to a friend and he's yet to return it so I'm going to buy another one today.
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Bill's lost the plot
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I was disappointed with this - as I enjoyed 'Notes from a small island' and 'A walk in the woods'. Bill Bryson takes us on a road trip around small town, mid-west America. But to be honest - I wish he had not bothered to tell us about it.
Bill has a great narrative style, steadily metering out his anecdotes with a purposeful, deliberate pace. Some of his stories made me laugh out loud (albeit briefly), but most were dry and almost humourless.
The main negative is that almost all of his insights are downbeat, criticising the society we are hoping to learn about.
In fact, much of America has plenty going for it. I have been to some of the places Bill disapproves of: Colonial Williamsburg is a great day out; Washington is a very fine capital with the tremendous Air & Space museum; and New York (of course) has something for everyone.
So to summarise - I would recommend you stay away and go with Bill's other works.
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The Lost Opportunity
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The returning native, however much his negative expectations might have been confirmed, could have given us an entertaining and perceptive insight into late 80s small town America but instead Bryson presented a rapid fire, repetitive slide show in which he as both commentator and participant came across as pompous and bigoted (is he being brave and honest about his personality defects or self-important and arrogant to think he can get away with displaying them so openly?).
Bryson is a wry observer and is undoubtedly successful at humourous writing but this book is dire. I won't deny that I laughed out loud at some of his asides but for the most part the humour is too slick, too caustic and too cliched to be amusing to a reader - a stand-up comic or a dear friend might get away with these one-liners but more considered, less obvious, longer laughs are demanded of a writer.
I felt obliged to stay aboard like a stow-away until the end of the (second) journey but hopes of a final, redemptive revealation were misplaced and I wished I'd jumped ship earlier - I don't know why the manuscript got past the editor.
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