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Summary: England an island!?
Review: The island Bryson writes about is called Britain. It has NEVER been called England in its entire 5000+ year history!!England is part of Britain, a bit like Illinois is part of the USA. Still a good book mind.
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Summary: A walking tour through England
Review: This is a true story of the author's's walking tour of England. Mr. Bryson is essentially a walking travelogue (except when he gets tired and decides to hop a bus or train....). You will feel as though you are with him every grueling, wonderful, step of the way. If you never thought about England as being "different", then this is the book that will make you want to travel to this wonderful island.
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Summary: Correction to last review
Review: Bryson visits Asquith's grave at Sutton Courteney, not Churchill's. Asquith was the Prime Minister who apparently had no jurisdiction over half of Britain.
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Summary: A fantastic, hilarious read - I couldn't stop snorting!
Review: It started off when my mum bought my my Dad a copy for his birthday. Since then, all of our family has read it and we all agree that it is fantastic. Since I live in Dover, the first mentioned destination of the novel, it made me realise what a dull, wet and downright dead town it actually is! Anyway, carry on composing, Bill-you're the best!
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Summary: Another reader from Wales
Review: The last Welsh reviewer is a little hard on Bill Bryson. This is a very funny book which does reflect aspects of Wales and Scotland as well as England. Perhaps Bryson didn't do enough to emphasis the fact that the United Kingdom is made up of four states, one of whom is in Ireland. The island of Britain that he writes about in a very amusing and frank way, is the home to England, Scotland and Wales (the latter two now having their own governments). This is a geographical and political fact that most people in North America and Australia/New Zealand have no concept of whatsoever. This is mainly due to the efforts of the English over the years to sell the idea to the world that Britain is exclusively English. In fact Bryson picks up this point by referring to Churchill's grave that he visits just outside Oxford. The gravestone announces that Churchill was the Prime Minister of England!! QED.
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Summary: Britain is in fact more than just England
Review: Whilst this book details the character of English people and their surrounding it does not convey the character of BRITISH people. Once again we have a well educated author forgetting (after 20 years in Britain) that the Small Island he refers to is actually made of 3 nations as opposed to one. Britain is in fact a combination of diverse cultures and languages from Wales, Scotland and England. This book, albeit stunningly well written does not cover the diversity of Britain, but concentrates on England. All too often, foreigners consider England and Britain to be one, mainly due to authors forgetting any Geography lessons they might have had at school. I admire Bill Bryson's wit, sharp eye and commentary but this time I do believe he has chosen the wrong title for his book.
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Summary: often touches the peculiar isolationist attitude of Britain
Review: 'When I arrived in Liverpool they seemed to be having their annual festival of litter' The coming together of the well-heeled and the lunatic in Virginia Waters is so believable that it could be true ( it was ) Read the book some time ago so my quotes may not be exact but it beats 'lonely Planet' by a country mile ( about 125 metres in England )
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Summary: I wish I could see this much humour in the world.
Review: Listen I laugh when people are honestly funny about every other place but my own, but I have never had the pleasure of reading anything so funny about my home. People like Bryson should be in power not politicians. I never understood this book to be about travel writing, nor any of his others. Just one of the most hilarious accounts of modern day British life I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It makes the reader want to travel to other countries just to understand the points of reference made within each sentence. Those who are blind to the world outside their window should read this, it may make stupid people think twice about criticizing others , god it may even prevent wars, if people learn to laugh with, as well as at each other. It was nice to lay in bed with my girlfriend and tell her all the cities I had visited today. It's amazing how far this book can let you travel in 24 hours. Thankyou for resurrecting a reading habit, oh and not so much thanks for making me admit to needing reading glasses Bryson they cost 140 pounds. Finally, it was nice that someone has chronicled British life before the European Union ruins it.
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Summary: Ace- please read!
Review: This book made me howl with laughter and paradoxically feel proud to be English again despite our imperialist past; Bill Bryson thinks we're OK and tells us why, despite our eccentricities. Wittily but humanely observed, it is an accurate picture of ho-hum Britain ( though I come from Ludlow and I think he's very unfair on the Ludlow & District Cats Protection League!)
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Summary: Leave it on the shelf where it belongs
Review: This book has been in the best seller lists for a number of years and has had rave reviews. I was extremely disappointed in the book. I found very little humour and got irritated by Bryson complaining about architecture, transport, etc. This isn't a travelogue, just a sequence of towns visited with incidents on the way. As a Brit I didn't feel that it painted an accurate picture of the people or the place. I feel sure that there are better books that address the issues - leave this one on the shelf.
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