Bill Bryson, Notes from a Small Island

I had read both "A Walk in the Woods", and "Neither Here Nor There" and was looking forward to reading this one, especially since my husband and I had traveled around London & Yorkshire years ago and loved the area. I was disappointed that his "read" often sounded like he was speaking as a fussy old woman - didn't sound like either of the other two books. I suppose he was taking on the "British" dialect, but he also used formal phrases (which he might have thought "proper") but just made the language sound stiff, and not relatable. In addition, I found his humor in this book (which I simply loved in the other two books) to be more flat, and too contrived. And I agree with the other reviewer about many area descriptions to be boring and tiresome (the descriptions, not the describing area). Sorry, Bill, can't say this was your best.

This is the first Bill Bryson book I have read and I absolutely love it. Bryson mocks the UK throughout, but it is that kind and gentle mocking that is reserved for someone or something that in reality you hold in high esteem. His regard for our country (where he apparently lived for about 20 years) is obvious and he has a fantastic eye of the bizarre sides to our culture. Who hasn't met a type character at a bed and breakfast at one time or another?

I love this book, Bill Bryson, Notes from a Small Island I have been doing it in school, and our class was so inspired, we decided to make our own version, called notes from a small school, it was a very exciting topic to do !!! The only bad bit was when I had to close the book, at the end !!!

Brilliant, i love it, i av a copy at home, and i have now read it 3 times, and i only got it at christmas !!!

Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island seems to be the same. Every chapter goes on about how every village he's ever been to has changed and become the same.I will never read it again.

Bryson has a dry but acute sense of humour. He observes and analyses normal people and everyday situations but then sneaks up on the reader and has you laughing out loud at the absurdity of the situation.

The book is basically a tour of certain towns, cities and places in Britain with the routine of poking fun at the people, places, traditions and general culture of our 'wonderful land'.

The book can be slightly tedious in places and you can sometimes think - stop moaning Bryson, but let's be honest we all moan and he makes the complaining fun and natural. The 'make you laugh out loud' content makes the book well worth reading.

A great and laugh a minute insight into this countries sites and people.