Notes from a Small Island

 

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson.

Publisher: Avon Books/Bard; Later Printing edition (1998)

ASIN: B0047Z0NB0

"Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it."

After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-best selling author of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to return to the United States. ("I had recently read," Bryson writes, "that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.") But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.

Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.

For some reason (and I have no idea what it is) I seem to be reading like molasses flows in winter….. and, AND.. it’s not a joyous as it normally is.  The fact is.. I almost don’t feel like reading!  Wow.. can’t remember the last time this has happened!

Anyway.. I broke from Fantasy Fiction to Read Notes from a Small Island.  I adore Bill Bryson’s writings about his “walk abouts”.  But I will admit, I began with the BEST of Bryson when I read A Walk in the Woods.   And so each book since then is difficult measuring up.

In Notes from a Small Island Bryson either walks or takes a train or bus to all parts of his beloved England and of course he “wise cracks” through the whole thing!

It’s not like I didn’t chuckle.. I did.

And it’s not like I didn’t Laugh Outloud… I did.

But as with the last Fantasy book I read (which I also enjoyed) I wasn’t grabbing at the book the instant my fat butt hit the chair.  I never thought I’d say that about a Bryson book.  And in all fairness I would tell others who would consider reading this.. to do so!   For surely I am in a reading slump and nothing is reaching in and grabbing me out of it. (kinda scary when Bill Bryson can’t pull me out!)

Notes from a Small Country should be read by anyone who is considering a trip to England and by anyone who enjoys Bryson’s sense of humor, which is outstanding!

I am so desperate to get out of this slump I am going to read a “short story”! (anyone who knows me knows I am not fond of short stories, though not long ago I read 2 that I think highly of)… so one might ask.. what short story will you read in hopes that it takes you from this slump?

Go ahead… ask!

Well, it would be a short story by my favorite author Anne McCaffrey! (surprised? I thought not!).. Its in a book of short stories called Legends edited by Robert Silverberg and the story is called Runner of Pern.

So.. there you have it.  ..and back to Pern I go!