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By *inaTitz OP TV/TS
over a year ago
Titz Towers, North Notts |
Has anyone else read the new Bill Bryson book? It's a sequel to Notes from a small island.
I'm about 1/4 of the way in and I'm finding it hard work. It just reads like a series of letters to the Editor of the Times from Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells. Rather than insightful observations and little discoveries, this just seems to be a litany of complaints about how things aren't what they were  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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He is turning into a bit of a grumpy old man, but it suits him. He is still laugh out loud funny to me, although his use of profanities grates at times. I like his sideways angle on his adopted country. Loved the book. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I went to a Q&A with Bryson around about the time the book was launched.
He was very witty, but he did slip into moanin' old fart mode quite readily.
I too have those moments these days, so was totally on his page  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Has anyone else read the new Bill Bryson book? It's a sequel to Notes from a small island.
I'm about 1/4 of the way in and I'm finding it hard work. It just reads like a series of letters to the Editor of the Times from Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells. Rather than insightful observations and little discoveries, this just seems to be a litany of complaints about how things aren't what they were "
I read quite a few of his books and quite enjoyed them but in the end found them too samey and couldn't be bothered to read any more of them. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Alas, when folks say things aren't what they were, they're right. But it just means now is different for them. As opposed to how it is our now. And will be different for us when it is our then.... ummmm.... kinda...   |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I've just finished it.
And I agree with what your saying.
I always liked his books for commuting because of the short chapters.
But this book, his tone has changed and instead of feeling like your spending time with the affable, know-it-all chap in the pub, it's more like one long opinionated depressing moan.
Old age maybe? |
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By *inaTitz OP TV/TS
over a year ago
Titz Towers, North Notts |
I've finished it and it did get better, but there is still too much whining in it.
It's a curiously unbalanced book, with probably 80% of the content concerning Britain south of a line drawn from Bristol to the Wash. The Midlands, the North, Wales and Scotland seem very much after thoughts. Almost as if this was going to be a much larger book, but his publisher pulled the rug from under that.  |
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By *atcoupleCouple
over a year ago
Suffolk - East Anglia |
I've just finished it.
This book was a holiday book and I couldn't put it down. Very funny and very much to the point with accurate observations about various places.
The bottom line is that here is a very articulate intelligent person who prefers the UK to his home country.
Read it and enjoy. |
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