Notes from a small island

324 pages

English language

Published April 10, 1997

ISBN:
978-0-380-72750-6
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Goodreads:
28

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3 stars (5 reviews)

A special hardcover edition to celebrate the phenomenal success of Bill Bryson's bestselling eulogy to Britain.After nearly two decades in Britain, Bill Bryson took the decision to move Mrs Bryson, little Jimmy et al. back to the States for a while. But before leaving his much-loved Yorkshire, Bryson insisted on taking one last trip around old Blighty, a sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had for so long been his home. The resulting book was a eulogy to the country that produced Marmite, George Formby, by-elections, milky tea, place names like Farleigh Wallop, Titsey and Shellow Bowells, Gardeners' Question Time and people who say 'Mustn't grumble.' Britain would never seem the same again.Since it was first published in 1995, Notes from a Small Island has never been far from the top of the bestsellers lists, and has sold over one and a half million copies. …

18 editions

Review of 'Notes from a small island' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods," remains one of my favorite travel books, and so I was surprised that this reads like a snarky, blow-by-blow Yelp review of England. Cities I've only heard about in British television shows, he's visited and has a cynical anecdote about some aspect of its architecture, people, or history.

Not to say his stories aren't interesting or untrue, but I found myself reluctant to pick up this book, because reading it is like visiting that crotchety loved one to whose rants your most enthusiastic reply is "Interesting," "Oh Really?" or "Hmmm."

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