 "A Bill Bryson Bummer" | 2009-08-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3M22W214GK52H |
Let me start by saying that I love all things Bill Bryson. I have laughed until I've cried at ceretain parts of every book he has written, and regularly relisten to "A Short History" on audiobook. Anybody that can make that much science that interesting is next to godliness in my book.
However.
I got "Lost Continent" on audiobook to listen to while working on a project in my studio. I had only read a blurb about what it was about, and loving Bryson, I picked it up sight unseen. I only got about halfway through before I just gave up, came home, and immediately deleted the whole set from my iPod. I don't know if it is his age at the time of writing, or some superiority complex from living abroad or what, but this is HORRIBLE.
There is almost none of his characteristic wit. He is insulting, degrading, and flat out crude for large parts of this tale. As far as I can tell, he did nothing but complain about how terrible everywhere he went was. In listening to 4 hours worth of storytelling, I can safely say he only found about 25 minutes worth of good stuff to talk about.
Frankly I was shocked at how overtly negative the whole tone is through the story. It was just so unlike anything else I had read of his. At one point I even stopped to wonder if there just happened to be another author out there with the same name and I had grabbed someone else by accident. I stopped listening partly to prevent my opinion of him from dropping any lower - everything else of his has been so wonderful and I usually recommend him to all my friends!
On an audiobook sidenote, I did not care for the reader either. While he had a pleasant enough voice to listen to, he did not speak in the manner that Bryson does (when reading audio books at least) and really added to the overtly sarcastic and degrading tone of the story. Yikes. |
| |
 "Funny as heck" | 2009-08-02 |
| - Reviewed By syberken |
I read this book when it came out a long time ago, and just came across it now. I don't recall the details, which are extensively covered in the other reviews. I do remember, however, that it was one of the few books which made me laugh incredibly hard, and often. Bryson is a very witty guy, using understated tone to illuminate the patently absurd in hilarious fashion. That alone rates it 5 stars.
Pick up his Walk in the Woods, not as funny, but just as enjoyable recollection of his walk of the Appalachian Trail with an old buddy. Lots of good environmental insight, laced with many bits of humor.
I'd skip Sunburned Country, which i just couldn't get into at all. |
| |
 "Bryson Again Travels to Successville with his The Lost Continent" | 2009-07-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3MO4UDI8P1MVN |
| Thematic and organizational similarities to Steinbeck's Travels With Charley and William Least Heat Moon's Blue Highways are obvious, but Bryson takes The Lost Continent into territory scarcely traveled by Steinbeck and Least Heat Moon. You see, Bryson laces humor liberally throughout his travel memoirs. The other writers' travelogues about adventures and people encountered on American roadways had less humor. That's not to say that Bryson's book surpasses those of the great, earlier writers in this genre; Bryson's approach is merely true to Bryson's chuckle-packed narrative style. Therefore, since I find Bryson's humor and storytelling so irresistible, I feel this book is a great read. |
| |
| "Great book" | 2009-06-26 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1HEXTINRM97C3 |
| Bill Bryson is a very talented and entertaining writer. He always manages to get a good chuckle out of his reader. This book does not dissapoint! |
| |
 "Hilarious tour of America, circa 1988" | 2009-06-11 |
| - Reviewed By jlem |
| Fans of Bill Bryson will enjoy this book. He's up to his usual hilarious self, with observations about America (late 1980s) that will make you laugh so hard you have to put the book down. Unfortunately, I found his occasional political observations out of place, ill-tempered and unnecessary. Without those, it would have been a much better book. |
| |
| "Be Ready to Laugh at Life in the States..." | 2009-06-06 |
| - Reviewed By User: APSEI48JPL95K |
| Although this is not my favorite Bryson book, I did find it funny. Being from a small mid-western town myself, I enjoyed his jaded humor because it often rang true of life here. Is there stereotyping? Of course! That adds to the humor! Does he knock the South? You better believe it! I didn't find any of the book to be insulting but instead quirky...of course, that could be my rose colored goggles. If you are sensitive about your Southern heritage, you may want to skip this one as Bryson does seem to have a grudge against the South (or the history of the South). Personally, I liked his honesty. The South is indeed a hotbed for funny topics (Paddle faster, I hear banjo music), but I hardly judge all Southerners based upon such jokes. Likewise, I am not offended by the myriad of Mid-western jokes I hear. This book isn't deep or thought provoking, and shouldn't be taken so seriously. If you like to travel, have experienced small town mentality, or just like a good laugh I recommend this book. |
| |
