From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…

Notes from a Small Island

Bill Bryson

Finish date: February 14, 2017

Why we're reading this: This is my February immigrant book challenge
[close] This is my February immigrant book challenge

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What Members Thought

Apr 28, 2009 Jessica rated it it was ok

Shelves: nonfiction

I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't work for me. I spent most of the MONTH it took me to get through it wondering why I didn't just give up and move on to something else. I'm still not sure why I stuck it out.

Notes from a Small Island deals with a walking tour Bill Bryson made of England shortly before he and his family left the country to move back to the US. There are all sorts of interesting anecdotes here, but it all feels quite obscure, like half the time he's trying to sh ...more

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Jul 27, 2014 Julianne Dunn rated it really liked it

There were definitely times I laughed out loud, found myself nodding my head in agreement, and wishing I was doing this trip. I have been to a few of the places he visits but he definitely makes me wish I had been to more. I also enjoyed some of his misadventures and the infusion of random history and facts into his travels. There are a few times I cringed with his extreme disagreeableness and his assumptions but once I started viewing him as a curmudgeonly old man, I started overlooking these p ...more

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Feb 06, 2010 Erin rated it liked it

Shelves: 2010

Occasionally Bill Bryson is completely insufferable and full of himself. And occasionally he is downright nasty to people around him. But hey, England!

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Dec 05, 2008 Lisa rated it liked it

Shelves: 2008, travel

Not my favorite Bryson, but it made me want to drink lots of tea.

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Feb 05, 2008 Stephanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very amusing, delightful in parts, makes me want to go to England and tramp around right now! (But I would try to stay in nicer places than Bill Bryson tends to end up in!)

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