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booksarecoolwhoknew's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
2.75
The oldest but also most dated of Bill Bryson’s books I’ve read. Informative and funny like the others, but he comes across as particularly abrasive in regards to problematic views & language in this book and it was draining by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Racial slurs
liv_congdon's review against another edition
It wasn't the witty fun book I was hoping for and that the ve experienced with Bryson before. It was written in the 80s, and while illuminating how far we've come, I couldn't be bothered with th mysogeny and fatphobia and small mindedness
book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
Audiobook narrated by William Roberts.
Subtitle: Travels in Small Town America
After living abroad for some years, Bryson returns to his home country eager to scratch his nostalgia itch for the road trips and experiences of his childhood. Setting out from his childhood home in his mother’s “aging Chevrolet Chevette,” he traverses the back roads of most of the contiguous forty-eight states in search of the perfect small American town, where “Bing Crosby is the priest, Jimmy Stewart is the mayor, and Fred MacMurray is the principal.”
The jacket promises “an uproariously funny narrative” but the book didn’t deliver … at least not in my opinion. I found much of it very dated (it was originally published in 1989), and his snide remarks about many of the places he visited were downright mean-spirited. In fairness, I also am dismayed by the commercialization and sameness of much of the landscape (I love driving vacations and have made many a trek across the USA), and I cringe at the ridiculous souvenir shops at even the most honored historic or natural sights. But I can ignore the shop selling commemorative pillows and mugs and still enjoy the majesty of Mammoth Cave, for example, or the historic information about Salem, Massachusetts.
I listened to this on audio, and William Roberts does a very good job of the narration. I wish he had better material to work with.
Subtitle: Travels in Small Town America
After living abroad for some years, Bryson returns to his home country eager to scratch his nostalgia itch for the road trips and experiences of his childhood. Setting out from his childhood home in his mother’s “aging Chevrolet Chevette,” he traverses the back roads of most of the contiguous forty-eight states in search of the perfect small American town, where “Bing Crosby is the priest, Jimmy Stewart is the mayor, and Fred MacMurray is the principal.”
The jacket promises “an uproariously funny narrative” but the book didn’t deliver … at least not in my opinion. I found much of it very dated (it was originally published in 1989), and his snide remarks about many of the places he visited were downright mean-spirited. In fairness, I also am dismayed by the commercialization and sameness of much of the landscape (I love driving vacations and have made many a trek across the USA), and I cringe at the ridiculous souvenir shops at even the most honored historic or natural sights. But I can ignore the shop selling commemorative pillows and mugs and still enjoy the majesty of Mammoth Cave, for example, or the historic information about Salem, Massachusetts.
I listened to this on audio, and William Roberts does a very good job of the narration. I wish he had better material to work with.
madison_bernabe88's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
willbefunorelse's review against another edition
4.0
For the full review (and a bonus appearance by the always-delightful Nathan Fillion), click the link to That's What She Read.
casspro's review against another edition
2.0
I'm only six chapters into this travel book and I'm already seething with anger. Bryson is an asshole. He didn't come across this way in previous books I've read of his, but he just a raging, pompous ass in this writing. His view of small town Americans, whether in the South or Midwest or wherever, is stereotypical and insulting. His view of America is based on a childhood fantasy episode of "Leave it to Beaver" that doesn't exist. And when his ridiculous expectations aren't met, he spirals into an awful depression and whines about how backwards the rest of the country is and how much more sophisticated he is compared to the rest of the slack-jawed yokels of this country. His opinion of small town people is so exaggerated and ludicrous that it diminishes any good that might shine through his bog of bullshit. I'm so disappointed. I was hoping for something enlightening or at the very least entertaining, but alas. Like the arrogant wine sommelier at a kegger, Bryson ruins everyone else's good time.
alidottie's review against another edition
3.0
3 and a half stars
While I was not as disappointed in this book as others, Bryson definitely got better with time. I could still enjoy his humor and having listened to a couple of his books read by him, I loved hearing his voice in my head when he's say certain things.
I am a big fan of travel books. This one just falls a bit flat. There is some added interest now too because it is nearly 30 years old, so it has a bit of a historic flavor like I get from Travels with Charley (which is one of my favorite books that is Steinbeck's 1960 trip around the US).
While I was not as disappointed in this book as others, Bryson definitely got better with time. I could still enjoy his humor and having listened to a couple of his books read by him, I loved hearing his voice in my head when he's say certain things.
I am a big fan of travel books. This one just falls a bit flat. There is some added interest now too because it is nearly 30 years old, so it has a bit of a historic flavor like I get from Travels with Charley (which is one of my favorite books that is Steinbeck's 1960 trip around the US).
thejejo's review against another edition
2.0
Muh! This felt like a regurgitated version of his other books. First Bryson I didn’t dig. I won’t give up on him tho. Humor and Travel should pair more often in my opinion.