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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.
allysonwbrunette's review against another edition
2.0
I'm going to preface this review by saying that Bill Bryson is *NOT* everyone's cup of tea. He's snarky, sexist, sarcastic, and downright offensive. He has a distinctly British brand of dark humor and because of this, it reminds me SO MUCH of the humor of my late grandfather. His bestsellers were all written in the early 1990s or earlier and he's no longer actively writing. If he were, honestly, he would be canceled already. I love his sense of humor, even if some of the jokes hit your ear now much differently 30 years after publication. So basically, if you're offended easily, stay away from Bill Bryson.
The Lost Continent follows Bill Bryson on his return to his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa after a decade spent living abroad in England. He takes a 14,000-mile road trip by car to 38 U.S. states over the course of several months and documents his quest to find the perfect small town, which he dubs 'Amalgam'. I loved hearing his perspectives pre-internet on the experience of traveling. He complained at length about the death of American downtowns and the surge in suburban strip development, wholly dependent on chain occupants and access by vehicular means only. I'd love to hear Bryson's perspective 30 years later on how some of these places have died entirely, and how others have experienced a resurgence in locally-owned businesses and a pedestrian experience. I can't even imagine taking a road trip where we didn't have our stays (or route) planned in advance, so this book offered a freeing perspective on what it might be like to truly let the road take you where it leads.
The Lost Continent follows Bill Bryson on his return to his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa after a decade spent living abroad in England. He takes a 14,000-mile road trip by car to 38 U.S. states over the course of several months and documents his quest to find the perfect small town, which he dubs 'Amalgam'. I loved hearing his perspectives pre-internet on the experience of traveling. He complained at length about the death of American downtowns and the surge in suburban strip development, wholly dependent on chain occupants and access by vehicular means only. I'd love to hear Bryson's perspective 30 years later on how some of these places have died entirely, and how others have experienced a resurgence in locally-owned businesses and a pedestrian experience. I can't even imagine taking a road trip where we didn't have our stays (or route) planned in advance, so this book offered a freeing perspective on what it might be like to truly let the road take you where it leads.
simona_lt's review against another edition
It felt rather boring. He went from a place to place, writing a small or a big story about each of the place and then move to another place. Just came across repetitive and I missed a plot - where is this going?..
hollyrebecca's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
I always find joy from Bill Bryson’s grumpy and judgemental descriptions of his journeys, but not so much this time around. In this book, Bill drives through 38 states visiting small towns along his route. I wasn’t expecting a raving review of the towns, having listened to a few other Bryson travel books, but this book was rather more negative than some of his others.
Bill always praises nature more so than people, culture and architecture, and I understand this viewpoint to some extent. However, in this book there were a lot of misogynistic and fatphobic comments used to describe the people Bill came across.
This is not a Bryson travel book I would recommend, unless you were a particularly judgemental person who enjoyed listening to judgement of others.
The audiobook is well narrated but the chapters aren’t structured to map those within the book.
Bill always praises nature more so than people, culture and architecture, and I understand this viewpoint to some extent. However, in this book there were a lot of misogynistic and fatphobic comments used to describe the people Bill came across.
This is not a Bryson travel book I would recommend, unless you were a particularly judgemental person who enjoyed listening to judgement of others.
The audiobook is well narrated but the chapters aren’t structured to map those within the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Fatphobia
needagoodbook's review against another edition
3.0
Some bits has me laughing out loud. Other than that it was a mildly interesting diary of someone who went on a road trip around America.