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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.
mary00's review against another edition
4.0
3 1/2 Stars
I have been planning a tentative American road trip and was in the mood to read a road trip book, so I picked this one up. I knocked a half star off for the recurrent, overused, not funny fat American jokes, and there were a few bits I didn't care for, but overall I enjoyed this (and even laughed out loud a few times).
It sounds as though this is not one of Bryson's best works, so I would be interested in trying out some other books of his.
I have been planning a tentative American road trip and was in the mood to read a road trip book, so I picked this one up. I knocked a half star off for the recurrent, overused, not funny fat American jokes, and there were a few bits I didn't care for, but overall I enjoyed this (and even laughed out loud a few times).
It sounds as though this is not one of Bryson's best works, so I would be interested in trying out some other books of his.
torbert's review against another edition
3.0
Read this on my Bryson kick...not his best, but an entertaining and mildly informative if not blatantly nostalgic read about small-town, mostly midwestern, America.
traceyelder's review against another edition
3.0
I always enjoy Bill Bryson - this isn't my favorite of his novels, but it's told with his usual dry humor. Very amusing insights into small town America - especially when you're from a big city!