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Post by chikee on Aug 26, 2007 16:06:15 GMT
I had never read any of Bill Bryson's books until very recently, I would highly recommend them, they're fascinating with some real laugh out loud bits. I've learnt a lot from the first one I read 'The life and times of the thunderbolt Kid'
chi
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Post by dawndonna on Aug 26, 2007 18:02:53 GMT
The 'Notes from a Small Island' one is the best!! Although I like all his books. Not read 'Thunderbolt Kid' yet.
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Post by smiffy on Aug 27, 2007 3:22:29 GMT
I was given the Australian one to read on the plane over here by a good friend. I didn't read it then, but later I found it great! Little snippets of information in a fun read!
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Post by xraysteve on Aug 27, 2007 10:56:21 GMT
I find that the essay style of notes from a big country is him at his best. The british and european books are good but the 3-4 pages per topic I think shows him at his best.
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Post by lily on Aug 27, 2007 16:54:01 GMT
He is one of my favourite writers...the times I've been laughing out loud at him ;D
He has such a funny way of explaining things, as I come from Merseyside, his story of his visit to the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool had me crying with laughter as I could visualise exactly where he was and his drunken escapade down Matthew Street and into the hotel and out again through the swing doors - then trying to behave as if nothing happened! ;D Classic!
xxx
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Post by idiotmittens on Sept 2, 2007 21:21:49 GMT
He is one of my favourite writers...the times I've been laughing out loud at him ;D
He has such a funny way of explaining things, as I come from Merseyside, his story of his visit to the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool had me crying with laughter as I could visualise exactly where he was and his drunken escapade down Matthew Street and into the hotel and out again through the swing doors - then trying to behave as if nothing happened! ;D Classic!
xxx As an ex-Birkenhead lad myself, I too was in tears of laughter reading that same passage. I've got all his books and , IMHO, Notes from a Small Island is the best
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Post by Glen B Ogle on Sept 2, 2007 21:34:00 GMT
I'm a massive fan of Bryson. I really can't say which is best! I read Small Island first, and certainly also appreciated Notes from a Big Country - I agree the "columnist" style worked very well.
I think I've read most of his books (including A Brief History of Nearly Everything), latest one being Neither Here Nor There for the second time.
The Aussie one is definitely recommended for anyone venturing that far south.
Glen
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Post by revmichael on Sept 3, 2007 7:58:26 GMT
Just before we went to Australia (for the second of our four visits; fifth one coming up in January next) I read 'Down Under.' This was not only amusing but very informative - particularly about the stuff you don't usually find in guidebooks. I remember his description of the highly poisonous Box Jelly Fish. He said he found out the information in a book called 'Australia's most deadly insects and reptiles Vol. 13.'
I must get around to reading the others - especially Notes from a Small Island. I think this was his first book. Is that correct?
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Post by Glen B Ogle on Sept 4, 2007 20:01:40 GMT
Small Island brought him to fame in this country certainly.
Being an anorak with my bookshelf in alphabetical/date order...
Made in America 1994 Small Island 1995 Walk in the Woods 1997 Big Country 1998 Short History 2003 Thunderbolt Kid 2006
Lost Continent and Down Under seem to have gone missing though (must check the friends who've been to Aus lately).
If you search on the 'net there's loads more that may or may not have ever been released over here.
Glen
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Post by Eva Looshan on Sept 4, 2007 21:06:54 GMT
I love Bill Bryson too and his wry sense of humour. A few years back his articles used to appear weekly in one of the Sunday magazines. One particular one describing how it was for him after one of his children went off to Uni had me both laughing and crying, and as it was round about the time my own daughter had also left home for Uni, I wrote to him - he was back living in the US then. Much to my surprise, he wrote me a very nice letter back.
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Post by lindasahandir on Sept 5, 2007 6:03:24 GMT
I love Bill Bryson, too. One that hasn't been mentioned is a favourite of mine, and that's Mother Tongue, which is about the English language. Absolutely fascinating!
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Post by ivy noidea on Sept 5, 2007 21:57:41 GMT
I love Bill Bryson, too. One that hasn't been mentioned is a favourite of mine, and that's Mother Tongue, which is about the English language. Absolutely fascinating! I agree Linda - and it should be read immediately after (or even at the same time as) Eats shoots and Leaves.
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Post by Glen B Ogle on Sept 6, 2007 19:01:47 GMT
I forgot about Neither here Nor there in the above list - just reading it and it was still in the car!
Tha one was published in 1991 and details a journey round Europe. It's a brilliant insight into the differences (and similarities) between different European countries.
Glen
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Post by lindasahandir on Sept 6, 2007 20:22:24 GMT
I love Bill Bryson, too. One that hasn't been mentioned is a favourite of mine, and that's Mother Tongue, which is about the English language. Absolutely fascinating! I agree Linda - and it should be read immediately after (or even at the same time as) Eats shoots and Leaves. I read it before. Was that OK, do you think? Only Eats Shoots and Leaves hadn't been published then. *worries*
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Post by Maud Craft on Sept 6, 2007 21:37:43 GMT
I forgot about Neither here Nor there in the above list - just reading it and it was still in the car! Tha one was published in 1991 and details a journey round Europe. It's a brilliant insight into the differences (and similarities) between different European countries. Glen What a coincidence? This morning I read a chapter from that book and was helpless with laughter when reading about his insight into the inflatable dolls in Hamburg, especially Aphrodite! ;D
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MrsE
Apprentice TOG
old romantic
Posts: 51
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Post by MrsE on Sept 8, 2007 22:44:54 GMT
"Thunderbolt Kid " was great. If you liked it try Fanny Flagg's "Standing in the Rainbow"
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Post by Slowan on Sept 9, 2007 8:07:06 GMT
A Walk in the Woods is hysterical. His description of how not to get eaten by a bear ........ if only you can remember which is which ..........
A few bits had me crying!
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Post by fannybegood on Dec 8, 2007 22:29:36 GMT
I too adore Bill Bryson's books. I think my favourite is 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' t took me a long time to get through it - but it was worth it! The first book I read was 'Down Under'. My sister gave it to me when we were visiting her in Oz. I read it on the plane home and loved every word.
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Post by lily on Dec 9, 2007 13:31:39 GMT
Must have a look at his latest offering...Shakespeare ;D
xxx
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Post by Pistachio Newt on Dec 28, 2007 21:30:22 GMT
I forgot about Neither here Nor there in the above list - just reading it and it was still in the car! Very brave of you to read it while driving. PMN & I both have made the mistake of trying to read it in the train. The fellow passengers must've though us mad for convulsing, wiping eyes, suppressing laughter and trying to look normal - which is hard for me at the best of times. Mother Tongue and Notes from a Small Island are my faves by a long stretch. Brief History is educational, but I found it a bit dryish at places. Until I dropped it in the bath. (ha-ha.)
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