Paul Sergeant: As a dual national Brit-Yank, my life has been the mirror image of my favorite Yank-Brit author, Bill Bryson. So I have particular appreciation for his "outsider views his adopted country" books, of which Notes From A Small Country" is only outdone by his returning to America is "I'm a Stranger Here Myself".
I re-read my paperback "Notes" over a vacation, and about half-way through found "Dear Bill Bryson: Footnotes from a Small Island" for Kindle and started reading them in parallel, one in each hand, which I think is probably by far the best way. The author did just that, carrying Bryson's book as a sort of lazy-man's Fodor's Guide - far less earnest than Rick Steves but much funnier.
"Footnotes" improves as it goes, the author shares Byson's muzzy warm-heartedness leavened with spikes of millennial attitude and is best when he goes off the Beaten-By-Byson path and makes his own way. I don't care two hoots is someone does a J.B. Priestly centennial walk as one interviewee suggests, but I'd read a 40-year retracing of Bryson just to see how much my birth country changes, and if there are still happily retired English couples with beach cottages in Bournemouth, or if...
United States on Dec 26, 2021
Tim Albert: This is a brilliant idea! Ben Aitken follows the great travel writer’s itinerary around Britain, bringing the eyes of a new generation to describe what has happened to Bryson’s world. Aitken writes with wit, insight and the occasional rant. The book is filled with seemingly effortless descriptions that anyone who has tried their hand at travel writing will covet.. Take this, about the thriving city of Aberdeen: ‘Up and down the clear streets went large cars driven by moisturised men in decent knitwear’. A great first book and I look forward to reading his later adventures.
United Kingdom on May 01, 2020
Dave the Rave: After i read the last book by Bryson , wrote a really negative review. Ben does me one better by writing a whole book dis'ing Bill. Wow! I wish i had thought of that. Unfortunately, Ben demonstrates th same problems with sexism, self-entitlement, and questionable hygene. Maybe the problem is with th topic. Maybe the UK is just generates books like this, but i am unwilling to invest the time in reading Priestley to find out.
Canada on Aug 21, 2017
Mark Rees: As a great fan of 'Notes from a small island', I looked forward to this book as almost being a companion with new eyes. It certainly was that but it also still amusing and refreshing in it's own right.
United States on Mar 04, 2017
Charles D Piper: Overall a really wonderful, thoughtful and sometimes snarky retracing of Bryson's journey. But it has its own personality in Ben's steps. Would have enjoyed it more without Ben's frequent employment of the f-bomb.
United States on Oct 17, 2016
Xanthippe: Well I dunno - my appreciation of Bryson is qualified, but I don't feel he deserves this! A bit dim, really - sorry!
France on Jul 11, 2016
Leifur Hákonarson: Tried reading this but gave up. Totally uninteresting and poorly written. Memo to self - always download a sample before buying eBooks.
United States on May 23, 2016
Kindle Customer: Having just finished reading Bill Byson's Notes from Little Dribbling, which I found disappointing compared to other Bryson books, I ordered this book hoping for a better experience. Although some parts were amusing, I could have taken less vulgarity. I would also suggest some more editing. It is jarring to see the misuse of common homonyms: complemented for complimented, their for there, hear for here. If you want to read a really funny book about travel in the UK, I strongly recommend Free Country by George Mahood. It is thoroughly entertaining as are his other books.
United States on Apr 18, 2016
Client d'Amazon: This book is wonderful. And funny. And really well-written. Just buy it, even if you don't know who is Bill Bryson.
France on Dec 16, 2015
| Dear Bill Bryson: Reflections on a Small Island | Explore Scotland's Fabled History with Clanlands: An Epic Journey of Whisky, Warfare, and Adventure | Exploring Small-town America: Take a Road Trip with Not Tonight, Josephine | |
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| B2B Rating |
70
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97
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97
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| Sale off | $6 OFF | $7 OFF | |
| Total Reviews | 10 reviews | 806 reviews | 384 reviews |
| ISBN-10 | 1785788256 | 1529342031 | 1539342999 |
| Parody | Parody | ||
| ISBN-13 | 978-1785788253 | 978-1529342031 | 978-1539342991 |
| Travel Humor (Books) | Travel Humor | Travel Humor | |
| Item Weight | 7.5 ounces | ||
| Language | English | English | English |
| Travel Writing Reference | Travel Writing Reference | ||
| Publisher | Icon Books | Mobius | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |
| Dimensions | 5 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches | 7.75 x 2.9 x 5.15 inches; 8.85 Ounces | 5.25 x 0.93 x 8 inches; 14.89 Ounces |
| Best Sellers Rank | #302 in Travel Humor #1,754 in Parody#3,258 in Travel Writing Reference | #18 in General Great Britain Travel Guides#34 in Travelogues & Travel Essays#184 in TV, Movie & Game Tie-In Fiction | #60 in Travel Humor #879 in Travelogues & Travel Essays#1,332 in Traveler & Explorer Biographies |
| Paperback | 256 pages | ||
| Customer Reviews | 3.6/5 stars of 453 ratings | 4.8/5 stars of 13,031 ratings | 4.3/5 stars of 6,657 ratings |
United Kingdom on Oct 13, 2023