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  <title><![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]></title>
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    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Wed Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[It took me forever to read this because I was constantly picking it up and putting it down, not because I wasn’t enjoying it, but because it’s one of those books where it works to read it in this way, and I read so many other books during the times I took breaks from reading this book.<br/><br/>...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3732428">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jun 28 06:07:25 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jul 10 18:01:03 -0700 2007</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Bill Bryson likes hedgerows, yelling at people, the English language, complaining, pretending to be a hiker, the fifth Duke of Portland, W.J.C. Scott-Bentinck, and <em>himself</em>.  He tries too hard to be clever, and although you're being introduced to some interesting mental pictures (&quot;a mid-face sna...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2480310">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Conal]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
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  <date_updated>Sat Jan 26 03:06:08 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I happened upon this book by chance and read it because I enjoy Bill Bryson's writing style. His witty observations are not absent from this travelogue from his adopted home of the UK. The funny text and clever wording, however, do little to mask the fact that Bryson does not actually <em>do</em> very much o...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10087067">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Jasmine]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[again, anyone with a sense of humor and adventure]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Thu Aug 09 03:24:28 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Bryson finds the greatness, simplicity, humor, beauty and utter annoyances of life in the UK.  Before he, his English wife and their children return to Bryson's home country, he does one last victory lap around Britain and takes the reader along with him. Wit and detail are in abundance, so is curio...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4300288">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4300288]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4300288]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>4576032</id>
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    <id>182016</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Anne]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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  <average_rating>3.76</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2003</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Aug 15 06:14:17 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Aug 15 06:44:16 -0700 2007</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I studied for a summer in Bath, adore Wimbledon, and I am a huge fan of Shakespeare and most of literary canon which can be defined as British Lit, so I think I've always had a special place in my heart for the UK, particularly England. <br/><br/>Also, this was introduction to Bryson and I was enc...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4576032">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4576032]]></url>
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      <review>
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  <isbn13>9780385405348</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">3</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.83</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>6</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Bill Bryson is an unabashed Anglophile who, through a mistake  of history,  happened to be born and bred in Iowa. Righting that error, he spent 20  years in  England before deciding to repatriate: &quot;I had recently read that 3.7 million Americans according to a Gallup poll,  believed that  they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my  people needed  me.&quot; That comic tone enlivens this account of Bryson's farewell walking tour of the  countryside of &quot;the  green and kindly island that had for two decades been my home.&quot;]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[Eloise]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jan 01 18:18:45 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jun 23 07:58:40 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[My first exposure to Bill Bryson was &quot;A Walk In The Woods&quot; which is about his desire to leave modern America behind and go for a stroll along the Appalachian Trail.  I love that book and found it to be hysterical and at other times very sensible in his commentary about the world around us....<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41544392">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41544392]]></url>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.66</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[Bill Bryson is an unabashed Anglophile who, through a mistake of history, happened to be born and bred in Iowa. Righting that error, he spent 20 years in England before deciding to repatriate: &quot;I had recently read that 3.7 million Americans according to a Gallup poll, believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot; That comic tone enlivens this account of Bryson's farewell walking tour of the countryside of &quot;the green and kindly island that had for two decades been my home.&quot;]]>
  </description>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1999</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[It was hardly surprising to discover that the first book I finished in 2008 was one of my comfort re-reads. For these are the books I treasure,  in the absolute certainty that whenever I feel bored, depressed, tired, lonely, miserable, or just over-whelmed by daily life I can pull them out and indul...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11768322">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11768322]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11768322]]></link>
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      <review>
  <id>9528007</id>
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  <isbn13>9780380727506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">617</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

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  <read_at>Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2001</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Nov 25 15:36:49 -0800 2007</date_added>
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    <body><![CDATA[Downloaded from Audible.com<br/><br/>Narrator: Bill Bryson<br/>Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio, 1999<br/>Length: 6 hours (abridged)<br/><br/>Publisher's Summary<br/>After nearly 2 decades in Britain, Bill Bryson, the acclaimed author of such best sellers as The Mother Tongue, Made in A...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9528007">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9528007]]></url>
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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  <average_rating>3.76</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[anglophiles]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2000</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Oct 11 07:03:40 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Oct 11 07:03:57 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This is Bryson’s swan song to his adopted home of England, where he lived for over 10 years. Bryson decided, after he and his wife were leaving the UK to return to the States, to take one final trek around this “small island” and write about these farewell experiences. This was the first one o...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7575415">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7575415]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7575415]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>14800209</id>
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    <id>729662</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Eli]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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  <average_rating>3.76</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Wed Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Feb 07 03:17:05 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Feb 24 13:00:24 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A tremendously humorous love letter from the author to his adopted country of England.  Bryson takes a walking tour of England prior to returning to the U.S., and fondly skewers everything from the architecture to the food to the relentlessly polite and proper Brits themselves.<br/><br/>Having spe...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14800209">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14800209]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14800209]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>25112139</id>
    <user>
    <id>125509</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Stacy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Denver, CO]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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  <average_rating>3.76</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>2</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Thu Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jun 22 07:33:23 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jun 26 07:06:33 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I only got about a third of the way through this book.  I was giving Bill Bryson one more chance to impress me, but he didn't quite do it.  <br/><br/>I would recommend this book for anyone who has lived in England, as many of the references in the book would escape someone who has not spent much t...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25112139">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25112139]]></url>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jun 26 09:38:02 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 16 22:45:31 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[My manager in DC gave me this book before I left for London - and it was freakin hysterical to read. The author was basically reiterating all the thoughts I had while I was there, living amongst the Brits, diciphering the weird accents, and travelling around the countrysides on the weekends. Bryson ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2402440">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2402440]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2402440]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>4151702</id>
    <user>
    <id>257497</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Julie]]></name>
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  <isbn>0380727501</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780380727506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">617</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.76</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>6347</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Aug 06 09:40:20 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 03:58:08 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book is so funny! I giggled all the way through. Being a Brit I just loved his experience of our guest houses, especially as the welcome at many of them hasn't changed one jot! He wrote the book C1995 so it is considerably out of date, but if you take that into consideration and want a really g...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4151702">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4151702]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4151702]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>516576</id>
    <user>
    <id>36370</id>
    <name><![CDATA[adventurat]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[V6X, Canada]]></location>
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  <isbn>0380727501</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780380727506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">617</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156042888m/28.jpg</image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.76</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>6347</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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        <shelf name="read" />
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        <shelf name="travelogue" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[anglophiles, travelers, anyone with a sense of humour]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Mar 31 21:27:43 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jul 19 07:32:53 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I laughed so much while reading this that I squeaked, gasped, and could hardly breathe, much less speak. Bryson is an American who has lived in England for about many years. He is moving himself and his family back to America, however, and this book is the story of his farewell tour of England, Scot...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/516576">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/516576]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/516576]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>77525787</id>
    <user>
    <id>2932900</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Asher]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Petah Tikva, Israel]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2932900-asher-gabbay]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">578530</id>
  <isbn>0552996009</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780552996006</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">21</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes From a Small Island]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175968454m/578530.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175968454s/578530.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/578530.Notes_From_a_Small_Island</link>
  <average_rating>3.70</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>168</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Bill Bryson is an unabashed Anglophile who, through a mistake of history, happened to be born and bred in Iowa. Righting that error, he spent 20 years in England before deciding to repatriate: &quot;I had recently read that 3.7 million Americans according to a Gallup poll, believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot; That comic tone enlivens this account of Bryson's farewell walking tour of the countryside of &quot;the green and kindly island that had for two decades been my home.&quot;]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>0</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Nov 12 02:54:01 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Nov 12 02:54:01 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[&quot;One word kept coming to mind while I was reading this book: &quot;&quot;tarchan&quot;&quot;. It is a word in Hebrew than I find difficult to translate into English. Perhaps fussy or fastidious or maybe even nit-picker would help to convey its meaning. Bill Bryson reveals himself to be a real t...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77525787">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77525787]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77525787]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>49516660</id>
    <user>
    <id>570365</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Melissa]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Chicago, IL]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/570365-melissa]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">28</id>
  <isbn>0380727501</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780380727506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">617</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156042888m/28.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156042888s/28.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.76</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>6347</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 16 19:55:59 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 16 20:13:48 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I like Bill Bryson quite a bit -- he's very informative and funny, even if sometimes you have to check to see if he's pulling your leg.  This is about traveling through Britain circa mid-90's -- the good, the bad, the ugly.  An American who married an Englishwoman, he'd lived in England a good many ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49516660">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49516660]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49516660]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>38833002</id>
    <user>
    <id>1005462</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Walt]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Layton, UT]]></location>
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  <isbn>0380727501</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780380727506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">617</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156042888m/28.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156042888s/28.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28.Notes_from_a_Small_Island</link>
  <average_rating>3.76</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>6347</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1995</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[anyone interested in the more contemporary Great Britain.]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[This was a bookclub suggestion.]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Nov 28 17:31:46 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Nov 28 17:53:19 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I found myself thinking about the taxes paid by the most successful of writers like Bryson while reading this travelogue . Why would I wonder about that, you ask? Well, check out <em>Making Expression Less Taxing<em> on Amazon, you will get a clue.<br/><br/>Like several of Bryson's books in the library, t...</em></em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38833002">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38833002]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38833002]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>6273725</id>
    <user>
    <id>383153</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Maryrose]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Dublin, Ireland]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/383153-maryrose]]></link>
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  <isbn>0380727501</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780380727506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">617</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156042888m/28.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156042888s/28.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28.Notes_from_a_Small_Island</link>
  <average_rating>3.76</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>6347</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
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  <read_at>Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1997</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[this was the first Bill Bryson I read and it made me cause attention to myself as I was literally laughing out loud on the Tube in London!  The bit that stays with me the most is the difference between how men and women queue... men are all prepared with the exact amount of change counted out, proff...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6273725">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
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  <read_at>Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Dec 06 15:41:03 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Dec 06 15:42:08 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[ Last summer I was reading one of Fabio Volo’s witty love stories,&quot;IL GIORNO IN PIU' &quot;, and I discovered that all around the world there are nice cafés called Starbucks where you can comfortably sit and just have coffee – especially long American coffee, big mugs of it – reading, wr...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80103065">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Notes from a Small Island]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p><strong>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;</strong></p><p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestsellingauthor of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to returnto the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another,so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out ona grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.</p><p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, <em>Notes from a Small Island</em> is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p>&quot;Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.&quot;<p>After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson-bestselling author of ,i&gt;The Mother Tongue and <em>Made in America</em>-decided to return to the United States. (&quot;I had recently read,&quot; Bryson writes, &quot;that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.&quot;) But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. <p>Veering from the ludicrous to the endearing and back again, Notes from a Small Island is a delightfully irreverent jaunt around the unparalleled floating nation that has produced zebra crossings, Shakespeare, Twiggie Winkie's Farm, and places with names like Farleigh Wallop and Titsey. The result is an uproarious social commentary that conveys the true glory of Britain, from the satiric pen of an unapologetic Anglophile.</p></p>]]>
  </description>
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    <body><![CDATA[Note to self: Don't read any Bryson books published before the year 2000. I am forcing myself to finish this book. What happened? I was expecting another factually-laden, interesting romp through Bryson's home turf (in the same vein as Sunburned Country), but no. <br/><br/>Bryson drags us along with...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73644832">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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