Was very much looking forward to reading this book---my first Bill Bryson---and while I won't say that I was disappointed in the book, I can't say it...moreWas very much looking forward to reading this book---my first Bill Bryson---and while I won't say that I was disappointed in the book, I can't say it met my (albeit high) expectations.
The Good: Loved Bryson's writing style---dry and sarcastic humor without being so irreverent and cynical that he can't appreciate something real and true and good---and, since I'm possibly the most interested person in the world (that is, a person who is interested in a wide range of topics; different from being the most interesting person in the world, although I'm that, too), the history behind the AT, the current state of the ecosystem (and the government's role in the ecosystem), tales of fatal tree diseases...all the researched facts and figures fascinated me.
The Bad: For some reason I feel a little bad thinking this---not sure why that is, since I'm not one to hold back on a book I didn't like---but I was just a littled bored by the story after awhile; my attention span had sputtered out. So there was hiking, and then some more hiking, and then some more...then some hiking hijinks...I'm having a hard time putting my finger on what it is that bugged me, because---as previously stated---I liked the writing style, the humor, the blend of facts and narrative, but it just grew a bit dull and I found myself anxious to finish it quickly. Also...couldn't help but feel a bit cheated that he didn't hike the WHOLE trail. Bait and switch? Writing under false pretenses? I don't know...I just felt like that wasn't supposed to happen.
Bottom Line: Would still recommend checking the book out---particularly for hikers, adventure travelers, anyone who's familiar with the AT or anyone who's on a quest to know something about everything, like myself---with the caveat that the journey, in this case, isn't always as exciting as the destination.(less)
Wow. How boring was this book?? And why oh why does Bill Bryson have to torment me so??
I discovered Bill Bryson shortly before I read Notes and serio...moreWow. How boring was this book?? And why oh why does Bill Bryson have to torment me so??
I discovered Bill Bryson shortly before I read Notes and seriously thought I had hit a goldmine; I thought he'd be my new favorite author, that I'd be reading his entire collection, that I wouldn't be able to get enough. Part travel writer, part humorist, part explorer-of-curiosities and part taker-of-challenges, Bryson writes things I want to read about: hiking the Appalachian Trail, returning to America after 20 years abroad, Australia...everything he wrote sounded interesting! I love Britain, so despite a "meh" experience with Bryson's A Walk in the Woods, I was willing to give Notes from a Small Island a chance.
This, it turns out, was a big mistake. Somehow, the book that I thought would be full of funny observations and charming details about jolly old England turned out to be, well, pretty much just that---but gone terribly wrong. As was the case with A Walk in the Woods, Bryson tells a funny story, full of keen observations, dark humor and interesting facts, but as a whole, the book didn't come together. All the pieces were there, so this was very disappointing indeed.
Essentially, this book is like sitting through a slide show (sans visuals) tour of Britain, and even though the host might be a funny guy who you'd really like to go grab a pint with, you're still like wait, seriously? There are how many more slides to go??
Side note: Part of me still wants to read the rest of Bryson's books...it's as though I can't convince myself that no, I am not a Bill Bryson fan. Sad day.(less)
Oh, Bill. Our relationship was rocky at first - I really wasn't sure what you were doing to me with Notes from a Small Island and, to a lesser but sti...moreOh, Bill. Our relationship was rocky at first - I really wasn't sure what you were doing to me with Notes from a Small Island and, to a lesser but still slightly tragic degree, A Walk in the Woods - but we've made remarkable progress since then, and it was this here book that replotted our course. In short, it made me love you.
And now, I shall read every book you ever write, and I will never, ever doubt you again.
**BONUS FEATURE**
True story to further your entertainment: I read this book en route to Australia, which entailed a JFK-LAX-SYD flight path. Upon boarding, I noticed the guy in front of me on the JFK-LAX leg was also reading it - of all the books in the world! Amazing. (Crucial background information: I have this condition that causes me to believe every random intersection I have with a person - We're wearing the same dress! Look, we both have Whole Foods reusable shopping bags! Whoa, we're reading the same book! - means we have a special, shared connection that destines us to be "besties." I try to signify this by casting a knowing glance at my counterpart, one that says, "Hi there. We're the same, you and me." They usually just ignore me.) So to my best friend/random fellow passenger, I chanced it and asked if he, too, was continuing on Down Under and what he thought of the book. He was, and he liked it, so naturally he, his partner, my new husband and I became great friends and spent many memorable nights and days circumnavigating the city together, all the while thanking the stars for Bill Bryson and his delightful book that brought us together.
Actually, the guy didn't really care that we were both reading the same book at all, and that was the end of that. (less)
I appreciate Thompson's efforts to show the world that there's more to vacationing than the Caribbean and that t...moreReally enjoyed this quick little read.
I appreciate Thompson's efforts to show the world that there's more to vacationing than the Caribbean and that travel writing should probably exist on more than an endless stream of cliches ("the charming cheese-maker and his rosy-faced wife invited us in, where we dined on the freshest mozzarella and the ripest tomatoes in their rustic home as the sun went down across the Tuscan hills"). I totally made that up, by the way, but I bet you thought you read it in Gourmet.
Had I not agreed with Thompson on so many fronts, I probably would have grown a little tired of his cynicism and arrogance--both of which there were plenty--but instead I laughed out loud to his stories and breezed happily through the book.
Word of caution...in the first few pages, I was worried I had signed up to read a book about how if you're traveling and you DON'T wind up in a crack den/get high with locals/get mugged, you're not really getting the most mileage in your travels. Don't be fooled: Thompson just wants to show that real travel can be ugly...just because you're in Paris or Tokyo or Phuket* doesn't mean that your days will be filled with glorious perfection. Life can beat you up in France just as much as it can in the U.S. of A.
Allow me to begin by saying how much I adore Anthony Bourdain: I love his gritty sense of humor, I love his enthusiasm for food that's not "pretty," I...moreAllow me to begin by saying how much I adore Anthony Bourdain: I love his gritty sense of humor, I love his enthusiasm for food that's not "pretty," I love his desire to see, taste and do everything, I love that he slams Food Network over and over again despite the fact that they funded the trips on which this book was based, I love that he drops F-bombs like it's his job.
Unfortunately, all of these don't come together to create a book I love-love-loved.
Kitchen Confidential in particular is far superior, in my humble/esteemed (depends on whom you ask) opinion, and Cook's Tour was a little disappointing comparatively. It's still a good read, but it feels like Tony has been pared down, and I miss the insider's peek that KC permitted. Memorable bits do stand out thanks to Tony's willingness to try anything, but overall the book has settled into the part of my brain where the title registers on the "Oh yeah, that book, that was pretty good" scale but my neurons can't fire off anymore information than that. Spilling from Bourdain's mind, this book is just not quite as memorable as it could have been, but Bourdain fans, global adventurers, and crazy foodies still ought to read it. (less)
Loading...
