You know how I'm reading through the list of books the BBC thinks no one has read but probably should have? This is one of those books, and I had to ask myself, "Why?"
Bill Bryson is an American humorist who lived in England for two decades. Prior to his return to the States, he took one final trip around Great Britain visiting places he had always wanted to go (and some he hadn't), and then wrote this travel log. It was apparently very well received by the British, but I'm not sure why. I found Bryson to be snarky and intent on finding fault with most places he went. There were cities and villages that he seemed to like and moments he enjoyed himself, but they were few by comparison with all the places he seemed to loath.
I had hoped for a light read after the two books about wars, and I would say Notes From a Small Island is light. It has little or no real substance. I know that many would say this was an amusing read, but I really didn't like it. Bryson was far too cynical and seemed to be trying too hard to be funny. The book is full of interesting tidbits about places he is visiting and about England in general, but I wasn't impressed. On the back cover of my copy, one reviewer said that the book was like a valentine to Great Britain. Well, I can tell you, it is not the sort of valentine I would like to receive.
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