Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Pierre Bezukhov · 12-30-2004, 09:52 AM

About three weeks ago, a bouncer at a bar asked if I was a writer when I walked in the front door in Evanston, IL. He wanted to know if I was Bill Bryson. I looked his picture up online afterward and I do some resemblance to him, but he's got about 30 years on me. I have since gotten a haircut and shaved. I didn't know I was looking that "burly." The bouncer had a thick Australian accent, by the way.

JGL53 · 12-30-2004, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vortex87

I do like his books, but I like Paul Theroux's travel books more — if you've read Notes From a Small Island, you HAVE to read The Kingdom by the Sea.

Several interesting reviews of TKBTS on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

I'm a big Bryson fan too, A Walk In The Woods being my favorite also. I even enjoyed A Short History Of Everything (which I wasn't going to buy, but I got it as a gift, so what can you do?). Bryson's last book, on Africa, was strange as it was only about 70 pages long. I read it at the Borders coffee shop in about an hour. It was pretty good.

Word for word, and including all categories, I rank Bryson second on my list of non-classical humorists that I've read. P.J. O'Rouke is third (even if you dislike his politics he's still funny as hell). First is Florence King. Somehow she manages to get a laugh in every sentence in every book she's written. (Really. Bryson only manages a laugh every two or three sentences, on average.

) My favorite of her books is With Charity Toward None: A Fond Look At Misanthropy.

blasmeister · 12-31-2004, 11:08 AM

Read short history of nearly everything, and notes from a big country. I like Bryson's humour

diana · 01-01-2005, 11:05 AM

Bryson is possibly the only writer I've ever encountered that will provoke me to purchase a book without even reading the jacket just because it has his name on it.

Neither Here Nor There is the funniest and most engaging of his I've read. A Walk In The Woods had its moments. A Short History of Nearly Everything was interesting and also included (as usual) its moments. Notes From a Small Island for me, was up there with Neither Here Nor There for readability and humor. Mother Tongue was worth a re-read someday. Made in America was kinda blasee to me, for some reason.

The Lost Continent and In A Sunburned Country are in my (literal) stack of books awaiting my pleasure when I find the time. Seems like there was one more I haven't gotten to yet, either, but the name escapes me.

Bryson is not just the only professional writer I've wanted to actually meet in person, but could see myself sitting down to a brew with and enjoying the hell out of myself. He's a regular guy with a wonderful outlook and wicked sense of humor.

Nice to see other devotees.

d

jastity · 01-01-2005, 01:01 PM

Count me as a non-fan. I've read two of his books, and they were a struggle. It is his (alleged) sense of humour I think, strained, obvious and not funny. Witty wasn't the impression I came away with. Wit is deft and light.

Solsticin · 01-01-2005, 02:00 PM

"I'm a Stranger Here Myself" audio book is a GREAT travel book. Time flies when you drive.

I normally don't like audio books much (though I love them when I travel) but that one is great.

IamMoose · 01-02-2005, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jastity

Count me as a non-fan. I've read two of his books, and they were a struggle. It is his (alleged) sense of humour I think, strained, obvious and not funny. Witty wasn't the impression I came away with. Wit is deft and light.

Which ones did you read? I think he's very witty but there's no accounting for taste

.

IamMoose · 01-02-2005, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msboyd

It's 'Notes from a Big Country' -- my copy is the UK hardcover. (I was still living there when I bought it, so I suppose that's sort of cheating).

While most of my Bill Bryson books are the British versions, I have a few US ones and one Canadian one that I got when stranded there after 9/11 (thanks again to all the lovely Canadians I met); I like to compare the cover art.

I love the art for the US edition of Walk in the Woods .. much nicer than the UK edition

.

Varecia · 01-07-2005, 09:31 PM

Bryson is one of my favorites too. My husband and I listened to several of his books in audio form and he was the reader. That made it doubly enjoyable.

Matty · 01-08-2005, 08:47 AM

Count me as a fan. Hes one of those authors who have consistently managed to get me funny looks on the Tube for laughing out loud like a loon.

Notes from a Small Island captures (sterotypical)Brits pretty well IMO, Neither Here nor There was damn funny and i loved the relationship with him and (Katz?) in a Walk in the Woods.

I thought that while different, A Short History... was brilliantly put together, managed to make the whole scientific perspective both accessible and entertaining let alone a great "big picture" source of information.
His articles for the Guardian during various events but most notably the (footy) World Cup and Olympics were hilarious too.

That said, i thought i'd read them all but "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" has passed me by. is that a fairly new one? Its on the shopping list as of now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diana

..........could see myself sitting down to a brew with and enjoying the hell out of myself. He's a regular guy with a wonderful outlook and wicked sense of humor

Fully agreed, i think the same with Iain Banks too

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12-30-2004, 09:52 AM	#11
Pierre Bezukhov Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 882	About three weeks ago, a bouncer at a bar asked if I was a writer when I walked in the front door in Evanston, IL. He wanted to know if I was Bill Bryson. I looked his picture up online afterward and I do some resemblance to him, but he's got about 30 years on me. I have since gotten a haircut and shaved. I didn't know I was looking that "burly." The bouncer had a thick Australian accent, by the way.

12-31-2004, 11:08 AM	#13
blasmeister Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Coventry, england Posts: 135	Read short history of nearly everything, and notes from a big country. I like Bryson's humour

01-01-2005, 11:05 AM	#14
diana Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 6,471	Bryson is possibly the only writer I've ever encountered that will provoke me to purchase a book without even reading the jacket just because it has his name on it. Neither Here Nor There is the funniest and most engaging of his I've read. A Walk In The Woods had its moments. A Short History of Nearly Everything was interesting and also included (as usual) its moments. Notes From a Small Island for me, was up there with Neither Here Nor There for readability and humor. Mother Tongue was worth a re-read someday. Made in America was kinda blasee to me, for some reason. The Lost Continent and In A Sunburned Country are in my (literal) stack of books awaiting my pleasure when I find the time. Seems like there was one more I haven't gotten to yet, either, but the name escapes me. Bryson is not just the only professional writer I've wanted to actually meet in person, but could see myself sitting down to a brew with and enjoying the hell out of myself. He's a regular guy with a wonderful outlook and wicked sense of humor. Nice to see other devotees. d

01-01-2005, 01:01 PM	#15
jastity Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 712	Count me as a non-fan. I've read two of his books, and they were a struggle. It is his (alleged) sense of humour I think, strained, obvious and not funny. Witty wasn't the impression I came away with. Wit is deft and light.

01-01-2005, 02:00 PM	#16
Solsticin Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Grand Prairie, Texas Posts: 435	"I'm a Stranger Here Myself" audio book is a GREAT travel book. Time flies when you drive. I normally don't like audio books much (though I love them when I travel) but that one is great.

01-07-2005, 09:31 PM	#19
Varecia Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 926	Bryson is one of my favorites too. My husband and I listened to several of his books in audio form and he was the reader. That made it doubly enjoyable.

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