Notes from a small Island by Bill Bryson

[Younghappy]

I have just finished reading the book in the title. Bill Bryson is an American who lived in England for 20 years, he was leaving for america with his family so he decided to go on a tour of Britain one last time so he writes a book about his tour. A very funny book and well worth the read. But I was apalled that he crammed the whole of Scotland into so few pages. Nearly the whole book was spent in England with a few pages in Wales. But I'm sure he could've written more about Scotland. The people are more interesting and it has an interesting (though bloody) history. If he had spent less time gurning about how the architecture in every English town he visited was ruined and spent more time in Scotland.

I also demand that he next writes a book about Ireland, much more interesting than England, Wales and maybe even Scotland

[Hadrians hiring!]

I have just finished reading the book in the title. Bill Bryson is an American who lived in England for 20 years, he was leaving for america with his family so he decided to go on a tour of Britain one last time so he writes a book about his tour. A very funny book and well worth the read. But I was apalled that he crammed the whole of Scotland into so few pages. Nearly the whole book was spent in England with a few pages in Wales. But I'm sure he could've written more about Scotland. The people are more interesting and it has an interesting (though bloody) history. If he had spent less time gurning about how the architecture in every English town he visited was ruined and spent more time in Scotland.

I also demand that he next writes a book about Ireland, much more interesting than England, Wales and maybe even Scotland

I have read it as well - I would not demand another book, rather he locks himself in a wood cabin and does his brains in with a very very very small calibre weapon so there a wee chance he might take a while to pass over into hel@.

one of the most boring ham-shanks to ever get into print.

[ionnsaigh]

Aye ,
Well I suppose he could do far worse than write about the Irish, or Scots- any of the Celtic nations, as they enjoy a greater depth of genetic history- than that mishmash that represents the English.

[Sweltered]

To be fair he was right about Halkirk.

[Old Willham]

I think Bill Bryson is one of the funniest writers around and the passage in "notes from a small Island" where he is trying to communicate with the Glasgow Barman and his inebriated customers is an absolute classic. Lest we forget, England is FAR bigger than Scotland and will obviously take up more of the book.

If you are interested in Science and history but prefer to learn with a good amount of humour then I would recommend Bills "A short History of nearly everything"...it's fantastic !!

[4th gen Suthen']

Oul' Willie is quite right about Bill Bryson and Notes From a Small Island, I love all his stuff but I must say, A short History of nearly everything is my least favourite of his......read and enjoyed it though and dip into it on a regular basis.

Made in America is my fave but A Walk in The Woods really captures the atmosphere and the feel of his Appalachian walk with Katz!

[Sweltered]

I think Bill Bryson is one of the funniest writers around and the passage in "notes from a small Island" where he is trying to communicate with the Glasgow Barman and his inebriated customers is an absolute classic. Lest we forget, England is FAR bigger than Scotland and will obviously take up more of the book.

If you are interested in Science and history but prefer to learn with a good amount of humour then I would recommend Bills "A short History of nearly everything"...it's fantastic !!

Have to agree, I love Bryson's wit and writing style. And yes A walk in the woods is a classic

[general jack o'niell]

sorry but the man is a twat, Totally Witless Author, There!, couldn't think of anything else for the last T and thought some might see it as a personal attack, not so, if i was going to do that about an author i'd startt tbl;nnmmm;n;vn;v, sorry just laughing cos i used the word author to describe this person, ahem, if i was going to do that i'd start a lot closer to home

yes, i've read several BB books, no i didn't like any of them, and yes i could patronise myself far better than he does and no, having watched several programs including him and watched various interviews i haven't changed my mind and finally no, you don't care, oh and yes i am talking sh!te oh and yes it is her birthday and yes i am, oh and yes i have, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, nah nothing, just nothing, thats it, can't think of another thing to say, thats me finished, all done, yes, no more to say, not a thing, not a word, finished done finito, finished, oh i said finished, eh? uhm? no! nothing!!!

[Annie]

Me thinks the General has been carrying around and drinking six open cans of cider at a time!

LOL!!!!!!!

[general jack o'niell]

not me, i'm on the same diet as the undercover reporter in yesterdays sunday mail, and yes i have had both this morning, purely medicinal, i only logged on cos i was getting funny looks from the neighbours, all i was doing was sitting out the back having a blether with the rabbit, she doesn't say much but she's a good listener, yes i know you've never seen the phrase "good listener" and she in the same sentence before but it is a rabbit we're talking about!!!!

[The Elusive Mr D.]

Are you talking to rabbits because everyone else is scared to talk to you???

[general jack o'niell]

since when have i been anything other than approachable and accomodating?

sweltered don't answer that!!!!


pretend i'm not here, i promised not to come back till after the election, can't remember why?

[The Elusive Mr D.]

Never said you weren't. But why talk to rabbits when there's a whole big world out there?(In Campbeltown?)

And shouldn't you be swotting up on your driving?

[general jack o'niell]

whole big world? that would mean crossing a threshold i haven't been over in four years, well i stuck a foot in last week but that was only to have a dig cos oban are selling tickets for inverary. wouldn't have happened in your day thats for sure!!!!

especially if there was a female on the other end of the phone when you called the promoters, scotlands only telephonic lounge lizard.

unlike you, nobody wants to listen to me talk sh!te for two hours first thing in the morning, certainly not dress hire shops, my opinions are more extreme these days, sadly this is not the place for them either, i have to tone it down too much. all i've got to look forward to is canvassers coming to the door in the next couple of weeks, thanks for the visit JS, i know you know but its nice of you to pretend you were trying to persuade me. i have my verbal AK47 all oiled and loaded for the rest

[general jack o'niell]

you seeing this? a full day and nothing, stone deid, i told you it wasn't coincidence