Bill Bryson’s memoir about traveling in Britain started off so hilarious that I really thought I was in for a treat. My face was literally sore from laughing. But instead I ended up taking several weeks to read it because the last two-thirds really drags: “I went to a hotel. I walked around. I ate some food. I went to a hotel.” etc… It’s boring and very uneven.

This is not to say that it’s not worth reading, but if you’re like me and feel strongly obliged to finish a book once you start it, be cautious!

This was talked up to me as so hilariously funny that I don’t think it could have ever measured up upon my reading it. I did find it funny. Parts of it were charming and very enjoyable. But my overall impression of the book was that it was like taking a journey around England with a travel companion whose company I didn’t particularly enjoy.

This book is fairly hysterical. My brother lent it to me to read on the plane flying back from London to Australia. I love that Bill Bryson rails against the demolition of beautiful old buildings and (mostly) souless modern architecture. I kind of wish I’d read it before I visited England, but there some stuff in there that only resounds with me because I did!

Bryson writes with a lot of humour, but this book also is filled with tirades against modern architecture. It also has gems such as the discovery of a Roman mosaic in the woods. There are swear words, which I don’t think add anything to the content. Otherwise, it’s a very good book on Britain, and a good view of another country by an American.