Book Number 169, Notes from a Small Island
by Bill Bryson
Chosen by Anne as an enjoyable reading antidote to calendar year 2020.
Bill Bryson made a tour of our island (England, Wales, Scotland) before going back home to America for a period, the book is a reflection of that experience.
There was a general consensus that the book reads either as dated or of it’s age.
Published in 1995 the observations of our island will have been made in the 1985 – 1990 period approximately.
This shows itself in the less politically correct language, and the culture of the period.
Several members had read the book twice, and one member had the extra entertainment of a copy annotated by a teenage daughter in preparation for an examination,
whilst another member commented, “the worst book I have ever read”.
The book contains many delightful nuggets of entertainment and does not pretend to be great literature.
There is much laugh-out-loud humour and quirkiness a-plenty.
Place names caused some interesting discussion.
There was some “tub-thumping” for Oswaldtwistle (near Blackburn in Lancashire) complemented locally by "Wetwang" and "The Land of Nod".
“Many Welsh place names sound like a cat trying to bring up a fir ball”.
Whilst there was general disappointment on the omission of a visit to Hull, the book flushed out a diversity of attitude, (from passionate love to hatred) to Blackpool amongst Book Club members.
The experience of visiting places mentioned in the book made for great interest including Lulworth Cove and Haystacks.
The overall reaction is of a good book for dipping into.
AABC rating: 3.3 of 5.
PC. 14th November, 2020.
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