Notes from a Small Island: The Poky Little Puppy; Tootle; The Saggy Baggy Elephant; Tawny Scrawny Lion; Scuffy the Tugboat

Great humor! Bryson has a way with words. Strongly recommended as a must read.

I read with great expectation Bill Bryson's “Notes from a Small Island”. I followed Mr. Bryson to south of England but he bypassed Torquay on beautiful Devon coast. I followed him in all the interesting chapters till chapter 18 and was about to abandon him when Manchester appeared in chapter 19 but then he does not visit Manchester College of Science and Technology as it was then-in 1954 called. I thought of giving up when my eyes fall on Salford. He has a flitting reference to it. He mentions Eccles. But passes through it. He doesn’t know the happy times I had there during my stay. He bypasses West Didsbury. Now I can’t forgive him. I would have hated Mr. Bryson but for his excellent description of British countryside, for his tongue-in- cheek humor, the famous British understatements. He describes the British character so well. It is an easy read, an enjoyable tour of English countryside & that includes Scotland and Wales too. He hates some of the new constructions but I bet he would have loved the post war regenerating England of mid 50s. As a travelogue goes, I have no hesitation to recommend it to all who love travel; who have ever been to the British country.

A very enjoyable book

Love his writing anyday!

As far as travel books go, I have read better. I guess one has to be in sympathy with an author's sense of humour to enjoy a humorous travelogue. I found the humour a little juvenile at times and topical references will ensure it gets dated fast. Besides, for me a good travel book should give the reader a sense of place, make him feel like he's there with the author. I didn't get that here. As far as the rest is concerned, it's a fairly easy read and follows the author on his long walks around Britain. I found nothing new or particularly interesting in it. However, if you are in the mood for a casual read this is not a bad choice.

Lucid language with mild humour, a good travelogue

Quite interesting and funny to start with but then it becomes more of the same

Bryson never disappoints. In scintillating form, as usual.