In 1995, before leaving his much-loved home in North Yorkshire to move back to the States for a few years with his family, Bill Bryson insisted on taking one last trip around Britain, a sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. His aim was to take stock of the nation's public face and private parts (as it were), and to analyse what precisely it was he loved so much about a country that had produced Marmite; a military hero whose dying wish was to be kissed by a fellow named Hardy; place names like Farleigh Wallop, Titsey and Shellow Bowells; people who said 'Mustn't grumble', and 'Ooh lovely' at the sight of a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits; and Gardeners' Question Time. Notes from a Small Island was a huge number-one bestseller when it was first published, and has become the nation's most loved book about Britain, going on to sell over two million copies.
In three words, funny as hell! :) Definitely worth a buy for humour and travelogue fans. Bill Bryson is known for his easy to follow style of writing and of course for his humour. I am already a fan of his "A short history of nearly everything". Being more of a science literature person, I was a bit hesitant to buy this book. But it was worth it. A must buy.
As far as humor goes, Bill Bryson proves he is too American to be genuinely funny. He tries to ape the humor of the British, but never quite makes the grade. Why does he try to be funny in each sentence? The desperate attempt at humor is too boring to be interesting. I couldn't get past the first 60 odd pages. Definitely not worth buying!