Comments on: Bill Bryson Wrote The Funniest Book I Know

By: Christine Scaman

Christine Scaman — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:08:12 +0000

Thank you, Mark. Perhaps I was thinking that some of the travels took him through the South. Notes From A Big Country was the first Bryson book I’d ever read. It was simply hilarious. I still remember so many of the passages.

By: Mark B from Dorset, UK.

Mark B from Dorset, UK. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:55:24 +0000

Christine, I enjoyed your article on the most entertaining writer that is Bill Bryson. I recently bought “Notes from a Big Country” as a gift and got into a conversation with the elderly lady behind me in the queue about his works, so his appeal really does cross gender and age boundaries!

I did however notice that you mentioned Bill being in the South of England, which is incorrect as the county of Yorkshire is actually one of the most Northern in England.
Norfolk is a county in the East of England, the region often called East-Anglia or the Midlands, certainly never the South. Perhaps you read this from Bill himself and the mistake has simply passed on, or perhaps it is another classic Bryson-esque case of American ignorance of British details (no offence intended, I say this only as a continuation of many of the themes of Bill’s work!)

All the best, and remember – There is always a little more toothpaste in the tube. Think about it.

By: Christine Scaman

Christine Scaman — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:38:43 +0000

Ann,

Thank you for commenting. I find it so hard to tell women how great his books are. As soon as you say Travel Writer, folks kind of tune out.
But he is so dry and so hilarious in his descriptions of people or places that I love every minute of all his books.
A Short History is #1 on my summer reading list. I can’t wait.

By: Ann Pearson

Ann Pearson — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:22:32 +0000

I love Bill Bryson-the scope of his interests and knowledge amazes me. The first book of his that I read was “The Mother Tongue”, subtitled “English and how it got that way”. It is a short story on the Eglish language with some general history of language and its origins. It’s FUNNY and educational! I also have his “Short History of Nearly Everything”. I have really enjoyed, that too. “Walk” is going on my list of books to read. Thanks for the recommendation!