Bill Bryson is living proof of what you can do with observation and humor. I have laughed out loud during every Bryson read, and “Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe” was no exception. This book details the retracing of a route Bryson tread in his early twenties. From Hammerfest, the highest point in Europe, to Istanbul in the south. No country is spared the glare of Bill’s eye, but even those taking most of the brunt are dealt their punishment via humorous observations and imagination.
When Bryson travels and reveals his thoughts it can’t help but remind us of moments of our own.
He points out what makes each country, and the locals, so, so, so local. When he describes the orderly world of Germany, I remember be yelled at by a German hotel clerk because my plane was late. Or returning a car in Italy but unable to find the return lot. When I spoke to the rental agent via primitive mobile phone he said, “I don’t know, just leave it on the road.” He also weaves in observations about city planning, traffic, train travel, waiting in line and much, much more. One of my favorite lines, “It’s too bad wealth is wasted on the rich.”
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Love his books! So funny, and so spot-on.
Ah, good old Bill Bryson. 31 years ago, his “The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America” inspired me to a 7-week journey by car (trusty Toyota Sentra) from Tampa, FL, to Oceanside, CA, and back via Lebanon, KS. In New Mexico I visited the VLA in Socorro and the Carlsbad Caverns. Maybe I should scan some more of the slides created with my (then) Canon A1.
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I love the Sentra! College girlfriend had one. VLA is super cool. Love that entire area actually.
Umm Sentra was a Nissan product
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Yep. Tercel, in all its glory, was a Toyo.
Definitely one of the best travel-writers. Laughing all the time when reading his stuff. Started a few years ago with “A short history of nearly everything”, just finished “Neither here nor there” a week ago as well. Hope hes going to write more…
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Thunderbolt Kid is great too.
Oh, Bill Bryson. I loved “A short History of Nearly Everything”. He is so well educated in my opinion, and passionate about his writings.
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Humor goes a LONG way in today’s world.