Bill Bryson

[radiantquest]

This is my first Bill Bryson book. It is A short History of Nearly Everything. Pretty good so far. The subject is a little heavy, but I am enjoying it. It is much thicker than I thought it would be which is funny because why would a book about everything be thin?

 

[fleur-de-lis]

That''s an ambitious selection for a first Bryson book, RQ.

(My entry to his works was his book on Australia, In a Sunburned Country. In contrast to the one you''re currently reading, it was a breezy, quick read chock-full of fascinating facts I had never known about the land down under-- and had me chuckling out loud again and again. It''s much more typical of the work that put him on the bestseller lists, but I''m impressed you''re working your way through his heavy tome on science... that''s quite a commitment.)

 

[radiantquest]

Bill Bryson was suggested to me and when I went searching for his books this was the only one that kept popping up. I don''t mind that it is so sciency. I am actuall very interested in all of it. I tried to explain some of the stuff to my husband and he can''t get his mind to accept it. Funny. The part I am talking about was when he wrote that someone in another galaxy is so far away that if they had a telescope looking at us they would be seeing the revolutionary war because it would take 200 years for the image (light) to make the trip. Husband just can''t get it. lol

 

[Harriet]

Date: 8/26/2009 3:19:14 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis
That''s an ambitious selection for a first Bryson book, RQ.

No kidding! I''ve read all of his books except that one.

 

[gwendolyn]

Fantastic! I agree that it''s more of a commitment than Bryson''s other books, but it is really fascinating, and as always, his style of writing is most entertaining. How far along in it are you, RQ?

 

[radiantquest]

I am almost half way. It makes me feel smart because I was reading this book and it was talking about an inventor. ( I am not going to put it here because I am sure that I would not spell it right) and we were watching the Discovery channel and his name was mentioned. I then told DH all about him and that there was a huge mistake in who actually discovered elements. I went on and on and he just looked at me with his mouth open. lol

 

[PinkTower]

He''s great, isn''t he? I''ve not read that one. The one about hiking the App. Trail was my fav. None of the others quite measured up to how funny that was.

 

[Blackpaw]

I love walk in the woods too!! i love how he describes the folks who are obsessed with the latest gear

spot on!

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Q to PinkTower and Blackpaw: was "Walk in the Woods" your first Bryson book?

I''ve heard it said that your first one is always the best one. You know, like the old saying goes about falling in love, it''s never as good as the first time.

So far, it''s held true as to Bryson!

If it means anything, my first one (about Australia) is still my fave, but the very close second is Walk in the Woods. Those two had me literally laughing out loud until I was gasping for air!

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 8/31/2009 11:02:22 PM
Author: fleur-de-lis
Q to PinkTower and Blackpaw: was ''Walk in the Woods'' your first Bryson book?


I''ve heard it said that your first one is always the best one. You know, like the old saying goes about falling in love, it''s never as good as the first time.

So far, it''s held true as to Bryson!


If it means anything, my first one (about Australia) is still my fave, but the very close second is Walk in the Woods. Those two had me literally laughing out loud until I was gasping for air!

Sorry, I know you didn''t direct this to me, but I wanted to comment anyway (hope that''s ok).

My first was also the Australian one (boringly named "Down Under" here in the UK, but "In a Sunburned Country" in the states). The part about discovering cricket being broadcast over the radio while driving through the outback had me doubled over with a stomachache, it made me laugh so much. (I lived in Aus for 6 months and it brought back so many memories!) The whole book was great, but that was one of the best parts.

My second favourite is probably "Neither Here Nor There" about Bryson''s travels around Europe. It''s got his same friend who hiked the App Trail with him from "A Walk in the Woods" but he''s (in my opinion) even funnier when interacting with foreign people instead of just Bryson.

Also, has anyone else read "The Mother Tongue?" Such an interesting book!

His books are all really good. He''s my favourite.