The Bill Bryson Appreciation Club - Discuss your favourites here (spoilers)

I didn't finish it either! First time that has happened with a Bill Bryson book.

Sorry to day I didn't finish the latest one.
Seemed a re hash of earlier work to me - notes from a small island? It just wasn't funny.
Luckily I have all his others!

DH gave me The Road to Little Dribbling for Christmas and I read it almost straight away. Loved it. As always, his writing makes me laugh, and (now I'm a lot older than when I read Notes from a Small Island) often nod in agreement when he gets all grumpy about something :) I must reread Notes soon too.

Loved Thunderbolt Kid too. Wasn't quite so enthralled with A Walk in the Woods although it did make laugh quite a bit. Haven't been tempted to see the film though. Have got Mother Tongue lined up to read later this year.

I'm reading little dribbling at the moment. I haven't found many laugh out loud moments yet. I loved Notes but the old one where he travels around Europe is my favourite. He talks about turning a corner in Rome and it looking like there had been a parking competition for blind people. I was dating an Italian when I first read it and that description is absolutely spot on! He does write wonderfully.

Mother Tongue was recommended reading when I was a student. I read it on the bus home and laughed my socks off while my fellow passengers gave me funny looks.

I also love Notes From A Big Country. My favourite was the bit about the moose - something about a moose being a deer drawn by a 3 year old

I love Bill Bryson! My favourites are Neither Here Nor There, A Walk in the Woods and Notes From a Big Country. I have to say it, as another pp has noted, Little Dribbling was definitely not as good. It had a real 'will this do?' feel about it, and it pains me to say that as I love Bill's writing. When he is on form he can bring tears of laughter to my eyes. He's got such a way with description and such a dry humour. I love the bit in NHNT where he describes trying European chocolate for the first time and he compares it to a baby eating a bowl of pudding - enthusiasm, gusto and lots of drool (or something like that!). Must read Home, one of the few I haven't tried...

Th light up Virgin Mary sea shell ornament and the counter pane. First chapter of Notes and I fell in love.

Notes is my favourite. Down Under is funnier though.

I was disappointed initially with Little Dribbling but I have since read it again and liked it more.

There's no limit to how often I can re-read his books.

Yes, I agree. It definitely made me think "well, he must be at least 70 by now" a few times.

Was disappointed with it - Bryson is more critical and negative than in earlier books, and not nearly as funny. He writes more like an old man. Shame.
Couldn't have put it better myself!

Have just finished Little Dribbling

Was disappointed with it - Bryson is more critical and negative than in earlier books, and not nearly as funny. He writes more like an old man. Shame.

My faves are Walk in the Woords, The Lost Continent and Notes from a Small Island. Love them, and can read them over and over.

The chapter on filling in a US tax return in Notes from a Big Country is the funniest thing I have ever read.

Favourite books are that one, The Lost Continent and Notes from a Small Island. The Road to Little Dribbling was good but did feel a bit like a rehash of Small Island in places.

I wasn't all that keen on A Walk in the Woods or the Australian one but really enjoyed America 1927.

And when he and Katz try to do that part of the walk through all the lakes, with all the fit scandi types carrying their rucksacks on their heads.

My MN name used to be BillBrysonsRucksack. Might have to change it back.

Down Under. When he describes cricket and listening to it on the radio. Funniest thing ever written. FACT.

The lost continent is my favourite. I first read it when I was commuting In London and I used to read it in the tube, my face buried in my scarf and my shoulders shaking with laughter.

I loved notes from a small island too. We refer to grilled tomatoes as bloodclots in our house after he said he didn't know what one was and thought they were blood clots!

The Amsterdam section of neither here nor there....

Oh the one about language, Mother Tongue I think, is FAB. So interesting!
And oh my god, the inappropriate Grandma in Thunderbolt kid who sends him to the shop for N Babies..... I was dying!!!

I love him. I laughed out loud a few times while reading thunderbolt kid on the plane.
Down Under made me want to go to Australia, and I've never had any desire to go to Australia.

Yes! I love him. I am currently reading his one about the English language which is fascinating.

It's rare that you get the laugh out loud kind of author but he definitely has that for me :)

Love Bill Bryson!
My first was Notes from a small Island but my favourites are Home and A walk ln the woods

Oh GOOD THREAD, OP!
I adore BB. Thunderbolt Kid and Walk in the Woods are my favourites but Down Under has some hilarious moments. His description of himself when he sleeps on public transport... or when hes being chased by dogs and grabs rocks for protection but ends up smashing himself in the head....

I went to Durha Uni and have seen BB around Durham many times - never had the nerve to say anything though!!

Fave prob walk in the woods bit retread home and a brief history of everything often

Walk in the Wood is my favourite. The audio book is really good too.

I re-read him all the time. My favourite is Home. The Thunderbolt Kid made me laugh out loud. DH has just read Walk In the Woods. I have just finished The Road to Little Dribbling, absolutely brilliant!

So I am a bit of a fan.