Bill Bryson

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I have never read any Bill Bryson books before but would like to give one a go.
Which one should I read first?

Notes from a Small Island is very funny in places, probably my favourite, although I also really enjoy A Walk in the Woods.

I don't think it matters which order you read them in, so maybe go for the country you're most interested in if you want to read his travel books.

Some of his other ones are good, too, but I haven't read them for ages.

Notes from a Small Country: Britain
Notes from a Big Country: USA
Neither Here Nor There: mainland Europe
A Walk in the Woods: The Appalachian Trail
Down Under: Australia

I think I've missed one or two though.

My favourite is the Australian one! I think its called Down Under. Second favourite is the Appalachian Trail one,its called a Walk in the Woods.

TBH though any of his are pure gold, the one I least enjoyed was the one about his house & the history of houses....but any of the travel ones are brilliant :)

My top tip - don't use any of them to read on the toilet as you won't be seen for hours & you will have nearest & dearests banging on the door thinking you're dead :)

Small Island is my favourite by far. I'm re reading it at the moment. I love the opening chapter!

I've read most of his books and really enjoyed all of them. I would suggest starting with notes from a small island and down under

All his travel books are very funny. The Short history.. ones are more serious/scientific. The life and times of the thunderbolt kid is about his life as a boy in America and contains the funniest story I've ever read in a book.

(Miltons dad at the lake/beach anyone?)

Start with Small Island, I think. But they're all great

Yy At Home isn't as funny as the others.

I really enjoyed Down Under

Neither Here Nor There, which I think is his second book, is one of the funniest things I've ever read, though it does trade in some rather naughty nationalistic stereotypes. The Lost Continent, his first book, is about travelling round the US and is also very funny.

Depends what you're looking for, really - a good laugh or something a bit more informative. His two books on language, Mother Tongue and Made in America, are fascinating.

Pissing myself remembering Milton's family at the like, SC!
Definitely Thunderbolt Kid.
OR - a Walking the Woods. Absolutely fantastic. Or Lost Continent. Or Neither Here nor There.
All wonderful.

The first one I read was The Happy Isles of Oceania (I think that's the title) I really think its one of his best.

I love every word Bill Bryson has published, including At Home, which I just finished. I don't think it matters where you start but I suppose publication order would be a reasonable approach.

As an American living here, I love Notes from a Big Country, a collection of newspaper columns making fun of America, (with occasional fond praise). It is great.

I absolutely love Thunderbolt Kid, but it might not be QUITE as endearing if you haven't been to the US MidWest. It would still be very good, though.

Def Notes from a Small Island - I chuckle my way through it every time. I love Bill Bryson. I live a few miles from him and am always hoping to bump into him at Tesco Express!

Happy Isles of Oceania is by Paul Theroux isn't it?

I think Bill Bryson reads Kingdom by the Sea (definitely by Paul Theroux) while he's travelling in Notes from a Small Island.

I loved Thunderbolt Kid too, idyllic childhood stories but funny too.

Thunderbolt Kid and/or Walk in The Woods

I love Bill Bryson

he is one of the people I would have at my fantasy dinner party

The description of Mr Milton (who looked as much like Goofy as it's possible to look without actually being a cartoon dog) diving off the high board at the lake had me actually crying with laughter and I'm not generally a lol'er

I absolutely LOVE Bill Bryson!

He was made chancellor of my uni in the same year I started. I went his inauguration ceremony and made a total fool of myself when my entire row of friends got horrific giggles and couldn't stop. Utterly shameful. During my time there I saw him a few times aroundthe city and always wanted to approach him but never dared!
I second AF - he'd make a brilliant dinner guest. His humour is a self deprecating and apt!

So, not a.

he seems like such a gentleman

his writing is respectful of childhood, respectful of women and totally self deprecating

I love him

it might be best not to meet him though because he might disappoint

I've only ever read Mother Tongue, years ago, which was fascinating and easy to read but having read this thread I'm going to read some of his other stuff. Thanks!

I love Bill Bryson. He has a collection of pieces written when he returned to live in the US called 'I'm A Stranger Here Myself'. It is one of the funniest books I've ever read.

right, I am going to reread A Walk in The Woods this (rather wet and windy) Bank Holiday weekend

Thunderbolt Kid

One of the things I love about this book, in addition to its hilarity, is how Bryson's affection for his parents comes through.