Bill Bryson - Funniest author ever?

[ALMazing]

I just read "Notes from Big Country" and I have never laughed so much at a book. I cried with laughter at various points.

Went straight out and bought "The life and times of the Thunderbolt Kid" and "I'm a Stranger here myself"

Anyone else reading him?

Ya see - you are exotic in comparison.

Have you ever been to the midwest (for any length of time)?

Yes, my ex h's father was from Wisconsin, so we spent time there. And his father was also a military officer who was stationed at Wright-Patt, so we had to go to Ohio a few times - we both hated it and so did his folks (his mother was German) .

Every time the ex and I would board our plane back to Denver, the ex would say, 'I'm so glad I don't have to live there.'

Wouldn't wish Dayton (WPAFB) on anyone...

it has a nice Myer's .

Meiers?

they wound up having to stay there a bit longer because his mother had cancer and there was an excellent military hospital for her treatment.

but after she was declared terminal, she made one of the few demands she ever made in their marriage: that she did not want to die there.

so he took a leave of absence and she died in peace in Lake Tahoe.

but he had to go back to Dayton for a while.

he couldn't get out of there fast enough and now lives back in Germany, as does my ex.

yeah, taht's it. it's a great big supermarket.

we drank a lot of beer whenever we went there .

Yeah, it is better than Kroger. Not that that is hard.

I read Notes from a Small Island many years ago, and laughed a lot. But I don't remember reading anything of his since then. But now I think I should.

I read Notes from a Small Island many years ago, and laughed a lot. But I don't remember reading anything of his since then. But now I think I should.

Lost continent and notes from a big country are my favourites although down under and walk in the woods are also funny.

Went to a talk and book signing recently. He was great. Definitely one of the funniest.

His book on Europe was the first one I read. I think it contains some of his funniest bits, especially the chapter where he decides he really hates Switzerland. But his five-page digression about the laws of cricket in "Down Under" still holds the record for having made me laugh uncontrollably for the longest, to the point where I could hardly breathe. Of course, I made the mistake of trying to read it out to DW...

There is a site of BB quotes here

I read The Lost Continent years ago, before he became well known. Not actually sure how I came to read it, but so glad I did. Laughing out loud from the first page.
Followed that with Neither Here nor There, also brilliant.
Have read everything else, but for me, they just aren't quite as good as the first 2, but that's only because the first 2 were so brilliant

BB is pretty funny, but have to put in a vote for Hodding Carter's severely underratedViking Voyage as funniest thing ever.

Bill Bryson is wonderful. I discovered him in The Mail on Sunday, then he cleared off so I bought all his books. I usually read in bed but after reading him I can't sleep cos I'm rocking with laughter. Saw him at a reading of "Down Under" and stood in line for a signing. Seems such a nice genuine guy. His sense of humour is second to none........and he's good on TV too.

I've just started re-reading I'm a Stranger here Myself as I am having language barrier ishoos

Fab books.

Cali, have you read I'm a stranger here myself? It's very reassuring that an American can go through the things I went through when I first moved over here. Is a good one to read because he is in shock. I still laugh at spackle

BB's description of phenomenon of the game of cricket in Australia from the perspective of an American is just brilliant. From "Downunder" ...
Also, his "why would anyone want to live in a place were 95% of the wildlife are out to kill you" made me LOL ... and then I moved here