I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away

BILL BRYSON AND HIS SATIRICAL HUMOUR AT ITS BEST

This book is about America, about consumerism, hypocracy, politics, culture and everything else in between, such as motels and boring interstate highways and the condition of AT&T service these days. Why should all this be so interesting? Because Bill Bryson's voice shines throughout, dissecting normally more complex subjects into bite-sized articles which are eminently readable to the extent that it is at times impossible to stop. Of course, his trademark humour is present too. If you read this in public, there is the risk of embarrassment by your involuntary snorts of laughter.

However, 'I'm a Stranger here Myself' isn't perfect. Much of the book is predictable, and 85% of the time, Bill appears to be complaining. Someone as talented as Bill Bryson should know not to engage in such indulgence because the end result is that the reader occassionally feels frustrated over the ostensible monotony. You also can't help but feel that an assemblage of brief columns is not enough to make a book.

Although this book is not standard Bill Bryson fare, it still manages to excel. It really is exceptionally enlightening, to read what he has to say subsequent to spending 20 years in England. He compares the contrasts between the two nations and questioning so many aspects of life that Americans take for granted, such as driving from shop to shop when they are merely footsteps apart, or the blatant excesses of junk food. Each article (in my edition, Black Swan) covers only five pages so they are very easy to get into.

If you are an American, perhaps you will enjoy this book more than anyone else as you will undoubtedly find it compelling to look into the views of an outsider in the process of 'assimilation'.

'I'm a Strange here Myself' doesn't feel like a book, more like a colelction of columns binded together. If you are willing to accept this, it is an extremely rewarding, insightful and refreshingly diverting read. This is enough to gain a hearty recommendation.

Some parts of this book are classic Bryson, others not!

Planning A Long Car Trip? Take Bill Bryson Along!!!

Ostensibly, the book is a series of essays relating the author's impressions of the United States upon returning here to live after 20 years in England. In reality, though, the articles provide insight into the author's more general view of the world today. Readers of Mr. Bryson's A Walk in the Woods will note some familiar themes; Americans don't walk enough, America isn't really crowded when compared to the rest of the world, junk food is a blight on society, etc. His conversational writing style is perfect for this type of material.

While I can't say that I agree wholeheartedly with all of his views, (his clear disdain for Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan seems incongruous with many of his other views) each of the essays/articles is well thought out, and the majority deliver thought-provoking glimpses into the way we live our lives. In the entire collection, only the excruciating "Tax Form Instructions" falls completely flat.

Planning a car trip of 6 hours or more? Take Bill Bryson along!

a hilarious account on coming back to the native land

Bryson In Warm & Witty Form

I enjoyed this collection of his weekly columns very much. Bryson turned two years worth of weekly observations on American life done for an English periodical into this book. What informs Brits will delight Americans as Bryson explores American trends, small town life and his personal experiences as the expatriate returned with English bride and children in tow.

This collection runs the gamut. Bryson muses on the wonders of his hometown post office (with an annual customer appreciation day), American statistics pulled from the census (his piece on the number of us injured by our bedding -- sheets, pillows and spreads -- every year is a riot), travel over our vast expanses, his local coffee shop, his very own garden and English gardener (his wife), and very many other et ceteras.

This is an eclectic selection. Although in some places the American reader may find some articles over-explained (one has to keep in mind he was writing for a foreign audience), this is a very well written collection of short essays.

The confident Bryson humor is here, as well as his excellent use of language and sentence structure. Whereas I thought some of Bryson's early works tried for too much humor and sometimes seemed forced as well as overly sarcastic, here the author is content to share interesting thoughts and stories punctuated by yuks. This writer does have an engaging way with words. There are laugh-out-loud moments in the book and generally it is a very pleasant light diversion. Worth the read.

Life in America, Compared to Life in Great Britain

The book is really well done. The chapters are short, originally written as newspaper articles. Several of his chapters bordered on boring--taxes, how to assemble a computer, etc. Mostly however, they were charming, well-written, and surprisingly personal. Bryson is at his best when tackling travel, and perhaps this is no surprise as he has written several well-received travel books.

Originally I bought this book for someone else, but as I was traveling myself I began to read it, and found I could not put it down. The format lends itself very well to readers like me, who can often only read in short bursts. Finally, while Bryson's readers in Great Britain may have learned something of life in America, I also learned about life in Great Britain--what an experience at the post office is like, what renting a flat is like, and the great furniture debacle.

Honestly I very often laughed out loud, drawing curious looks from others in airports and train stations. Highly recommended.