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Notes From a Big Country (Unabridged)
 
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Notes From a Big Country (Unabridged) [Audio Download]

by Bill Bryson (Author), William Roberts (Narrator)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Audio Download
  • Listening Length: 9 hours and 19 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: AudioGO Ltd.
  • Audible Release Date: 16 Jan 2006
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B002SQF66C
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Des Moines, Iowa-born writer Bryson's first success was the travel book The Lost Continent. After living in England for several years, he wanted to go back to the USA to find the perfect little US town of his past, he lovingly called Amalgam. More travel books followed, in the form of Neither Here Nor There (where he travels through Europe), Notes From A Small Island (where he travels around the United Kingdom, before returning back to the USA to live there for good) and A Walk In The Woods (where he walks the Appalachian trail). After moving back to the States, Bryson started to write a column for The Mail on Sunday Night and Day magazine. This is a collection of these column entries. Bryson writes about everything from everyday chores, to suing people, the beach, TV, movies, air conditioners, college, Americana, injury dangers, wasting resources, and holiday seasons.

©1998 Bill Bryson; (P)2003 BBC Audiobooks Ltd.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Darren Simons TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Much as I find myself trying to convince myself otherwise, I'm rather a fan of Bill Bryson books, his style of writing, his choice of places to visit. Notes from a Big Country is a little different to his other books as it's not really a book with a story at all - it's a collection of articles Bryson has written for a national newspaper.

Bill Bryson was born in Iowa, USA, moved to England in the late 70s and then returned "home" with his new family in tow. On his return, he wrote a weekly column for the Mail on Sunday's Night and Day magazine, about, well, pretty much whatever he wanted, and has now put them into a book.

Generally Bryson writes about things he missed from Britain, or things he cannot understand how he managed without - a same selection of topics include TV advert breaks, visiting a movie theater (cinema to you and me), weather and friendliness. Everything is written in the quite unique style of Bill Bryson which means that at times you feel rather sorry for him, and at times even more sorry for his wife!

I chose to read the book continuously which in hindsight I regret - far better to read a bunch of his articles, leave the book for a few weeks, read a few more and so on.

Definitely a recommended read - Bryson at his irrelevant best!

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Brevity at its Best 13 Feb 2007
Format:Paperback
Bryson brilliantly combines comic asides with the most serious of subjects. If you like Bryson's dry wit, you'll love this book. At first I didn't like the format (exactly four pages per chapter) but after a while I liked the thought that if I had ten minutes to spare, I could read a chapter. And new chapter, new topic. Brevity at its best.

My only regret is that I missed the columns when they appeared in The Mail on Sunday's Night and Day Magazine. Hope the editor intends to commission more soon.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Go and buy it ! 9 Sep 2004
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Like the rest of the correspondants have said, this is a fantastic book that will have you laughing out loud. Without a doubt this is my favourite Bill Bryson book so far and is great to dip in and out of as each chapter is only 3/4 pages long and easily read in 5 mins. I can't pickup this book without knocking out 4 chapters and have re-read it on numerous occasions. I still, in moments of quiet reflection, wonder whether they ever found that small plane in the woods ?? Everybody I've leant this book to, has loved it and bought copies themselves or have gone on to buy his other books... I wish I was on commission ! Just buy it, you'll love it !
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Notes from a Big Country
First of all the most important thing to point out is that this book is a collection of Bill Brysons Columns during the mid nineties for the Mail on Sunday , rather than his usual... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Andrew Whitby
BE SURE OF WHAT EXACTLY YOU'RE BUYING
I bought this thinking it was the paperback (why wouldn't I?)
But it turns our it's a tiny book, about the size of a policeman's notebook, containing EXTRACTS from Bill... Read more
Published 1 month ago by A & C Jewell
What he says is funny but sounds true.
There's a lot of funny line everywhere but still they are all true to me. The differences between UK and US are very interesting to me.
Published 2 months ago by Hidenao Okada
So disappointed
Sorry Mr. Bryson, no disrespect here, but this book is way below your high standards. You are an excellent writer and I enjoyed very much your wonderful work A Short History Of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by L. F. MORON
Read before buying!
This is a small pocket sized book, with German text on the back cover and German inside, which takes up a third of each page. Very disappointed.
Published 4 months ago by Mrs C
Funny and Informative.
like most of Bill Bryson's books, an easy, amusing read, but in retrospect you realise how much you have learned, in this case about living in America.
Published 8 months ago by J. Hawthornthwaite
sad to come to the end
read this while on holiday in the states and rationed myself to one chapter a night as i was enjoying it so much. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mrs. Pat A. Stottt
Always insightful.
Bill Bryson is one of my favourites. He's funny, quirky, clever, does his research, knows his language,expresses himself so endearingly, and is a masterhand in humour besides... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Carolanna
Excited
I got this book for Christmas, so I was excited after reading the reviews and I've finished it in a day. Going to start on The Fabled Tapestry of Paragon . Read more
Published 17 months ago by The Bookster
It must be funny...
I bought this for my wife and now all I hear is laughter every time she picks this up.. I think I'll read it when she's finished...
Published 19 months ago by Adrian
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