Postcards from across The Pond began as a means of keeping in touch with the folks back home in the USA, but it soon expanded into a humorous commentary on British life by an accidental expat. “Laugh out loud funny regardless of which side of the pond you call home… Bill Bryson move over, there’s a new American expat in town with a keen sense of humor.” Jeff Yeager, author of ‘The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map To True Riches’ “A very funny book indeed. I was literally laughing out loud whilst reading this book; not only did I enjoy it, but I am now craving more.” Steve Gillen, moderator of www.ukusforum.com “I savored the bubbling flavor of this Yankee reaction to Saxon country in the form of perky postcard-style epistles.” Eileen Swift, former syndicated travel writer for Newsday “Not only fascinating for Anglophiles who’ve only visited the ‘motherland’ on vacation, but very, very funny, too. Joe Queenan and Bill Bryson…watch out!” Diana Burrell, co-author of ‘The Renegade Writer’, www.hailbritannia.com “A lovely, quixotic, affectionate attempt to bring together those ‘two nations divided by a common language.’ A must for travellers in both directions.” Gordon Astley, presenter of BBC Southern Counties Radio “Whether you’ve been in the UK for decades, or are just about to embark on your journey, sit back and enjoy Mike Harling’s unique, entertaining descriptions of his life across the pond.” Toni Hargis, author of ‘Rules Britannia’, www.rulesbritannia.com Michael Harling grew up in rural Columbia County in Upstate New York. He has been published in various newspapers and magazines including: The Writer’s Digest, The National Lampoon and The Journal of Forensic Identification. Six years ago, through no fault of his own, he found himself living in Sussex, England where, amazed and amused by the behavior of the British, he began posting his observations on his website. Michael is the father of three sons from a previous marriage. He currently lives in Horsham with his wife, Shonagh. Find out more at www.lindenwald.com
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Laugh out loud funny regardless of which side of the pond you call home...Bill Bryson move over, there's a new American expat in town with a keen sense of humor.' Jeff Yeager, author of 'The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map To True Riches' 'A very funny book indeed. I was literally laughing out loud whilst reading this book; not only did I enjoy it, but I am now craving more.' Steve Gillen, moderator of www.ukusforum.com 'I savored the bubbling flavor of this Yankee reaction to Saxon country in the form of perky postcard-style epistles.' Eileen Swift, former syndicated travel writer for Newsday 'Not only fascinating for Anglophiles who've only visited the 'motherland' on vacation, but very, very funny, too. Joe Queenan and Bill Bryson...watch out!' Diana Burrell, co-author of 'The Renegade Writer', www.hailbritannia.com ' A lovely, quixotic, affectionate attempt to bring together those 'two nations divided by a common language.' A must for travellers in both directions.' Gordon Astley, presenter of BBC Southern Counties Radio 'Whether you've been in the UK for decades, or are just about to embark on your journey, sit back and enjoy Mike Harling's unique, entertaining descriptions of his life across the pond.' Toni Hargis, author of 'Rules Britannia', www.rulesbritannia.com
About the Author
Michael Harling grew up in rural Columbia County in Upstate New York. He has been published in various newspapers and magazines including: The Writer's Digest, The National Lampoon and The Journal of Forensic Identification. Six years ago, through no fault of his own, he found himself living in Sussex, England where, amazed and amused by the behavior of the British, he began posting his observations on his website. Michael is the father of three sons from a previous marriage. He currently lives in Horsham with his wife, Shonagh. Find out more at www.lindenwald.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a fantastic book, well written with witty insight into British life from the point of view of an American. Both nationalities will keep chuckling at his stories of everyday life. A MUST READ! Can't wait til the second book is out!
By Wordgeyser
Format:Paperback
I was looking forward to reviewing this book having made Michael Harling's journey in reverse; traversing the pond from east to west. Like him I'd assumed life couldn't be so very different when the two nations spoke the same language and came from common stock. How clueless we both were.
Harling comes from a place beyond small town America and became an "accidental expat" when he met and married a Brit (a man of taste obviously), moving his settled and ordered life to Sussex, England. His observations on the oddities and absurdities of his new life were originally documented in his blog; a method of scrutiny guaranteed to save his sanity in his early days of cultural adjustment.
Harling will inevitably be compared to Bill Bryson but they are two different people with diverse experiences. I am a huge fan of Bryson so had great expectations of Harling and wasn't disappointed.
I found his detailing the differences in the minutia of daily life riveting - bath taps, storage heaters, television and daily shopping; things we can all connect with. I also understood that feeling of familiar things being slightly off-balance and skewed, never allowing you to feel entirely settled or at ease.
He relates with gusto his inevitable brushes with bureaucracy and left me feeling every country is bad as the next when it comes to form-filling and paperwork; from getting a social security/national insurance number to opening a bank account in the US with a non-American spouse. If you fit the guidelines all is well; be different in any way and chaos ensues.
What Harling has is a unique skill to make wry and humorous observations without causing offence to anyone. His curiosity and sense of the absurd shine through the writing as he comes to understand why Brits do things they way they do.
His growing affection and understanding of his adopted country are obvious in the conversational and engaging style of his writing. This is a great read you can pick up and put down which will leave you feeling upbeat and positive.
The spirit of Harling can best be described by something he wrote himself, "being amazed by your life is a great way to live." I'll second that.
Harling comes from a place beyond small town America and became an "accidental expat" when he met and married a Brit (a man of taste obviously), moving his settled and ordered life to Sussex, England. His observations on the oddities and absurdities of his new life were originally documented in his blog; a method of scrutiny guaranteed to save his sanity in his early days of cultural adjustment.
Harling will inevitably be compared to Bill Bryson but they are two different people with diverse experiences. I am a huge fan of Bryson so had great expectations of Harling and wasn't disappointed.
I found his detailing the differences in the minutia of daily life riveting - bath taps, storage heaters, television and daily shopping; things we can all connect with. I also understood that feeling of familiar things being slightly off-balance and skewed, never allowing you to feel entirely settled or at ease.
He relates with gusto his inevitable brushes with bureaucracy and left me feeling every country is bad as the next when it comes to form-filling and paperwork; from getting a social security/national insurance number to opening a bank account in the US with a non-American spouse. If you fit the guidelines all is well; be different in any way and chaos ensues.
What Harling has is a unique skill to make wry and humorous observations without causing offence to anyone. His curiosity and sense of the absurd shine through the writing as he comes to understand why Brits do things they way they do.
His growing affection and understanding of his adopted country are obvious in the conversational and engaging style of his writing. This is a great read you can pick up and put down which will leave you feeling upbeat and positive.
The spirit of Harling can best be described by something he wrote himself, "being amazed by your life is a great way to live." I'll second that.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I ordered this due to other's reviews and I love it. As a Brit who has lived in America, it is spot on with amusing and informative writing on the smallest bits of British Life. WELL DONE! SPOT ON!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
More please!
I discovered Mike through his well written and funny blog "Postcards from across the Pond". (Google it! - it's easy to find.) I've only been to the US of A very briefly (i.e. Read more
Published on 4 July 2009 by Catherine Jarvis
3.0 out of 5 stars
Postcards from Across The Pond
At first I was irritated by this book. It seemed so out of date in its complaints of not being able to find things, pubs that shut in the afternoon etc. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2009 by C. Harper
2.0 out of 5 stars
Reader's review
It is a brave man who admits that marrying a British woman enabled him to stay in the country that he entered illegally and to do so in a book that is a chronicle of the foibles... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2009 by Laidback
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended
Ok I'll admit it. I am married to an American expat. A lady who, like the author, gave up her life and family in the USA to come here and marry me. Read more
Published on 26 Dec 2008 by steveg
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