Customer Reviews

Bill Bryson's African Diary

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Bill Bryson tells us all about the Care Projects in Africa in this wonderful little charity book. The book is well written, even funny in places, and touches on poverty in the third world. The problem is that I felt that a six day diary in just over sixth pages was not enough. I wanted to know more about these people and their lives. I believe that this book could have been far greater if far more of the same quality of writting had been included.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a short read, not someone who wants to get their teeth into what lives are like in Africa.

When I unpacked my order, my first impression was to feel cheated by how slender it was. That feeling vanished somewhere around the middle of page 2; and I didn't put it down until I reached the end.

This book is a wonderful, funny, moving account of 8 days Bill Bryson spent in Kenya at the invitation of the charity CARE. He recounts, with his usual brand of humour visits to slums, village pumps and refugee camps. Bill doesn't hide the fact that he was clearly affected by some of the things he saw.

If you like Bill Bryson, don't be put off by the size. Buy a copy.

Being an absolute avid fan of Bill Bryson's work I eagerly awaited this little bookette to give me a good top up of Bryson's humour and observation before his next 'proper' book is released next summer.

African Diary did not disappoint. Bryson goes to Kenya at the invitation of CARE International, a charity dedicated to working with local communities to eradicate poverty. All royalities and profits from the book are donated to the charity.

Despite being only 63 pages (I say despite as I just love his work) the book uses Bryson's humour as well as his power as a writer to bring to the attention of the reader the poverty and hardship faced in places like the slums of Nairobi and Mombasa and the incredible strength, optimism and persistence of those who live there. Bryson does not make you 'pitty' the people, more give you a sense that they just want a chance - the ability to look after themselves, support their families and get a good education. Something we in the Western World take for granted.
It is an eye-opener with coloured photography illustrating places along Bryson's Journey.

If you love Bryson, then buy the book. If you support charities and feel you want to help, then buy the book purely as a donation to CARE.

I remember Bryson saying in an interview he only had 2 weeks in which to write this book and my only criticism is that is it relatively short. Just as you get into the book and the feel of his writing, it ends. I'm sure there is the potential to turn African Diary into a full-length book, but then then impact on price/publishing cost etc. would probably do the charity a dis-service.

Bill Bryson is simply the best in his field :)

I was amazed by the quality of this work - initially disappointed by its size, I read it nevertheless and was soon in fits of laughter. It is unbelievable how an author manages to pack such a dense number of insights into such a compact work. A thoroughly good read - highly recommended.

I would urge everybody to read at least one Bill Bryson book in their lifetime. He is a most entertaining and intelligent writer, the kind who you would feel no qualms having a few drinks and a conversation with; he is that concilliatory with his readers.
This slim volume of sixty pages, however, was only intended to draw attention to the work of CARE and, despite the title, takes place in only one country (Kenya) of the massive African continent. Whereas I understand and appreciate the concern of the author and the charity, it is not a patch on the richly deep and hilarious 'proper' Bryson travel books such as Notes From A Small Island or A Walk In The Woods. Very much a completists buy.

African Diary is one of Bryson's usual great books very informative, and the usual humour that we've come to love and expect in this respect African Diary is a good buy except for one fact. The book is remarkably short with only 63 pages of which 18 pages are of copyright, thanks to various people and some colour pictures in the middle of which are acutely quite good. Now this isn't a problem I quite like short books that get the point across which this book does but I resent having to pay the same price as I would for one of Byson's regular books.

However on the redeeming side all profits go to CARE International and this is a worthy cause...

To sum up if you don't mind short books and thinking of the buy as a donation to a very worthy cause then you should buy this in retrospect I still would. However if you don't like short books and don't want to make a donation to charity then African Diary is not for you.

This book is very short but it still contains that classic Bill Bryson humour and wit.
It doesnt really overdo the charity thing and lets you in on the secrets of Africa.
I can understabd thinking that it is expensive for its size, i did also, but i am glad that i bought it, well worth it.

I normally find Bill Bryson's books to be laugh out loud funny and this is no exception. Even with a subject as difficult as poverty in Africa he still manages to see things with the usual Bryson humour. If you are a Bryson fan you really should own this book. As a plus it also helps a very good cause.

It's a slim book from Bill Bryson ( but then it does state 64 pages when you buy it), but that doesn't detract from a funny and moving trip to kenya and some very poignant observations. the fact all proceeds go to a charity is especially gatifying.

As a big fan of Bryson I ordered this shortly after it came out and awaited its delivery. First thing is the size - at about half an inch thick it is rather thin. Its a hardback as well, so thats about a quater of an inch of text. But yet it goes on, take away the 5 pages of copyright info at the start and 8 pages of adverts for Care at the end, plus the 8 pages of photos in the middle (although photos are good, they aren't why we buy Bryson) we are left with only 49 pages of text. With only 24 lines of text per page you are looking at a 20-30 minute read in total.
The small amount of Bryson in here is entertaining. His familiar ability of getting himself somewhere he really cant handle gets him again. But this time he has guides with him to ensure no wrong happens to him. He is witty, informative and has great short anecdotes but there is far too little.
The whole thing feels like an advert to Care, the title African Diary is very misleading -"8 days rushing around Kenya and writing 4/5 pages per day" would be a better title. Even Bryson himself says "You made a generous donation to a worthy cause and got a free book in return" shame it wasnt a book worth reading.