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kas114's review against another edition
1.0
My third and, by far, least favorite Bryson book. Outdated, repetitive, and frequently distasteful (even for him). I couldn’t wait for this to be over. If it wasn’t my last book of my reading challenge for the year, I probably would’ve abandoned it
gobbleobble's review against another edition
3.0
Book Club 4.0: Book #2
Laura and I are on exceedingly different schedules which means I've taken over cooking duties most nights. This also means our Book Club is taking a bit of a hit as a result. I'll be happy if we manage to read six books this year since I'm reading so much on my own anyway.
Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe is the third book by Bill Bryson that we've read together. The book is still good, but things have definitely been downhill since we first started reading his books. First, I'm a Stranger Here Myself was flawless in its hilarity and complete lack of dullness, then A Walk in the Woods told an incredibly amusing story of an American walkabout that was only occasionally broken up by borderline boring scientific detail. Now, Neither Here Nor There failed to tell a linear story so much as serve as a tour guide with the world's most unhappy guide to take you along the way.
Bryson was given the opportunity to travel all over Europe and write a book about it, and he chose to spend almost the entire thing as a 250-page cycle. The first section was always how he got where he was going and how miserable that process was. The second part was how over priced his hotel and food were. The third was a handful of interesting historical facts and tourist attractions he checked out. The cycle makes all the places run together and while I can still recall several funny stories he tells, their locations don't seem particularly relevant at all and I was rarely even able to remember where we had last left off each time we continued reading.
The main trip the book focuses on was taken alone, which is a shame because his lack of company is almost entirely to blame for the book's monotony. On some level he tried to mirror a trip he had taken in his twenties with his Walk in the Woods travel buddy Kats and occasionally he references a story from that original trip which is always approximately five times more interesting and amusing than the story of him traveling alone.
Rest assured, it's still quite funny and informative. His humor is still regular throughout and the educational pieces in each chapter are enough to make the book a pleasant enough read, but it's hard not to feel like there was so much wasted potential compared to his other two books. He has a number of travel books I'm curious to read, but I really hope the others have slightly less of the "I'm writing this because I have to" tone that 85% of Travels in Europe carried.
Laura and I are on exceedingly different schedules which means I've taken over cooking duties most nights. This also means our Book Club is taking a bit of a hit as a result. I'll be happy if we manage to read six books this year since I'm reading so much on my own anyway.
Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe is the third book by Bill Bryson that we've read together. The book is still good, but things have definitely been downhill since we first started reading his books. First, I'm a Stranger Here Myself was flawless in its hilarity and complete lack of dullness, then A Walk in the Woods told an incredibly amusing story of an American walkabout that was only occasionally broken up by borderline boring scientific detail. Now, Neither Here Nor There failed to tell a linear story so much as serve as a tour guide with the world's most unhappy guide to take you along the way.
Bryson was given the opportunity to travel all over Europe and write a book about it, and he chose to spend almost the entire thing as a 250-page cycle. The first section was always how he got where he was going and how miserable that process was. The second part was how over priced his hotel and food were. The third was a handful of interesting historical facts and tourist attractions he checked out. The cycle makes all the places run together and while I can still recall several funny stories he tells, their locations don't seem particularly relevant at all and I was rarely even able to remember where we had last left off each time we continued reading.
The main trip the book focuses on was taken alone, which is a shame because his lack of company is almost entirely to blame for the book's monotony. On some level he tried to mirror a trip he had taken in his twenties with his Walk in the Woods travel buddy Kats and occasionally he references a story from that original trip which is always approximately five times more interesting and amusing than the story of him traveling alone.
Rest assured, it's still quite funny and informative. His humor is still regular throughout and the educational pieces in each chapter are enough to make the book a pleasant enough read, but it's hard not to feel like there was so much wasted potential compared to his other two books. He has a number of travel books I'm curious to read, but I really hope the others have slightly less of the "I'm writing this because I have to" tone that 85% of Travels in Europe carried.
vern_pk's review against another edition
2.0
One and a half stars for a few amusing anecdotes and breadcrumbs of genuinely interesting trivia, as well as for being a bit of a time capsule peek into what it was like to travel Europe in the 80s/early 90s. But good lord, how boring this book is and how insufferable the narrator. I can't help but wonder if Bryson was going through a rough patch when he wrote this, because this book had none of the charm and intelligence of "A Walk in the Woods" or "In a Sunburnt Country."
Between endless, repetitive descriptions of his train rides and hotels (which he invariably hates), no real discussion of the history or culture present in each country, endless disdain for any European he actually meets, desire to shoot dogs and people for simply existing in his orbit, and his bizarrely lecherous comments ( each chapter features him ogling various waitresses and secretaries, describing their breasts and buttocks...when he's not lamenting the lack of beauty of the local sex workers, of course).... Bryson comes across as bitter and unlikeable. It's no wonder he kept getting the cold shoulder from 90% of the people he met. I would say he exemplifies the Ugly American trope, but by this point, he had been living in the UK for a number of years. Do yourself a favor and read one of his other books instead.
Between endless, repetitive descriptions of his train rides and hotels (which he invariably hates), no real discussion of the history or culture present in each country, endless disdain for any European he actually meets, desire to shoot dogs and people for simply existing in his orbit, and his bizarrely lecherous comments ( each chapter features him ogling various waitresses and secretaries, describing their breasts and buttocks...when he's not lamenting the lack of beauty of the local sex workers, of course).... Bryson comes across as bitter and unlikeable. It's no wonder he kept getting the cold shoulder from 90% of the people he met. I would say he exemplifies the Ugly American trope, but by this point, he had been living in the UK for a number of years. Do yourself a favor and read one of his other books instead.
hannahm83's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed Bill Bryson's take on "backpacking" through Europe. He has a way describing the most random things, but in a way that makes total sense. He makes you agree with him while at the same time knowing that you don't necessarily want to admit you agree for fear of pointing and laughing.
eobehrens's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting collection of European experiences from two different trips. I liked the descriptions of the places he visited (they were quite accurate for the places that I have also visited) and found humor in the unfortunate events the author sometimes found himself.
kmthoennes's review against another edition
4.0
another entertaining Bill Bryson book. now i want to go to Europe again.
jazzycharreg's review against another edition
2.0
My least favourite Bryson read. He is at his worst here and I could barely bring myself to finish the book.
jpez's review against another edition
3.0
Not Bryson's best, but still thoroughly enjoyable. Can't get enough of this cantankerous guy and his travels.
aclarehoman's review against another edition
3.0
I mean... you get what you pay for. In this case, that's a breezy journal-based recounting of a walking tour of Europe in 1990 by a peevish old white man who can only dimly discern an outline of his privilege that looks a lot like not sympathizing with the Germans during WW2.
In other words, if you've read other Bill Bryson books and only thrown up a little at the xenophobia, fat-phobia, racial slurs and misogyny while enjoying his accounts of hotels, dining experiences, and niche museums, you'll survive this one. And to be fair, the early parts of the book, up through Paris, say, or possibly Amsterdam, can be descriptively lyrical. Bryson really does appreciate beautiful vistas and compelling weather, and they give him good cause to navel-gaze. The problems only really start any time he encounters other people.
Plus, as his trip drags on and he admits to getting homesick and tired, the writing drags as well, until by the time he hits Switzerland, I was like please go find an EasyJet, dude. An EasyJet and a Xanax.
There's some small curiosity in the chapters of the trip that take place in Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, as those were both very different places in 1990 than they were about to be, and only in the latter does Bryson show a hint of understanding that big changes would likely be afoot.
And then he goes home, ending with the massive revelation that.
You know I have to say it, don't you? I have to end this review with it. Because he and Bryson are basically the same person.
*deep breath*
"And on that bombshell...
In other words, if you've read other Bill Bryson books and only thrown up a little at the xenophobia, fat-phobia, racial slurs and misogyny while enjoying his accounts of hotels, dining experiences, and niche museums, you'll survive this one. And to be fair, the early parts of the book, up through Paris, say, or possibly Amsterdam, can be descriptively lyrical. Bryson really does appreciate beautiful vistas and compelling weather, and they give him good cause to navel-gaze. The problems only really start any time he encounters other people.
Plus, as his trip drags on and he admits to getting homesick and tired, the writing drags as well, until by the time he hits Switzerland, I was like please go find an EasyJet, dude. An EasyJet and a Xanax.
There's some small curiosity in the chapters of the trip that take place in Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, as those were both very different places in 1990 than they were about to be, and only in the latter does Bryson show a hint of understanding that big changes would likely be afoot.
And then he goes home, ending with the massive revelation that
Spoiler
he has undertaken this six-week pampered solo trip while his wife is stuck at home with the kids, very pregnant.You know I have to say it, don't you? I have to end this review with it. Because he and Bryson are basically the same person.
*deep breath*
"And on that bombshell...
hollymadine's review against another edition
3.0
This was the first Bill Bryson that I'd picked up in a while, and the first few chapters had me laughing out loud. I really enjoy the blend of humour, self-deprecation, and history that Bryson brings to his narrative, although after an entire book his voice can be a little bit tiring. I just wanted him to enjoy himself after a while, but of course, having a wonderful day in a beautiful city doesn't make nearly as good a story as various misadventures. A fun wander around Europe, at least, although I think that my favourite Bryson book is still "In a Sunburned Country."