The ABA Book Club Reviews – Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson

Hello, fellow bookworms!

Today I want to recommend a book I read many years ago but which I still remember, the funny “Notes from a Small Island” by the American travel writer Bill Bryson. Bryson lived in the UK for almost two decades before moving back to his homeland. Before moving back to the States, he decided to visit every corner of Britain. His book was the result of this trip.

As a Brit myself, his perspective of Britain and British people is humorous and witty. His book is very insightful and offers a wealth of knowledge for people who know nothing or very little about British culture and history. Even though the book was written over twenty years ago, a lot of what Bryson says is still relevant today.

After nearly two decades spent on British soil, Bill Bryson – bestselling author of The Mother Tongue and Made in America-decided to return to the United States.
(“I had recently read,” Bryson writes, “that 3.7 million Americans believed that they had been abducted by aliens at one time or another, so it was clear that my people needed me.”)

But before departing, he set out on a grand farewell tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home.

Suddenly, in the space of a moment, I realized what it was that I loved about Britain-which is to say, all of it.

Vocabulary

Fellow – we use the adjective “fellow” to describe people who are in a similar situation
to ourselves or who we have something in common with.

Homeland – your homeland is your native country, the one you are from.

Witty – amusing in a clever way.

Insightful – shows a good understanding of people and situations.

Relevant – important; significant.

Nearly – almost, but not quite or not completely.

Abducted – past tense of abduct – to take someone away by force

Farewell –  the action of saying goodbye, a departure, a party or dinner that you have because someone is leaving a job, city etc.

Suddenly – quickly and unexpectedly.

The book

To read more reviews and find out where to buy this book if you think you’d enjoy reading it, visit Goodreads.