Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe
by Bill Bryson
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Book Reviews of Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe
Book Review: Sophomoric, but fun
Summary: 3 Stars
So far this is my favorite of Bryson's travel books, though, in some ways it is also his most eccentric. This memoir represents a return visit to Europe, when a more affluent, middle aged journalist Bryson retraces his earlier trail through Europe as a carefree youth. Besides his characteristic sardonic observations, his descriptions include a number of nostaglic reminiscences and disappointment as his recollections are viewed through rose colored glasses.You have to have tolerance for Bryson's use of the various venues as a means of launching into sophomoric tangents reflecting on having lusted after beautiful young women, or puerile comments on digestion and bathroom habits that provide too much information.
His descriptions are the usual mix of admiring and scathing; he clearly was enraptured with Southern Italy and less than impressed with Brussels and much of Belgium. His stereotypes of the various nationalities while often funny are outrageous and savage.
This is a good airplane, pool side, stuck somewhere book. It keeps you interested and amused.
Book Review: Bill Bryson is always great
Summary: 4 Stars
You must know by now that I never write a bad review about this guy. In this book, we take a whirlwind tour of Europe. You can read the cover blurbs about how funny and perceptive he is, and how skillful he is with the language, and how eminently readable he is. I agree with every word. But I'd like to mention that this isn't some snooty tour guide or gushing forth bubblehead. He's an average guy who won't hesitate to tell you what sucks, or leave a place that he doesn't like, or bend over backwards to say nice things. He'll bash anybody, himself included. He's refreshingly honest.
Plus, if you had it in your head that Europe was just one homogenous place, or if perhaps you've heard a whole bunch of national or cities names and characteristics and can't keep them all straight, this book will fix that right up. In addition, if you're overseas but in a country nowhere near Europe, perhaps some place in Asia, you can still enjoy some very familiar situations. In case you haven't guessed, I highly recommend this book.
Book Review: Why Leave Home?
Summary: 1 Stars
A page and a half from the end of this worthless narrative is the key to Mr. Bryson's travel philosophy: "...what an odd thing tourism is. You fly off to a strange land, eagerly abandoning all the comforts of home, and then expend vast quantities of time and money in a largely futile effort to recapture the comforts that you wouldn't have lost if you hadn't left home in the first place." This is a perfect attitude for the armchair traveler; these are exactly the people that should not travel. Buy Mr. Bryson's books and stay home. I hope no one with this attitude would presume to make themselves an ambassador to any foreign land. The whole point of travel/tourism is to have new experiences and to realize that your miniscule world is not all there is. I unfortunately forced myself to finish Neither Here Nor There at the end of a trip to New Hampshire. Had I realized Mr. Bryson's residence was so close, I would have liked to have coffee, simply to see if such a narrow-minded attitude is more than a writing persona.Book Review: Master of EmBillishment
Summary: 5 Stars
Bill Bryson is to embellishment like a hammer is to a nail. They go together.
Slamming his typical sarcastic wit to the sights, sounds, smells and situations throughout his European travels, Bryson rivets the reader with an imbibed smile. Swallow it down. This is humor at its sneering finest.
I've never had a desire to go to Europe. Just never have. Still don't. But to read of Bryson's experiences and the way he details it, makes for a fun read. Sure there is exaggeration and ridicule, so what? This is what makes life enjoyable.
Some can not take embellishment or fault-finding humor (evidently they missed out on the laugh chromosome when born or developed that way later in life). Sad. They are missing out. What a dull, gray existence if one can not laugh at themself or get a chuckle from observing others. Might as well live in a cave. Which nowadays many seem to do.
Anyway, if there is anyone to bring a smile within the pages of a book, it is Bill Bryson.
Book Review: Irreverent portrait of Europe
Summary: 4 Stars
Bryson might be the funniest travel writer around. He is also very informative. This is one of his early books, he has not yet really found his style.
Mr. Bryson travels through continental Europe. His journey has two purposes: he wants to write about Europe, and he wants to relieve a journey he made in his youth with, the by now infamous, Katz. His inner journey is a middle-aged man trying to remember his youth, even if you sometimes wonder if he has really grown out of it! His outer journey lets him experience the feel of all the places he visits. That is by far the best aspect of the book! Here he is no-holds barred funny! He can pinpoint the national bad habits of every country he visits. Since he also lets us know about his own bad habits it is not insulting. There is a love and a respect hidden among all his writings. He loves travelling, and he loves all places he visits. He seems to have a nack for capturing the soul of the places he visits. His books can almost be used as travel guides.