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Mar. 2nd, 2011 08:00 amI've joined LibraryThing, a site for readers where you can record books you've read, review them and even get a chance to review new books. You apply to get a free copy, it could be paper or an ebook, and when you get it, you *should* post a review though you aren't obligated. There are forums and groups and things, none of which i've really explored yet. I've been adding some books that i own but mainly adding the new ones i've read so far this year. Good place to go and find real reader reviews of books you might want to read, though.
We had a family birthday meal on the weekend, combining my birthday (actually tomorrow) and my nephew Ryan's which was last Saturday. Pressies, cards and good food including a chocolate ice cream cake! Yum! Having lunch with my mom and auntie tomorrow, dinner and a movie with a friend Friday night, and there's a surprise birthday party on Saturday for a second cousin who's 50th birthday is the day after mine.
2011 books
18. Notes from a Small Island - Bill Bryson
This is an older book and I've read it before some years ago. I remember enjoying it a lot though this time around I didn't quite as much. Overall, though, it was still enjoyable and, having been to a few more places around the U.K., I could identify with it a bit more than last time around.
Bill Bryson is an American that landed in England as a young man and stayed, married, and raised a family. Before moving back to the U.S.A. he decides to travel around the country for one last look. He uses busses and trains and does a lot of walking as well and describes the foibles, pitfalls and wonders of those modes of transportation in this country.
Then there's the little villages, towns, larger cities, the hotels and B&Bs, both good and grim, and best of all, the people he meets. Bryson has a marvellous turn of phrase and a sharp sense of humour. He observes the British/Scottish/Welsh people and culture from an American point of view, a culture that, even after 20 years, can still baffle him, delight him, and frustrate him. You can tell he loves Britain and all of it's good and bad points, though, no matter how often he might describe how rapidly things seem to have gone downhill in many areas, mainly things that have been affected by "progress" and the shifting interests of the modern people. i.e. thriving seaside resort towns which are now nearly vacant.
Some of his narrative is autobiographical, some is a travelogue, some is a bit of a rant about the state of things, history, politics. Overall, i preferred the travelogue and his personal stories and i loved his use of language and phrase is a delight.
We had a family birthday meal on the weekend, combining my birthday (actually tomorrow) and my nephew Ryan's which was last Saturday. Pressies, cards and good food including a chocolate ice cream cake! Yum! Having lunch with my mom and auntie tomorrow, dinner and a movie with a friend Friday night, and there's a surprise birthday party on Saturday for a second cousin who's 50th birthday is the day after mine.
2011 books
18. Notes from a Small Island - Bill Bryson
This is an older book and I've read it before some years ago. I remember enjoying it a lot though this time around I didn't quite as much. Overall, though, it was still enjoyable and, having been to a few more places around the U.K., I could identify with it a bit more than last time around.
Bill Bryson is an American that landed in England as a young man and stayed, married, and raised a family. Before moving back to the U.S.A. he decides to travel around the country for one last look. He uses busses and trains and does a lot of walking as well and describes the foibles, pitfalls and wonders of those modes of transportation in this country.
Then there's the little villages, towns, larger cities, the hotels and B&Bs, both good and grim, and best of all, the people he meets. Bryson has a marvellous turn of phrase and a sharp sense of humour. He observes the British/Scottish/Welsh people and culture from an American point of view, a culture that, even after 20 years, can still baffle him, delight him, and frustrate him. You can tell he loves Britain and all of it's good and bad points, though, no matter how often he might describe how rapidly things seem to have gone downhill in many areas, mainly things that have been affected by "progress" and the shifting interests of the modern people. i.e. thriving seaside resort towns which are now nearly vacant.
Some of his narrative is autobiographical, some is a travelogue, some is a bit of a rant about the state of things, history, politics. Overall, i preferred the travelogue and his personal stories and i loved his use of language and phrase is a delight.
