casual racism

I loved this book when it first came out but now it is absolutely hideous. sarcastic and unpleasant. also the narration is read it breakneck speed making it almost impossible to follow in any detail.

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1 person found this helpful

Just as funny as I remember

Listened to this on radio 4 in the car back in the day and remembered it as being extremely funny and erudite. Still in the car now with my son splitting his sides with laughter seems to have not lost any of it's charm. Kerry Shale is a star narrator!

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Will I finish it ?

Bill's writing struggles to shine through the narrator. It is very unusual for me to write a review after such a short time listening. In fact it's a first..... I'm not sure I can force myself to go on. Plenty of the usual observational humour but the narrator has a party to go to and rushes along to finish early. Will he run out of steam or be pulled up by an editor... I doubt it.
I am stuck now between "you bought it, so listen" and " you'll never know if you don't finish it".
After such a poor start it can only get better......

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1 person found this helpful

Amusing listen

I enjoyed listening to this while reading another (print) book. Its an easy listen and its quite amusing at times - maybe not outright 'laugh out loud' material but it certainly made me smile a number of times. The narrator I didn't really like, as he seemed to rush through the book a bit. I checked and it was on 1.0 speed, yet it sounded like they were rushing through reading each page, which is a shame. I imagine some people may be (somewhat?) offended by the perhaps somewhat over exaggerated southern 'drawl' type accents featured. I'd say more but it'd count as spoilers, so I won't. Its not a total piss take, I know the author did live in the UK for some time and I found it interesting to hear his reaction to being back in his childhood 'home country', seeing what had changed. An interesting, informative and sometimes somewhat amusing listen, I'd recommend this.

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Fabulous

Have read this book, twice. It is excellent. All his books at. A walk in the woods, is my favourite,, it's the top of my dessert island discs list. 5 star

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2 people found this helpful

Bill'd Be Better

Like all Bill Bryson writing this is witty, dry and very entertaining. I'm not convinced that Kerry Shale is the best choice of reader. The writing stands on its own, it doesn't need the heavy stresses that Shale uses.

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4 people found this helpful

Kerry Shales is the best

This is the only Bill Bryson book I can find here read by Kerry Shales. When I Was younger we used to listen to Bryson in the car - and all were read by Kerry Shales. His delivery, and his character voices are superb and really make me laugh and listen.

I haven't listened to the other narrator but I'm worried it won't live up to the superb Shales.


Audible PLEASE FIND THE OTHER BOOKS HE'S NARRATED!

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12 people found this helpful

Blast from the past

I remember listening to this with my mum when we were on a long car journey, and for some strange reason I tried to find it, I had given up until I thought I would try the previews, and there was Kerry Shale's familiar voice!!
Kerry Shale is a great narrator, and could make the phonebook sound funny, so added to Bill Bryson' s wit it makes a good 2 hours pastime!

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3 people found this helpful

Not good

Very poorly read, couldn't stand it, didn't even get through the first chapter! Recemtly listened to The Body by Bill Bryson, much better. Disappointed in this.

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