I started and finished A Sense of Direction in one evening; I couldn't really stop thinking about it, so I couldn't put it down. I found it...
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Following an urge to rediscover his youth, Bill Bryson left his native Des Moines, Iowa, in a journey that would take him across 38 states. Lucky for us, he brought a notebook. With a razor wit and a kind heart, Bryson serves up a colorful tale of boredom, kitsch, and beauty when you least expect it. From Times Square to the Mississippi River to Williamsburg, Virginia, Bryson's keen and hilarious search for the perfect American small town is a journey straight into the heart and soul of America.
Synopsis:
An unsparing and hilarious account of one man's rediscovery of America and his search for the perfect small town.
Bill Bryson's many books include, most recently In a Sunburned Country, as well as I'm a Stranger Here Myself, A walk in the Woods, Neither Here Nor There, Made in America, and The Mother Tongue.He edited The Best American Travel Writing 2000. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he lived in England for almost two decades. He now lives in Hanover, New Hampshire, with his wife and four children.
demelzack, November 15, 2010 (view all comments by demelzack)
Bill Bryson is hilarious. My appreciation of another of his books, Made in America, made me buy The Lost Continent. After reading this book I gave it to my mother-in-law who suggested it for her book club. Then I bought it again. It was just as funny the second time.
Everyone in America should recognize at least a few of the small towns Mr. Bryson passes through in his travels. His cutting wit contrasted by his easy familiarity makes the reader feel like almost like a confidant.
Erik Stoll, December 6, 2007 (view all comments by Erik Stoll)
Excellent book. Bryson's writing had me laughing from cover to cover. A very nontraditional type of travel story, but very effective and something that most Americans who have ever traveled by car can relate to.
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