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Post by Nalkarj on Apr 30, 2018 0:26:09 GMT
Anyone else here a fan? I’m currently reading I’m a Stranger Here Myself and probably annoying everyone around me in the library by how much I’m laughing. Bryson is one of our great comic essayists, and it’s a national tragedy—a national tragedy, I tell you!—that he’s not better known than he is. A Walk in the Woods is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read in my life, and the movie somehow manages to be even better, if only because of the clash of personalities between Redford and Nolte. If you haven’t read a Bill Bryson book, I strongly recommend that you do so.
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Post by pimpinainteasy on Apr 30, 2018 3:51:11 GMT
im reading a book about his travels across small town america.
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Post by Jep Gambardella on Apr 30, 2018 12:20:49 GMT
Anyone else here a fan? I’m currently reading I’m a Stranger Here Myself and probably annoying everyone around me in the library by how much I’m laughing. Bryson is one of our great comic essayists, and it’s a national tragedy—a national tragedy, I tell you!—that he’s not better known than he is. A Walk in the Woods is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read in my life, and the movie somehow manages to be even better, if only because of the clash of personalities between Redford and Nolte. If you haven’t read a Bill Bryson book, I strongly recommend that you do so. I love his humour. I have read at least three of his books: one about his travels in Europe, another about Britain, and one about Australia. Is the "Short History of Nearly Everything" also his? I own it, but haven't got around to reading it yet.
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Post by Carl LaFong on Apr 30, 2018 13:02:37 GMT
Yes. Very funny man.
I've read quite a few of his books.
My favourite is probably "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" about his Des Moines childhood.
Love The Lost Continent, A Walk in the Woods, Neither Here nor There and In a Sunburned Country too.
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Post by Carl LaFong on Apr 30, 2018 13:03:44 GMT
Anyone else here a fan? I’m currently reading I’m a Stranger Here Myself and probably annoying everyone around me in the library by how much I’m laughing. Bryson is one of our great comic essayists, and it’s a national tragedy—a national tragedy, I tell you!—that he’s not better known than he is. A Walk in the Woods is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read in my life, and the movie somehow manages to be even better, if only because of the clash of personalities between Redford and Nolte. If you haven’t read a Bill Bryson book, I strongly recommend that you do so. I love his humour. I have read at least three of his books: one about his travels in Europe, another about Britain, and one about Australia. Is the "Short History of Nearly Everything" also his? I own it, but haven't got around to reading it yet. Yes, it is. I haven't read it though.
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Post by Jep Gambardella on Apr 30, 2018 13:59:03 GMT
Anyone else here a fan? I’m currently reading I’m a Stranger Here Myself and probably annoying everyone around me in the library by how much I’m laughing. Bryson is one of our great comic essayists, and it’s a national tragedy—a national tragedy, I tell you!—that he’s not better known than he is. A Walk in the Woods is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read in my life, and the movie somehow manages to be even better, if only because of the clash of personalities between Redford and Nolte. If you haven’t read a Bill Bryson book, I strongly recommend that you do so. Ain't technology wonderful? I am at the airport waiting for a flight and I just downloaded "A Walk in the Woods" directly into my tablet from the library.
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Post by Carl LaFong on Apr 30, 2018 16:42:03 GMT
Anyone else here a fan? I’m currently reading I’m a Stranger Here Myself and probably annoying everyone around me in the library by how much I’m laughing. Bryson is one of our great comic essayists, and it’s a national tragedy—a national tragedy, I tell you!—that he’s not better known than he is. A Walk in the Woods is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read in my life, and the movie somehow manages to be even better, if only because of the clash of personalities between Redford and Nolte. If you haven’t read a Bill Bryson book, I strongly recommend that you do so. Ain't technology wonderful? I am at the airport waiting for a flight and I just downloaded "A Walk in the Woods" directly into my tablet from the library. A public library? For free? Yeah, I've done that once or twice. It's pretty cool.
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Post by Jep Gambardella on Apr 30, 2018 17:20:50 GMT
Ain't technology wonderful? I am at the airport waiting for a flight and I just downloaded "A Walk in the Woods" directly into my tablet from the library. A public library? For free? Yeah, I've done that once or twice. It's pretty cool. Yes, from the public library for free. It is enough of a novelty for me that the whole process still amazes me. I have lots of e-books on my tablet (some purchased, most downloaded for free from Project Gutenberg) but I am still getting used to the idea that I can have immediate access to thousands of books from the Montreal public library even I am halfway across the world. Anyway, I read probably about 1/3 of "A Walk in the Woods" on the first leg of my trip and I am greatly enjoying it so far. I envy Bill Bryson. I wish I could make a (presumably very comfortable) living out of traveling and then writing about it.
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Post by Nalkarj on Apr 30, 2018 17:21:24 GMT
Thanks, everyone! I hope no one minds this observation, but I’ve noticed that both you, Jep Gambardella, and you, Carl LaFong, put us into humor/ humour and favorite/ favourite. My point is not to go into a protracted discussion of American v. British (and Aussie, Kiwi, and Canuck) spelling but rather to ask if Bryson is better known outside the States—and, if so, to ponder exactly why that is. Obviously he spent much of his life in England and lives there now, but many of the books I’ve read are very “American,” if that makes sense: baseball, American “quirks” (we like our free ice cubes!), hiking the AT with Katz, going on a cross-country road trip, etc. His talent is extraordinary, yet I, for one, never heard of him until the Walk in the Woods movie came out, and that bothers me a bit. I suppose it could also be attributed to the “artists not appreciated in their own time” syndrome, but is he known better elsewhere?
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Post by Carl LaFong on Apr 30, 2018 17:31:29 GMT
Thanks, everyone! I hope no one minds this observation, but I’ve noticed that both you, Jep Gambardella , and you, Carl LaFong , put us into humor/ humour and favorite/ favourite. My point is not to go into a protracted discussion of American v. British (and Aussie, Kiwi, and Canuck) spelling but rather to ask if Bryson is better known outside the States—and, if so, to ponder exactly why that is. Obviously he spent much of his life in England and lives there now, but many of the books I’ve read are very “American,” if that makes sense: baseball, American “quirks” (we like our free ice cubes!), hiking the AT with Katz, going on a cross-country road trip, etc. His talent is extraordinary, yet I, for one, never heard of him until the Walk in the Woods movie came out, and that bothers me a bit. I suppose it could also be attributed to the “artists not appreciated in their own time” syndrome, but is he known better elsewhere? I'm pretty sure he's much better known in the UK than the US. His books often do well in the best sellers list over here. Can't speak for Canada though.
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Post by Nalkarj on Apr 30, 2018 17:41:23 GMT
I'm pretty sure he's much better known in the UK than the US. His books often do well in the best sellers list over here. Can't speak for Canada though. Thanks. I’m just not sure why, especially with how American his themes are (even Notes from a Small Island is “American’s perspective on Britain”). I’m pretty astounded that he isn’t appreciated here.
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Post by Jep Gambardella on Apr 30, 2018 17:43:06 GMT
Thanks, everyone! I hope no one minds this observation, but I’ve noticed that both you, Jep Gambardella, and you, Carl LaFong, put us into humor/ humour and favorite/ favourite. My point is not to go into a protracted discussion of American v. British (and Aussie, Kiwi, and Canuck) spelling but rather to ask if Bryson is better known outside the States—and, if so, to ponder exactly why that is. Obviously he spent much of his life in England and lives there now, but many of the books I’ve read are very “American,” if that makes sense: baseball, American “quirks” (we like our free ice cubes!), hiking the AT with Katz, going on a cross-country road trip, etc. His talent is extraordinary, yet I, for one, never heard of him until the Walk in the Woods movie came out, and that bothers me a bit. I suppose it could also be attributed to the “artists not appreciated in their own time” syndrome, but is he known better elsewhere? I make a point of using British spelling because that is what we are supposed to do in Canada, although many people don't. The first I heard about Bill Bryson was when a friend gave me as a birthday present his book about his travels in Europe. She had loved it and (correctly) figured I would too. His other books that I read, I always found them in the New Releases section of a bookstore. It's interesting how the movie changed one significant detail from the real events of the book: the age of the protagonists. In the movie they are supposed to be what, late 60s? In reality they were in their mid-40s.
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Post by Nalkarj on Apr 30, 2018 17:52:06 GMT
I make a point if using British spelling because that is what we are supposed to do in Canada, although many people don't. The first I heard about Bill Bryson was when a friend gave me as a birthday present his book about his travels in Europe. She had loved it and (correctly) figured I would too. His other books that I read, I always found them in the New Releases section of a bookstore. It's interesting how the movie changed one significant detail from the real events of the book: the age of the protagonists. In the movie they are supposed to be what, late 60s? In reality they were in their mid-40s. Yes, a Canadian pal let me know about the great spelling question going on right now. That’s a pretty interesting subject, thought maybe it’s just me: I’ve written before about how I learned, say, traveller with two ls, which isn’t usually the way it’s spelt here in the States ( traveler, which always looks wrong to me). I’m guessing that was because I was taught many of those words ( traveller, jeweller, marvellous) by an Irishwoman. Anyway, enough with that. I’m sure Bryson’s popularity can’t be that different in Canada than here; maybe it’s a European thing? But I will say that most people to whom I’ve spoken near where I live (New England) have never heard of him, and I can’t recall a single Bryson book making the best-seller list, which Carl said happened in the UK. Anyhoo… I think the age-change was just inevitable, as Redford, who produced, wanted to star in it and thus had to change everyone’s age. He originally wanted to make it about ten years ago with Paul Newman as Katz, if I’m not mistaken. That would have been interesting, but Nolte gave a superb performance, I thought.
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Post by Jep Gambardella on Apr 30, 2018 18:16:51 GMT
I make a point if using British spelling because that is what we are supposed to do in Canada, although many people don't. The first I heard about Bill Bryson was when a friend gave me as a birthday present his book about his travels in Europe. She had loved it and (correctly) figured I would too. His other books that I read, I always found them in the New Releases section of a bookstore. It's interesting how the movie changed one significant detail from the real events of the book: the age of the protagonists. In the movie they are supposed to be what, late 60s? In reality they were in their mid-40s. Yes, a Canadian pal let me know about the great spelling question going on right now. That’s a pretty interesting subject, thought maybe it’s just me: I’ve written before about how I learned, say, traveller with two ls, which isn’t usually the way it’s spelt here in the States ( traveler, which always looks wrong to me). I’m guessing that was because I was taught many of those words ( traveller, jeweller, marvellous) by an Irishwoman. Anyway, enough with that. I’m sure Bryson’s popularity can’t be that different in Canada than here; maybe it’s a European thing? But I will say that most people to whom I’ve spoken near where I live (New England) have never heard of him, and I can’t recall a single Bryson book making the best-seller list, which Carl said happened in the UK. Anyhoo… I think the age-change was just inevitable, as Redford, who produced, wanted to star in it and thus had to change everyone’s age. He originally wanted to make it about ten years ago with Paul Newman as Katz, if I’m not mistaken. That would have been interesting, but Nolte gave a superb performance, I thought. I wouldn't know if Bryson's books make the best-seller lists in Canada, but I can tell you that, whenever a new one comes out, it does get good exposure in bookstores. I have never watched the movie, but I will look for it once I finish the book. I am glad you started this thread. I was undecided on what to read next and A Walk in the Woods worked out perfectly - especially since I was in that area (northern GA, NC and TN) just last week. Alas, I was driving, not hiking. Still, beautiful scenery.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 30, 2018 21:05:24 GMT
Nice tread. Never hoid a him before. Shall seek him out. Tanks !, Nalkarj
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Post by Nalkarj on Apr 30, 2018 23:05:23 GMT
Thanks, BATouttaheck. Bryson’s hilarious, so I hope you get a chance to pick up one of his books whenever you can… (Recommending A Walk in the Woods first…)
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Post by Carl LaFong on May 1, 2018 10:39:46 GMT
I make a point if using British spelling because that is what we are supposed to do in Canada, although many people don't. The first I heard about Bill Bryson was when a friend gave me as a birthday present his book about his travels in Europe. She had loved it and (correctly) figured I would too. His other books that I read, I always found them in the New Releases section of a bookstore. It's interesting how the movie changed one significant detail from the real events of the book: the age of the protagonists. In the movie they are supposed to be what, late 60s? In reality they were in their mid-40s. Yes, a Canadian pal let me know about the great spelling question going on right now. That’s a pretty interesting subject, thought maybe it’s just me: I’ve written before about how I learned, say, traveller with two ls, which isn’t usually the way it’s spelt here in the States ( traveler, which always looks wrong to me). I’m guessing that was because I was taught many of those words ( traveller, jeweller, marvellous) by an Irishwoman. Anyway, enough with that. I’m sure Bryson’s popularity can’t be that different in Canada than here; maybe it’s a European thing? But I will say that most people to whom I’ve spoken near where I live (New England) have never heard of him, and I can’t recall a single Bryson book making the best-seller list, which Carl said happened in the UK. Anyhoo… I think the age-change was just inevitable, as Redford, who produced, wanted to star in it and thus had to change everyone’s age. He originally wanted to make it about ten years ago with Paul Newman as Katz, if I’m not mistaken. That would have been interesting, but Nolte gave a superb performance, I thought. Yes, I enjoyed the film. Very funny in places. Still prefer the book though.
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Post by Carl LaFong on May 1, 2018 10:43:45 GMT
A public library? For free? Yeah, I've done that once or twice. It's pretty cool. Yes, from the public library for free. It is enough of a novelty for me that the whole process still amazes me. I have lots of e-books on my tablet (some purchased, most downloaded for free from Project Gutenberg) but I am still getting used to the idea that I can have immediate access to thousands of books from the Montreal public library even I am halfway across the world. Anyway, I read probably about 1/3 of "A Walk in the Woods" on the first leg of my trip and I am greatly enjoying it so far. I envy Bill Bryson. I wish I could make a (presumably very comfortable) living out of traveling and then writing about it. Jep Gambardella, do you find that recent releases and other popular books available from the public library are often "out" when you try to download them? That's the case here anyway - they must only be allowed to have a certain number of copies of each book "out" at any one time. You can add yourself to a waiting list though which notifies you by e-mail as soon as the book becomes available.
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Post by Jep Gambardella on May 1, 2018 19:50:52 GMT
Yes, from the public library for free. It is enough of a novelty for me that the whole process still amazes me. I have lots of e-books on my tablet (some purchased, most downloaded for free from Project Gutenberg) but I am still getting used to the idea that I can have immediate access to thousands of books from the Montreal public library even I am halfway across the world. Anyway, I read probably about 1/3 of "A Walk in the Woods" on the first leg of my trip and I am greatly enjoying it so far. I envy Bill Bryson. I wish I could make a (presumably very comfortable) living out of traveling and then writing about it. Jep Gambardella, do you find that recent releases and other popular books available from the public library are often "out" when you try to download them? That's the case here anyway - they must only be allowed to have a certain number of copies of each book "out" at any one time. You can add yourself to a waiting list though which notifies you by e-mail as soon as the book becomes available. I haven't used the system enough (especially for recent releases) to have a feel for availability - but there is definitely a number of copies that they can loan out at any given time. Yesterday when I checked out "A Walk in the Woods" the system clearly indicated that there were four copies, all of which were available.
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Post by Carl LaFong on May 1, 2018 19:54:25 GMT
Cheers!
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