Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe

Customer Rating:
Summary: Truly a "tour" de force!
Comment: I'm not much of a traveller, but this book is one of the most delightful romps I've ever been on. Bryson is not only a very funny guy, he has a keen eye for detail, especially the traits that make us all human in our own particular, regional way. I've already started another Bryson book.

AW

Customer Rating:
Summary: Grouchily amusing.
Comment: This was an enjoyable, undemanding read. At his best, Bryson is grouchily funny, though not as hilarious IMO as some other reviews would have you believe. He is better when describing the rough spots of travel than its pleasures. At times, an unattractive whining tone takes over - for instance, when he complains how a particular location, like Florence, is overrun by tourists. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit to finding his skewering of the Swiss and the Austrians pretty much on target.

Three stars, because Bryson never approaches the level of a travel writer like Jan Morris, whose essays are infinitely superior.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Another Bryson complaint
Comment: I've now read all of Bill Bryson's past and current work, and Neither Here nor There, with a few exceptional stories wasn't one of his best works. This seemed to be a revisiting of places he had seen much earlier, and was pretty negative on most locations in Europe since much had changed, gone down hill, or been replaced by new buildings or vistas since he had been there the first time. He tried to "go home again", but it didn't work out well, at least for him. Still, he does describe some interesting places and provides tips on the pleasant ones. This is a "maybe" selection.

Customer Rating:
Summary: A bit of a downer
Comment: While I enjoyed this book, I couldn't help but feel a bit depressed after reading it. Having been to Europe a couple of times in the past 25 years (once on a "Grand Tour" in my 20's (in the 1980's) and the other a couple of weeks in Ireland and England-in my 40's), I wanted so much to enjoy this book and hopefully find some things I could relate to from my Grand Tour of Europe (both of my trips were wonderful BTW). What I came away with is what maybe happens too many times when travelling. Mr. Bryson's trip looked better on paper than the actual vacation ended up being.

Mr. Bryson was consistently "let down" by not only the cities and towns he visited (which seemed to be consistently dirty) but also by the Europeans themselves (who were inevitably unfriendly...in most cases). If I had never been to Europe, this book would not give me any inspiration whatsoever to visit there. In fact, I'd want to stay as far away as possible. Who would want to visit filthy cities and deal with dour individuals when you're paying good money to be there and helping to infuse their economies. In country after country this happened to him. I would like to think that we don't treat tourists that way in America...at least I hope not. Of course, it's always been my opinion (and my experience in Europe) that the Europeans have always felt superior (but it's never detracted from my good memories of my trips), but that's another story for another time.

Anyway, the book just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Don't get me wrong, I laughed out loud (and quite hysterically) many times while reading it, but in the end I don't feel better for having read it (I did learn some interesting tidbits about some of the countries he visited though). It just surprised and disappointed me that he encountered SO many miserable people in so many different countries during such a short period of time. I suppose it's not his fault that it was what it was... maybe the 90's were just that way though....here's hoping things have changed.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Should be called "Eurpoean Tales of a Bloated Gasbag"
Comment: Why did Mr. Bryson write this book? Was it to discourage people from traveling in Europe? He is disappointed at every stop he makes - perhaps had he planned a little better, that would not have been the case. In addition, Mr. Bryson forgets that he is a tourist and that people actually live their lives in the places he visits - they do not live there to accomodate tourists or Mr. Bryson. Do yourself a favor - don't buy this book.