He’s a funny guy with a unique–sometimes warped–perspective on almost everything. This is the reason I sometimes break my no-nonfiction rule and dip my toe into the Bryson pond. If his name rings only a faint bell with you it’s probably because of “A Walk in the Woods,” his best-known bestseller, published in 1998. It covers Bryson and a friend’s adventures as they hiked the Appalachian Trail, a part of his own efforts to re-acquaint himself with the country he left behind in his twenties. Needless to say, this is all quite an adjustment for a soft city boy! Expect hillbillies, hungry bears, snakes, and beautiful but fragile ecosystems.
One reason I find Bryson’s books so engaging is his wide range of experiences and interests in everything you can imagine. He grew up in Des Moines, Iowa but spent 20-odd years as a writer for various publications in England. Finally he returned (with an English wife and children) to this country and settled in New Hampshire. Bryson brings his unique perspective as an American living abroad to my favorite of his books, “Notes from a Small Island.” It’s a really funny and affectionate look at the English personality. Mainly he talks about his last trip through the country, a sort of farewell tour before coming back to live in America. He visits small towns, tourist spots, and local pubs, traveling sometimes by train but mostly on foot. He encounters some weird and quirky people. He is reminded of all the things he loves about his adopted country.
Another really fun-to-read title by Bryson is “The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid,” a memoir of growing up in the Fifties in Iowa. He imagines himself with superpowers and takes on the secret identity of the Thunderbolt Kid as he deals with loving and eccentric parents, good and bad teachers, and colorful school friends. For anyone who remembers the Fifties, this memoir will bring back your own childhood. There’s the space race, the Communist scare, cheesy horror movies, old-time department stores, and black-and-while television, all done with nostalgia but not in a sappy way.
There are so many other Bryson books that anyone could find something that speaks to them. To name just a few:
“I’m a Stranger Here Myself” is a collection of columns that describe his sometimes bewildered re-entry into American life after his years of exile. “The Road to Little Dribbling” follows up his “Notes from a Small Island” by taking him back to England to visit his favorite haunts once again. “A Short History of Nearly Everything” is a layman’s guide to science, with emphasis on the weird beginnings of many discoveries. “Made in America” is a very informal history of the English language in the U.S. as it has evolved from its Anglo-Saxon roots. “In a Sunburned Country” takes us to Australia, not so much a travel guide as just a collection of anecdotes and a look at the unique personality of that country.
With Bryson’s good humor and singular viewpoints on almost everything, you’ll find that sheer entertainment is his real goal in writing. I hope you’ll try dipping your own toe in the Bryson pond. Happy reading!
Kaye West recently retired from the Henry County Library System. She enjoys reading, taking daily walks, and spending time with friends. She lives in McDonough with her husband.
