The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America

May 16, 2008 | By Doug In Travel |

The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America
Customer Review: Listenable, but nothing special….
In The Lost Continent Bryson revisits America having lived in England for his adult life. He returns to his hometown and treats smalltown American with large doses of sarcasm and scorn, for somebody who has never been to the States i found it funny and informative; two essential ingredients of Bryson’s type travel writing in my opinion. Kerry Shales’ reading can become quite irritating as he reads, intentionally, very quickly, but this is remedied by his fantasic imitations of all types of American accents. An amusing tape, this is worth listening to, but don’t go out of your way for it!

Customer Review: Maybe it’s me, but….
What’s wrong with the most recent reviewers of Bill’s hysterically funny debut? Has there been a recent upsurge in humour bypasses? I first read the Lost Continent not long after it was published and I’ve gone back to it several times since. It’s very witty, well-observed and thoroughly to be recommended. I admit that his (very personal) take on America isn’t exactly gushing with praise but it’s a cracking read and it had me choking back laughter on public transport on many occasions. And I write this as a USA-phile with a particular affection for modern-day small town America. You don’t have to agree with his opinions, but you have to admire his presentation. I lent my copy to a friend and he’s yet to return it so I’m going to buy another one today.