Bill Bryson Collector's Edition: Notes from a Small Island, Neither Here Nor There, and I'm a Stranger Here Myself

This is fantastic. I love his tone and mix of trivia as well as fact within history. I'm a true (new) Bill Bryson addict. I especially like his own narration. It feels like you're traveling alongside learning as you go (only you get to shower at home). Totally recommend it to anglophiles, trivia and history buffs of all flavors - as well as general listeners of all kinds. I also liked "At Home" which delves into more history and information based on his English vicarage house. Do it, you'll like it.

I rarely write reviews and have been a memeber since almost the begining of Audible (sadly when I upgraded Audible forgot who I was before becoming a Platinum Listener). This was a thuroughly enjoyable listen and I found myself drawn to Google Maps over and over trying to equate the top down view with Bryson's on the street descriptions of the people and places.

If you need an in office vacation then I reccomend you download this book and spend your lunches listening to this book and mousing around Google Maps.

I've read or listened to nearly half of the Bryson's books. No need to mention that I'm a fan of his. This collection is composed of three separate books. The first one is about Britain. I think it's the faintest book of Bryson. Though, it's not bad after all. Maybe it contains too much local information that's too alien to us. It's not about being familiar with Britain. I've never been to Australia for instance, but I loved his book "In a Sunburned Country".

But the others are just brilliant. I bet you'll listen them again and again. The one in Europe makes you feel like you're traveling those places with a best possible travel companion. And the last one will make you understand better what an Ordinary American's life is like.

Whether he's being lovingly critical or unabashedly admiring of English quirks, Byrson is always amusing -- never crass, just constantly chuckling at the English as I chuckle and sigh at the doings of a favorite aunt. Priceless writer, doesn't lose his charm on second or even third listening.

If you like Bill Bryson (does anyone not?) you'll enjoy this collection completely. I particularly enjoy "I'm a Stranger Here Myself," as he describes returning to the US after a 20 year absence.

Quirky sense of humor that makes you chuckle.

It did definitely made me laugh number of times. Of course it is not laugh-riot, but makes you chuckle/smile.

Great listen! You can start just about anywhere in the recording and enjoy it. Hugely entertaining, and enlightening.

So far every Bryson book we've tried has been both a great read and a great audio experience. These include : A Walk in the Woods, A Short History of Nearly Everything, At Home, In A Sunburned Country, and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. These make great gifts too - especially for anyone who has a tedious commute or is laid up in bed for any period of time - Bryson' s take on the world is always unique and often laugh out loud hilarious.

The fact that Bill Bryson narrated it. No one else could have captured his style, I don't think.

His " At Home," I suppose.

He just makes me laugh. He brings so much humor to his travel experiences that he makes you want to go to even the places he did not like.

If I had the time to, I could sit there all say listening to this audiobook.

I've heard of these 3 for years and was happy to finally get to them - but unfortunately I was disappointed. If you're unfamiliar with Bryson's work, and want to read 3 good ones, start with "A Short History of Nearly Everything" (his best researched), then read "A Walk In the Woods" (his best travelogue), then "At Home" (his most interesting and insightful). The 3 in the "Collector's Edition" may have served him well in honing his writing style, but I think the modern reader can easily pass them by (unless you just want to read everything he's ever written, which I suppose is why I read them).

I've never read anything by Bill Bryson that wasn't good, and this collection of stories of his travels through England is no exception. Love his humor as well as his description of the people and places he has been!