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The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 917.30492
EAN: 9780060920081
ISBN: 0060920084
Label: Harper Perennial
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 320
Publication Date: September 12, 1990
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Release Date: August 03, 1990
Studio: Harper Perennial
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Editorial Review:
A travelogue by Bill Bryson is as close to a sure thing as funny books get. The Lost Continent is no exception. Following an urge to rediscover his youth (he should know better), the author leaves his native Des Moines, Iowa, in a journey that takes him across 38 states. Lucky for us, he brought a notebook.
With a razor wit and a kind heart, Bryson serves up a colorful tale of boredom, kitsch, and beauty when you least expect it. Gentler elements aside, The Lost Continent is an amusing book. Here's Bryson on the women of his native state: "I will say this, however--and it's a strange, strange thing--the teenaged daughters of these fat women are always utterly delectable ... I don't know what it is that happens to them, but it must be awful to marry one of those nubile cuties knowing that there is a time bomb ticking away in her that will at some unknown date make her bloat out into something huge and grotesque, presumably all of a sudden and without much notice, like a self-inflating raft from which the pin has been yanked."
Yes, Bill, but be honest: what do you really think?
An unsparing and hilarious account of one man's rediscovery of America and his search for the perfect small town.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Only read this book if you want to develop and intense dislike for the author
I gave this book one star only because Amazon doesn't allow the option to select zero stars.
My husband and I have read and enjoyed many of Bill Bryson's books. In the past, we considered him one of our favorite writers. After reading this book, it will be a long time before I open another of his works.
Mr Bryson's petty criticisms of the small towns through which he drove and his obvious contempt for all things Southern will leave any American who loves her country feeling ... Read More
Rating:  - There's Humor Everywhere
This book: part humor, part travelogue, narrates Bryson's road trip across the United States and back again. Bryson travels without strict itinerary, and with frequent stops in small towns across the country. The narrative is written in classic Bryson style, with frequent diversions to explain the origin of many of life's oddities, and with constant sideline commentary. As is usually the case with Bryson, the narrative is illuminating, amusing, and shows Bryson's sense of adventure. It was a pleasure ... Read More
Rating: - Not so nice look at small-town America
Notice how many one and two star ratings this book has. That alone should warn you of how bad this book is. You can read the other one star ratings, my review would be similar to most of them, so I'll keep mine short.
I bought this because I like Bill Bryson's other books and I figured I couldn't go wrong with small town journeys by a writer I enjoy. Boy, was I wrong, I did not enjoy Bryson in this book at all. I find small towns to be rather endearing and love their charm and individuality, ... Read More
Rating: - mean spirited & P. C.
This book was not my first read by Bill Bryson and I will move on to other authors after this read. As I was reading this book I wondered why I had read as much of this author as I have.
Bryson tends to look down his nose at people and things that do not meet his obviously cultured standards. His anger whether displayed or passive aggressive has gotten old.
An example of my disappointment in this book is the author's report of New York City. Bryson couldn't find anything interesting within the ... Read More
Rating: - Good travel reading
This is my first Bill Bryson book, so I can't compare this book to his others. But I can say that I really enjoyed the sarcastic humor at the expense of middle America. Many authors try and fail to bring the same amount of wit to their books as Bill Bryson.
Bryson's journey took place in 1988, which makes the book a little dated. But you have to wonder how much less fun the trip would be with a cell phone, email, GPS and Yelp. It's a little depressing to read about how much had changed in ... Read More
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