The Road to Little Dribbling--A Review

Tweet

Over the weekend I spent a few literary hours with an author I’ve enjoyed reading over the years. My first encounter with Bill Bryson was probably 20 years or so ago when I read A Walk in the Woods a narrative of his personal experiences on the Appalachian Trail. I enjoyed his mix of personal observation and digressions into obscure events in history. There have been other books written by him, that I have enjoyed over the years, but there have also been a few that I set aside in annoyance when digressed a little too excessive navel gazing and ruminations more suited to a boys high school locker-room. The Road to Little Dribbling was writing in 2015 (his most recent book if I’m not mistaken) and is filled with observations and anecdotes about how England has changed in the 20 years since he wrote Notes from a Small Island. His visits to various sites of historic or geographic significance and the details he shared are interesting. His observation of people and their foibles frequently includes vocabulary that I could do without (some of the conversations that he is having in his head should probably stay in his head...but that’s just my personal preference). I enjoyed the book but, when it really comes down to it, I prefer his non-travel books. So now I’m off to find something else to read.