Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Maybe I have grown up since I read “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson. At the time, I thought it was funny, well written and a relaxing read. I recently ordered “Neither Here Nor There” and “The Lost Continent” and hoped for some levity in this time of COVID. I was disappointed with both. “The Lost Continent” was written in 1987, so I am hoping that Bill Bryson has maybe grown up a little since then too. His descriptions of women are just cringeworthy. Bryson is fixated on their looks, bottoms, breasts and thinness (or lack thereof). I understand—-it’s from 1987—but still, his comments are misogynistic and usually negative. In fact, almost everything he describes is negative. Yes, yes, Bill—we know that all of America is chock full of ugly, endless strips of gas stations and fast food joints. There are moments when Bryson finds the nugget of beauty or goodness in what he sees, but most of the book is about all the zits, warts and farts of American society. I kept reading hoping that things would improve, but alas—it was just a painful slog through 350 pages of complaining. Not funny, not relaxing and not worth the $ I paid for it.