Reviews
Great read! Bryson tends to get a tad political in his writing as his pieces stretch on, but depending on your views this element of his style may or may not bother you. This is my 6th book by Bryson and it is quite different from the others as it is the first non-travel-focused piece I've gotten through, but I still loved it. Rather than give a breakdown and overview of the layout and nuances of a specific region, he does so with the city of DeMoines through its growth from mid-century to present, and also, consequently, his own childhood. The piece is great for those interested in post-Depression, pre-Vietnam American history, and a wonderful library addition if you are already a Bryson fan. It is every bit as funny as the rest of his repertoire and gives a fantastic background on an established author. 2 favorite anecdotes were the "Toity Jar" incident and the story about the hole in his uncle Larry's forehead...
What a wonderful journey into the imagination and thoughts of a kid growing up in the 1950s and 60s. At first, I didn't get it. But as the book went on I fell into the enchanting perspective of the world through the Thunderbolt Kid's eyes. This is an intriguing tale of memory, history, storytelling, imagination, and childhood.
I'd read anything by Bill Bryson, he makes me laugh without fail. Even if he wrote out his shopping list I'm sure he'd make it funny, unfortunately this is more or less what he falls back on a bit too often. The unique circumstances of a fifties american childhood are captured with an alien anthropologist's eye but the lists of products or TV shows I could have done without.
