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Book Reviews of I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away

I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away
I'm a Stranger Here Myself Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away
Author: Bill Bryson
ISBN-13: 9780767903820
ISBN-10: 076790382X
Publication Date: 6/6/2000
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 283

3.9 stars, based on 283 ratings
Publisher: Broadway
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

30 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

Bookfanatic avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on
Helpful Score: 6
Funny account of Bryson's return to the USA after nearly two decades of life in England with his English wife and their four children. I found his perspective on America fascinating. He sees his home country with fresh eyes. I expected the book to be negative but it wasn't so. He mixes his trademark humor with sharp observations about life in America.
Caryn9802 avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 91 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
A humorous account of America's "quirks" from someone who hasn't lived here in 20 years. The book is broken into short essays, or columns from the author's newspaper job.
nascargal avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 352 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I LOVE this book...it pokes fun of many things that are so American...and makes you laugh because they are all true!
kickerdad avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 114 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
"I'm a Stranger Here Myself" is classic Bill Bryson but in a slightly different format from his other works. The book is a collection of news articles that he wrote for British newspaper during the 3 years after his move back to the US. Classic Bryson candor, self-depreciating humor, and out-of-the box observations fill the pages. Extremely readable, each chapter is only a few pages filled will iconic one-liners and thought provoking questions, as only Bill could ask! Great for someone with a busy schedule who needs brief interludes of distraction. And if you are a Bill Bryson fan, you'll love it!
Erinyes avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 279 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I really cannot say enough about this book or the author. I laughed out loud. He made me think and giggle. This is a collection of columns he wrote for a magazine in Britian. They are about his return to America. I did not enjoy every one of the essays but I enjoyed the vast majority of them. I cannot wait to read more of his work.
amberwench avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 26 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Funny, a bit insightful, endearing. Offers a unique view of Americanna.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A series of entertaining insightful columns written for a British newspaper about life in New England and in America overall. Most of the columns are very funny, and will leave you laughing out loud. I'd definitely recommend this book!
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 174 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
You think, "This isn't a funny subject," and then you find yourself laughing until the tears roll. Quite a few subjects hit home. I, too, grew up in Iowa's capitol city and have been known to read telephone books looking for unusual names. It must be a Des Moines thing. Excellent book to read when you want a good, loud, long laugh.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Bill Bryson's books are wonderfully enjoyable reading. Not only do you learn a lot, but he is always funny. His humor is delightful. I've read 4 of his books now and have another on the way from paperbackswap. I highly recommend them.
gr8ce avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 44 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Drawn out and uninteresting to me. This author has disappointed me since I read a Walk through the Woods, that I really liked
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Bryson never fails to entertain. Each anecdote was full of laughter and well-noted ironies about America. This is a book that will be funny all over again on a second read!
Sue-in-AZ avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 108 more book reviews
Absolutely delightful.

A compilation of articles written for an English newspaper describing life in America. I was reminded of the many things I love about both America and England (I lived in England for 3 years in the early 90's.)
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 3 more book reviews
Laugh out loud funny!
virgosun avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 886 more book reviews
Thought I'd enjoy it--was really looking forward to it. But I couldn't get into it--maybe it was the writing style. A big yawn for me.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 15 more book reviews
Good memoir, very funny in spots.
kato avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 21 more book reviews
I loved this book! It is a laugh-out loud account of the "culture" of the US from a guy who left for Britain two decades ago and has recently returned. Many times comedic is bitingly mean spirited, which is tedious for me- but Bryson is able to communicate the humor in a funny but loving, appreciative manner. Kudos! His stories are written as if he is your best friend, sitting in your living room, throwing back a pint or two and having a couple of laughs about, well, America.
JadeyB avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 3 more book reviews
Really enjoyed reading this book. There are very few books that make me laugh out loud and I certainly embarrassed myself in coffee shops by starting to giggle uncontrollably at this book. Bill Bryson is a great writer who mixes comedy and commentary in a uniquely appealing way. I highly recommend reading any of his work.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 404 more book reviews
Charming, witty essays by a likeable, grumpy fellow.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 7 more book reviews
He grew up in US, moved to Britain for 20 years, then comes back, these are his interesting observations..just for fun.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 173 more book reviews
After 20 years of living in England - Bryson, master of the humorous travelogue - gives us a glimpse of his take on his return to the US of A. Sure, there's humor, but the book - made up of columns Bryson wrote for a British audience - quite often takes a harsh view of the country that gave Bryson the basis for his skill. Perhaps I didn't enjoy seeing the ugly of our country pointed out (so much is true), but it wasn't my favorite of the Bryson books.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 232 more book reviews
Sometimes laugh out loud funny.
AllieFWilliam avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 97 more book reviews
Not what I expected but comical and quick reading. Enjoyed it.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 9 more book reviews
I loved the book.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 33 more book reviews
I became a fan of Bill Bryson after being introduced to his work while spending some time in England. His writing style is hilarious and fun to read. This is a great book for relaxing!
Virginia avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 16 more book reviews
Funny and interesting book from someone who left the US and came back later in life.
Delos avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on
A collection of articles he wrote upon returning to America after living in England for decades. Some are hysterical. I enjoyed it -and laughed out loud in the airport until people aked me if I was OK - because I like the deadpan English humor style he writes with. Not to mention the fact that he has no qualms about sharing his small public humiliations to make a story funnier. Poor guy. He seems to have Mr. Bean's bad luck, but with Mark Twain's eloquence, lucky for us.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 2 more book reviews
This is an extremely humorous and insightful account of Bill Bryson's return to America after living in England for 20 years. Never has small town America looked this good, or hilarious. This is a joy to read - I'm only posting it because I also own the book in hardback, and I wanted to share.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 216 more book reviews
A funny account of the authors return to the wonders of America after twenty years in England.
reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 22 more book reviews
Great travel writing; funny.
laura0218 avatar reviewed I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away on + 21 more book reviews
A series of columns written for a British newspaper, describing the author's return to the US after 20 years in Britain. Hilarious insight to American culture & customs.