Search - The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America

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 to read. Yes, Bryson is frequently critical, but it's important to note that he's an equal-opportunity offender. Wherever he goes he brings his decidedly sarcastic wit, but he also balances criticism with admiration. This is not a book with a weighty message about humanity or morality, but it is a fun read to pick up and put down at leisure. And the ability to dive in and out is one of the beautiful things about this book; one can enjoy it and put it aside at will, and it takes little time to become reengaged in Bryson's prose.

A quick read...it totally sucked me in. Now I've got a serious case of wanderlust and desperately want to take a long roadtrip. Too bad gas is so much more expensive now than when Bryson took his trip!

He's very cynical, which is fine for a short article but very tiring for a long book. It started to seem like he was purposely driving around looking for things not to like. It was like being on vacation with my dad. Not fun.

For quite some time I've been wanting to take a road trip across our great nation, but this book is about all I'm able to afford right now. The travelogue unfolds across thirty-eight states as the author weaves his way in and out of small towns across the back roads of America. Stopping at landmarks and visiting tourist attractions along the way from Des Moines, Iowa (where he was raised) to South Carolina, onward throughout New England, west to California and then "home" again - Bill Bryson's keen observation and hilarious depiction of people and places had this armchair traveler laughing out loud the entire journey! Like any good vacation, I was sad to see it end.

Yo! Bryson's writing is always entertaining and informative...his newer views of America through the English filters he's gained are spot on and (dare I say it?) more mature...

Fun read, though not as good as A Walk in the Woods. Lost Continent gets a little repetitive at times, which is understandable since it's Bryson on a solitary journey. Would have liked a Stephen Katz-type character to liven things up.