Have you ever wondered why a hall is?Did you know a hall was once a home? How did the first sofa come about and why does a fork have four tines?
From the origins of the first mousetrap, to mouse fur being used as eyebrows, Bill Bryson takes us on a “history of the world by walking from room to room” in his trivia filled tome, At Home: A Short History of Private LIfe.
For our trip up north a few weeks ago, I checked out the audio version of At Home, read by the author, to keep us entertained for the 800 round trip miles we would cover. At 12 CD’s of unabridged words, we barely got half way through. It has taken me until today, with the due date looming, to finish the book.
It was worth every minute.
Whenever I head up to see our Minnesota limb of the family tree, I try to have an audio book with. The public library or Cracker Barrel always accommodate my whims, and off I go. Traveling alone brings about a different kind of “read” than when the Antler Man and I go up together. It is a fun challenge to select something we both will like. At Home proved to be just the right pick.
From Chippendale furniture to shellac, we travelled the miles, with an “aha” or “I didn’t know that” to chuckles at Bryson’s pithy remarks. We enjoyed listening together as the author took us from room to room in his Victorian manse and from century to century in any manner of things he chose to explore and expose. The drawing room and the kitchen, the stairs and the bedroom, and any number of items found in them or on them are exposed. We learned of fashions and fads, medicine and codes of conduct, and the good, the bad and the ugly of centuries.
My book group read Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods several years ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it. When I saw At Home on the library shelf, I was certain that both Tom and I would enjoy it. It moves along at a good pace and the reader can easily skip a chapter (like the one on rats) without losing the gist of the book.
What more can I say? If you have a chance, I encourage you to read At Home: A Short History of Private Life and discover via Bill Bryson how the history of world always finds its way into our homes.
This sounds like a fun way to pass a long journey.
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It really is, Juliet.
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Of course, immediately upon reading your recommendation, Penny, I headed straight to Amazon to read the first few pages of the book! 🙂
Very intriguing, to say the least. I find it interesting that since I’ve connected with several of you in the blogging community these last few months, I’ve been finding all manner of wonderful books, and learning about so many things I would never have thought to research on my own. Thanks for this post. I will probably be adding Mr. Bryson’s book (or maybe several of them) to my ever-lengthening list of things to be read!
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I feel the same way, Karen. I rarely look to book reviews in newspaper or magazines anymore as I find the ones I read on blogs so much more informative and lead me to books other than best sellers. Not that they aren’t worth reading, they are, but there are so many good books and ideas out there that I would never find if not for this medium. Isn’t it fun how looking for one thing leads to another and another? I hope you enjoy this book.
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I haven’t been a Bryson fan in the past. I have found his observations from his stays in various countries ( UK and Australia) to be based on somewhat cliched humour….often quite funny….but causing me to be almost annoyed at myself for finding them amusing. Anyway, that aside, I know he writes well, does have amazing observational skills, and I do really like the sound of this one. I will certainly be giving it a try …so thanks. I also love the idea of choosing excatly the right book for the long car journey. It can change the whole experience into something worthwhile in itself. J.
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I have heard the same observation from others, Janice. This one reads more like a book of trivia and you can pick and choose what interests you. There were some things that really amazed me, then others that had Tom nodding his head, so it was good for the two of us. It really did make for an interesting ride.
We have your rain here today. I hope it has cleared up for you.
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This book sounds wonderful. I will have to find a copy. I love books about houses and gardens. I also enjoy learning the history of language and words. Thanks for this recommendation. Have a lovely weekend!
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Thank you, Sunday. More of an encyclopedia of interesting tidbits, it was an enlightening read for both Tom and I. I wish you a lovely weekend as well.
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After your mention the other day, this sounds like a ‘must’, Penny! And you know how we love our audiobooks. Love Bill Bryson.
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I DO know how you love your audiobooks, Kate, and if you love Bill Bryson, this one is for you and Phil. It is chock full of interesting facts. I can see you taking off and writing on all of them.
I hope you Mum is improving.
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How interesting! This book sounds like fun. I love books with interesting facts and why something came to be stories. Sometimes an odd fact or two comes out of my head. It surprises even me. I guess that is what comes of teaching elementary school for so many years.
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I think Bill Bryson would have been an interesting child to teach, Janet. While everyone one else was learning to write with a pencil, I imagine him being the child trying to figure out where lead came from. I am sure would find many of his chapters interesting, not to mention his sense of humor.
Did you know the “gin” part of cotton gin is just shortened from “engine”?
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I’m a long-time Bill Bryson fan, Penny, ever since I heard him reading one of his own books on the radio here. This sounds interesting and fun and I will look out for it. I do enjoy your book recommendations. 🙂
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He’s quite fun to listen to, isn’t he Perpetua? I think I enjoyed it more on audio than if I had actually read it, but, it would be fun to have the book close at hand for references. At any rate, as a Bill Bryson fan, I do think you would enjoy this one. Thank you, Perpetua.
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What a great review. It sounds like this book is full of interesting and amazing facts xx
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Thank you, Charlie. Indeed, At Home is chock full of facts about so many things we take for granted.
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I like Bill Bryson but haven’t read this one — thanks for the reminder. I never listen to audio books, don’t know why, but it’s neat to know he has a good reading voice..
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This was a very good one of Bill Bryson’s to listen to, Sallie. I’m not sure if I would have gotten it as an audio book is we weren’t both traveling together. I’m so glad it presented itself to me when it did, however.
I sometimes get audio books at Cracker Barrel. You pay for it with your credit card and then most of it is reimbursed when you return it to any Cracker Barrel. Good for traveling. They usually have best sellers, but, the selection is good.
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