tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post1553271134633672950..comments2023-06-28T11:47:06.208-04:00Comments on a book a week: Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill BrysonAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330550798080469047noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-35333305769846911842010-11-10T15:34:53.989-05:002010-11-10T15:34:53.989-05:00Jeanne, I think this is probably not a book for an...Jeanne, I think this is probably not a book for anyone with any post-secondary familiarity with Shakespeare's life. It's pretty basic, which I think would be good for, say, high schoolers doing a project, or someone like me with a passing interest but not a lot of serious knowledge. That said, some of his commentary is both amusing and interesting -- and the last chapter is hilarious and pitch-perfect.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330550798080469047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-38154757408148346862010-11-10T08:44:54.523-05:002010-11-10T08:44:54.523-05:00I definitely find Bryson spotty, and I've felt...I definitely find Bryson spotty, and I've felt a bit snotty about this book--what could it say that I don't already know--but I am SO glad to hear he comes down on the side of Shakespeare writing the plays. (Although if there were no alternate theories, reading Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair wouldn't be half so much fun!)Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-72040816370934290742010-11-09T21:48:35.824-05:002010-11-09T21:48:35.824-05:00Stephanie, your comment came in after I'd star...Stephanie, your comment came in after I'd started replying to Nymeth! Yes, I think if you enjoy Bryson, this is a good bet. I haven't read/listened to The Mother Tongue yet, but I think I have a digital audio version of it from my library. Perhaps it will be my next audiobook.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330550798080469047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-41131087782482916532010-11-09T19:58:29.254-05:002010-11-09T19:58:29.254-05:00Ha! I love it.
I haven't tried Notes from a ...Ha! I love it. <br /><br />I haven't tried Notes from a Small Island yet. I'm not sure which one I'll go for next; I get the impression from many reviews I've seen that his body of work is a little spotty as to quality.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330550798080469047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-48414606211100485512010-11-09T19:54:13.217-05:002010-11-09T19:54:13.217-05:00This sounds terrific. I am a fan of Bill Bryson si...This sounds terrific. I am a fan of Bill Bryson since reading The Mother Tongue. Terrific review!Stephaniehttp://laughingstars.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6907747392138991807.post-16838679002814260072010-11-09T15:17:22.093-05:002010-11-09T15:17:22.093-05:00I can't resist commenting with this:
Six is t...I can't resist commenting with this:<br /><br />Six is the number of surviving signatures in Shakespeare's own hand, and the number of surviving signatures in Shakespeare's own hand is six. Seven it is not, and neither is it five, unless you add one and proceed to make it six. Okay sorry I'll stop now :P In all seriously, I also enjoyed this a lot. It made me see Bryson in a new light, after a pretty meh experience with Notes from a Small Island.Ana S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.com