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jmadigan
  • Rated 4 stars

One thing I like about Bill Bryson is that he operates under a variety of nonfiction genres. He's done books on linguistics, history, science, and travel. In The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid he tackles a memoir, which is a word I can never reliably spell. Bryson (or his editors) can,...

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  • Joshua W
      • Rated 5 stars

    "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" is a semi-biographical book regarding Bill Bryson's childhood of growing up in Des Moines, Iowa in the 1950's. While the book is a grand 387 pages it reads easily and quick because of the funny situations he went through while growing up. I personally found the book a great read which I will probably find myself looking at in later years. As a young Bill Bryson would say " You don't mess with the Thunderbolt Kid."

    Joshua W wrote this review 4 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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    Dana Ross
      • Rated 5 stars

    Super great reminesence of America growing up since the 50's.
    Silly fun and profound.

    Dana Ross wrote this review 6 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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    jan t
      • Rated 0 stars

    Not that funny,.

    jan t wrote this review Thursday, December 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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    Caitlin D
      • Rated 5 stars

    I love reading biographies and autobiographies and The Thunderbolt Kid, by Bill Bryson, in particular is one of my favourites. It follows his life growing up in Des Moines, Illinois. The witty way Bryson provides a commentary for his early life had me in stitches with every new anecdote. It's also easy to relate to the colourful tales whether very specifically or just the general feelings he had at the time. One of the best stories for me was when he talks about how his mother always forgot that he was repulsed by cottage cheese and every night she would serve it to him and every night he would have to relive the horrible memories he had that made him gag every time he saw cottage cheese. If you're looking for a good laugh this approximately 200 page book is definitely something you should look into.

    Caitlin D wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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    Sam W
      • Rated 5 stars

    This is by far the funniest book I have ever read. It is a three hundred page comedy. The book is full of hilarious adventures and experiences of a kid growing up in the 1950s. So many of the adventures in the book, teens can still experience today. The book also has witty observations of life through the 1950s to present day. The observations at times are even informative while still be clever and funny. One of the authors (Bill Bryson) most clever quotes being: " It was erected in 1932 and has been causing them ever since."

    Sam W wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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    Andrea C
      • Rated 5 stars

    I am a huge fan of Bill Bryson, and this is probably the best yet I've read. He gives a humorous, slightly exaggerated account of growing up in the 1950's, smack dab in middle of the midwest (Des Moines, IA) and about a changing world. As somewhat of a traditionalist and with a very similar writing style, I loved every bit of this. Parts are somewhat sentimental, parts are hilarious, and nearly all was very familiar and a wonderful read.

    Andrea C wrote this review Monday, November 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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    Kim J
      • Rated 4 stars

    I loved this memoir of 50's kitsch interspersed with facts and newspaper clippings. Something I'll encourage my parents, who actually lived through the time period to read.

    Kim J wrote this review Thursday, November 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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    Erin B
      • Rated 4 stars

    It's funny.

    Erin B wrote this review Monday, November 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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    Bewicks W
      • Rated 1 stars

    Too many boogers.

    Bewicks W wrote this review Monday, November 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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    Meghan R
      • Rated 4 stars

    Funny, even better if you're from Des Moines.

    Meghan R wrote this review Sunday, November 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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