The Lost Continent
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The Lost Continent
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Narrated by:
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Kerry Shale
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By:
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Bill Bryson
About this listen
In an ageing Chevrolet Chevette, he drove nearly 14,000 miles through 38 states to compile this hilarious and perceptive state-of-the-nation report on small-town America.
From the Deep South to the Wild West, from Elvis' birthplace through to Custer's Last Stand, Bryson visits places he re-named Dullard, Coma, and Doldrum (so the residents don't sue or come after him with baseball bats). But his hopes of finding the American dream end in a nightmare of greed, ignorance, and pollution. This is a wickedly witty and savagely funny assessment of a country lost to itself, and to him.
Travel through small-town America with Kerry Shale's popular BBC Radio 4 reading of Bill Bryson's comic travelogue.
©1993, 2003 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)1993, 2003 BBC Audiobooks Ltd
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What listeners say about The Lost Continent
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J T Bradley
- 18-10-21
Just as funny as I remember
Listened to this on radio 4 in the car back in the day and remembered it as being extremely funny and erudite. Still in the car now with my son splitting his sides with laughter seems to have not lost any of it's charm. Kerry Shale is a star narrator!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nick Olson
- 30-06-24
Will I finish it ?
Bill's writing struggles to shine through the narrator. It is very unusual for me to write a review after such a short time listening. In fact it's a first..... I'm not sure I can force myself to go on. Plenty of the usual observational humour but the narrator has a party to go to and rushes along to finish early. Will he run out of steam or be pulled up by an editor... I doubt it.
I am stuck now between "you bought it, so listen" and " you'll never know if you don't finish it".
After such a poor start it can only get better......
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ms. Isla A. Scott
- 22-07-24
Amusing listen
I enjoyed listening to this while reading another (print) book. Its an easy listen and its quite amusing at times - maybe not outright 'laugh out loud' material but it certainly made me smile a number of times. The narrator I didn't really like, as he seemed to rush through the book a bit. I checked and it was on 1.0 speed, yet it sounded like they were rushing through reading each page, which is a shame. I imagine some people may be (somewhat?) offended by the perhaps somewhat over exaggerated southern 'drawl' type accents featured. I'd say more but it'd count as spoilers, so I won't. Its not a total piss take, I know the author did live in the UK for some time and I found it interesting to hear his reaction to being back in his childhood 'home country', seeing what had changed. An interesting, informative and sometimes somewhat amusing listen, I'd recommend this.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Ewen
- 09-08-24
casual racism
I loved this book when it first came out but now it is absolutely hideous. sarcastic and unpleasant. also the narration is read it breakneck speed making it almost impossible to follow in any detail.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- rogtheone
- 12-12-24
This version isn't great
I like all of Bryson and love most. Unfortunately as others have remarked, this version is read simply far too fast. Articulately and well pronounced, easy to understand if your first language is English, yes. But.
Shame because it does spoil it. Audiobooks are for relaxation. I'm afraid I shall probably think twice if I notice this narrator and I want a relaxing listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mikey d
- 01-09-15
Fabulous
Have read this book, twice. It is excellent. All his books at. A walk in the woods, is my favourite,, it's the top of my dessert island discs list. 5 star
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. Radford
- 30-07-15
Bill'd Be Better
Like all Bill Bryson writing this is witty, dry and very entertaining. I'm not convinced that Kerry Shale is the best choice of reader. The writing stands on its own, it doesn't need the heavy stresses that Shale uses.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Max
- 07-02-12
Kerry Shales is the best
This is the only Bill Bryson book I can find here read by Kerry Shales. When I Was younger we used to listen to Bryson in the car - and all were read by Kerry Shales. His delivery, and his character voices are superb and really make me laugh and listen.
I haven't listened to the other narrator but I'm worried it won't live up to the superb Shales.
Audible PLEASE FIND THE OTHER BOOKS HE'S NARRATED!
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rob
- 10-10-17
Blast from the past
I remember listening to this with my mum when we were on a long car journey, and for some strange reason I tried to find it, I had given up until I thought I would try the previews, and there was Kerry Shale's familiar voice!!
Kerry Shale is a great narrator, and could make the phonebook sound funny, so added to Bill Bryson' s wit it makes a good 2 hours pastime!
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- John McGeoch
- 26-09-24
Not good
Very poorly read, couldn't stand it, didn't even get through the first chapter! Recemtly listened to The Body by Bill Bryson, much better. Disappointed in this.
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