Neither Here Nor There is Bryson’s first travel narrative in which he retraces his steps as a youthful backpacker across Europe. This book is funny – and I don’t mean smile bemusedly funny, I mean weep with hysterics funny. Originally published in 1991, there are refreshingly politically incorrect moments which add to its charm (as long as you aren’t easily offended), such as Bryson’s blatant stereotyping of everyone from the French to the Japanese. Bryson’s deadpan humour left me hunched over laughing uncontrollably at cafes and on trains more than once.
[Actually, I must apologise to the poor man on the train to Bromley South who found himself wedged between me, cackling and grinning madly, and a somewhat dishevelled older lady who muttered to herself and would whip out a notebook to write down a series of numbers every few minutes.]
Each chapter is of a different city and you don’t have to read it in order but it’s much funnier if you do. It’s interesting to see how much travel has changed in the past twenty years, especially as he frequently references how different it is from his first experiences in the 70s. Despite mentions of countries, unions and currencies that no longer exist, Neither Here Nor There is still a relevant and entertaining travel narrative and a must-read for anyone heading to Europe.
Travels and Tea Leaves 