Don't Mention the War!: A Shameful European Adventure

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time with this one
Review: British authors Ferris and Bassett make sophomoric remarks and observations while traveling through several European countries. This is supposed to be humorous (and if you don't 'get' their juvenile brand of humor, why, that must be because you are American). The book is filled with little jabs at Americans, and one can only be left wondering why these Brits feel themselves to be so superior to the Americans and others they encounter on their travels. Surely it can't be due to their sense of humor or writing ability, which is junior-high level at best.

Rating:
Summary: Shameful and immoral . . . but it has its bad points, too.
Review: Hell, the only bad thing I can think of is that it's too short. I could have gone on reading this for weeks. I've never read anything quite as brave as Don't Mention the War. These guys deserve a medal for pushing the boundaries of humorous travel writing out so far. It's certainly not going to be appreciated by anyone who takes themselves too seriously, but for the rest of us, including the authors, there's a lot of fun to be had by causing chaos across Europe. Sure, they take some swipes as us Americans, but gee, don't we deserve it sometimes? Their humor is never vicious towards us, and is often more self-deprecating than offensive. If you can handle travel writing flavored with a heavy dollop of irony, sandwiched between hilarious incidents and cheeky attitudes, you guys will enjoy this incredible book.

Rating:
Summary: I mentioned the war once, but I think I got away with it.
Review: The travels described in Don't Mention The War came about as a result of writing the preceding book, Don't Lean Out of the Window. Writing that first book brought back so many wonderful memories of busking around Europe, getting arrested in beautiful locations, scavenging unsuccessfully for girls and getting diseased feet that we wanted to experience it all again. But by the time we came to write about the second trip Bill Bryson had come onto the scene and taken up all the space on the world's travel bookshelves. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to read some of his work in order to emulate a writing style that was proving so popular with those who knew no better. I think Don't Mention The War takes Bryson's sardonicism and adapts it for a more youthful readership, resulting in a book that it is deliberately offensive to everyone on the planet, but does so in a charming, ironic way.

Rating:
Summary: If Monty Python were still going...
Review: Then they would be writing books like this ! It is a great account of the highs and lows of being young and free, wondering through popular European cities. It is a must for any young person coming to Europe and if you just want a laugh, well that to. It will make you look at buskers in a different light ! And it's brilliant continuation to "Don't Lean Out of the Window!". Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: If Monty Python were still going...
Review: Then they would be writing books like this ! It is a great account of the highs and lows of being young and free, wondering through popular European cities. It is a must for any young person coming to Europe and if you just want a laugh, well that to. It will make you look at buskers in a different light ! And it's brilliant continuation to "Don't Lean Out of the Window!". Enjoy.