The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

by Bill Bryson | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 0552772542 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Karen-H of Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on 7/27/2013
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Karen-H from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, July 27, 2013
Some say that the first hint that Bill Bryson was not of Planet Earth came when his mother sent him to school in lime-green Capri pants. Others think it all started with his discovery, at the age of six, of a woollen jersey of rare fineness. Across the moth-holed chest was a golden thunderbolt. It may have looked like an old college football sweater, but young Bryson knew better. It was obviously the Sacred Jersey of Zap, and proved that he had been placed with this innocuous family in the middle of America to fly, become invisible, shoot guns out of people's hands from a distance, and wear his underpants over his jeans in the manner of Superman.

Bill Bryson's first travel book opened with the immortal line, 'I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to.' In his deeply funny new memoir, he travels back in time to explore the ordinary kid he once was, and the curious world of 1950s America. It was a happy time, when almost everything was good for you, including DDT, cigarettes and nuclear fallout. This is a book about growing up in a specific time and place. But in Bryson's hands, it becomes everyone's story, one that will speak volumes - especially to anyone who has ever been young.

Journal Entry 2 by Katweeble at Wolverhampton, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, July 27, 2013
I love his other books so I am looking forward to reading this - but it may take me some time to get to it

Journal Entry 3 by Katweeble at Towcester, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 18, 2015
A laugh out loud book in many places - and an interesting reflection on how the places we grew up in change often beyond any recognition. The innocence of life in the 1950's is described with great affection. The respect Bill has for his parents is very evident too. A great read

Journal Entry 4 by sandyundead at Hartwell, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Normally I love Bill Bryson's books, but although I laughed out loud a couple of times while reading this, I have to say that I wasn't as interested in it as I have been in his other books. It was a fascinating insight into American life in the 50s, but the Thunderbolt Kid stuff was pretty annoying.
I'm going to release it in Durham tomorrow. I was lucky enough to be here when Bill Bryson was chancellor of the university and I got my degree from him in 2008, so it seems right to leave it here :)

Journal Entry 5 by wingAnonymousFinderwing at Durham, County Durham United Kingdom on Friday, September 4, 2015
I found the book on palace green at Durham cathedral just before going into theuniversity library to see the Magna Carta exhibition. I intend to leave it in North Teesside hospital, it should make someone happy.

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.