Welcome to Litsy!

This has been on my TBR for a while, and it was an interesting listen to complement my goal of slowly reading more Shakespeare. With a duration of about 5 and a half hours, it is a brief biography that often emphasizes how little is actually known about Shakespeare while also providing a strong argument to support that Shakespeare truly wrote all the works credited to him.

#nonfiction #audiobook

Switching it up for #Deweys24hourreadathon. Bryson is always loads of fun. Hope everyone is having a great reading day/night! #DeweysOct2020 #readathon

One for the #ShakespeareReadAlong gang 🗡️💘💀😬

I wanted to like this so much more than I did. It‘s mildly amusing as a Bryson book, mildly interesting as a biography. The repeated emphasis on how unknowable Shakespeare is made for a challenging time reading about how little is knowable...if that makes sense.

18/20 for #bookspinbonanza, 8/15 for #15Books15Weeks

I‘m passingly familiar with Pearl Buck but have never heard of the others. Also, I‘ve seen this argument before but using the Newbery Award as the exemplar. Valid either way.

I‘m very glad that Anne and Agnes (ANN-uss) are no longer interchangeable. Please don‘t call me Agnes. 🤨 I have a hard enough time getting people to pronounce and spell it correctly as it is.

This whole section and following about playwrights and poets stealing plot devices, characters, and whole lines seems very timely, in the context of the fanfic brouhaha.

And I‘m done! Whew. It‘s just under 200 pages and for the most part it was fine but I‘m not big on non fiction (I need dialogue and action to stay engaged) and I didn‘t really learn anything about the Bard that I didn‘t already know but I did enjoy the history of what England was like during his time. But it‘s the first book for my IRL book group this year and I‘m glad I stuck with it. Between a pick and a so-so for me. #24b4Monday

Finally home from work and a nice dinner out with the hubby, and an ready to start my #24b4Monday I have some nice romance lined up but first, I need to finish up Shakespeare for my book group on Monday. I‘m so close, 34 pages left! @Andrew65

Took my lunch a little late today. So I‘m by myself. I‘ve figured if I can read a chapter a day, I‘ll be done on Saturday and book group isn‘t until Monday. After a rough start, the book is growing on me.

Working this weekend so I have today off. It‘s about 7 degrees out so I actually had time to make a hot breakfast. Biscuits, cheesy eggs, leftover smoked sausage. Not pictured: OJ.

This is a must read if you like Shakespeare and especially if you don‘t. He is not the flawless poet or playwright that we have been sold. This is a clear eyed review of his life and times that explores the “did he write them all” theories and tells you alot about what you thought you knew. Hint: that portrait of him may not be him. Someone just said that it was. Read, Read, Read it!

I learned everything I didn't know that I wanted to know about Shakespeare! Bill Bryson researches his topics to death, and his books are must-reads for me. I cannot recommend this one enough!

Delightful summary of what we know for sure about Shakespeare. Bryson is always great to listen to.

My first audio book! 🎧
Been a diehard reader for 22years now, and never took the audio plunge before now. Hit a wall at work, and music just wasn‘t cutting it. Got this, The Sea of Tranquility(my faaaav), and Crazy Rich Asians(another fav!).

A short, readable biography. It helped me consolidate the various facts I have picked up about Shakespeare. As far as I can tell Bryson keeps to facts and points out what is speculation.

Image: isn't the Dutch cover brilliant?

1. Classic: Shakespeare; Modern: Zadie Smith (Modern Classic: Sylvia Plath)

2. 90% of the time home alone with a book, 10% out with friends.

3. 1920s, especially if it's set in NYC or Paris!

4. @Kelican17 @Melissa_J

#TrivialThursday @GarthRanzz

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is fluid and easy to read, whilst being packed full of facts. I loved the rounded views that the author gave for all arguments. Picked this up because I love Shakespeare. Have left wanting to read more by Bill Bryson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I still haven't finished my last year's #tbrbingo card. 🙈

I read this Bryson the last days & even if it is not my favourite one,I really liked it.I have read so much about Shakespeare (even if I read only one of his plays),that Bryson couldn't tell me anything new.But his kind of writing is very funny one the one hand & on the other he is really informative.
If anyone needs a book to start with Shakespeare & his time,I really recommend this one.

Since I already knew, that I will have to work this weekend, I didn't join #24in48.

But now after work is done, I sit on the couch and try to find some time for reading and relaxing. 💞

It's time to sit down, enjoy the silence and do what I wanted to do the whole day READ!!! #fridayreads

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I am spending the next year studying Shakespeare and this was my first book about his life! I think Bryson does a great job presenting his life and the various controversies surrounding his works. It‘s a quick read and an informative read. #myyearwithwill

Where would we be without Shakespeare‘s words?????

Finally getting back to my reading 😀😀😀! All curled up with my kindle and ready to learn more about Will!!!

Spending my Sunday morning with the Bard. I am genuinely enjoying spending my time reading, watching, and listening to his works.

Fun facts about London Bridge! I would like to see the job description for the keeper of the heads.

Growing up in England under Queen Elizabeth was costly.

Bryson is a good writer and I am enjoying this book so far. It is going fast, so I hope to finish up and move onto the next Shakespeare book.

My year with Will has begun!!!!

Part 3 (the last) of my enormous Book Outlet purchase. Storage may be a bit of an issue. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Finished the first book for #deweysreadathon #readathon #deweys24hr

I've been reading for about 4 hrs... @DeweysReadathon

Book store stop number one produced these lovelies. The most expensive one was $7.00! I love previously loved books. I picked up one for the Man Cub as well because he told me the other day he wanted the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is fluid and easy to read, whilst being packed full of facts. I loved the rounded views that the author gave for all arguments. Picked this up because I love Shakespeare. Have left wanting to read more by Bill Bryson.

Picked this gem up from the library today. Was suppose to be teaching but there is always 5 minutes to indulge my addiction. #bookworm #bookriot #BillBryson #bookaddict

Succinct biography of Shakespeare. Bryson begins by telling us the very few facts we know about Shakespeare and fills out the rest with discussion of Shakespeare's England, contemporaries, and works. So many crazy facts (in the Elizabethan countryside, the average life expectancy was 27!!). Very readable & enjoyable.

It's amazing to me that for all Shakespeare's notoriety we know so little about him!

A very good biography oh Shakespeare.