My Love Affair with England

I loved this book. Having had several Brits recommend Bill Bryson books the last time I was in Britain, I was disappointed that he was rather whine-y and not all that funny. Susan Allen Toth, however, is a kindred spirit. I enjoyed reminiscing based on our shared experiences (the love of English footpaths, and Britain's lovely breakfasts and teas) and look forward to my next trip and trying some of the things I had not experienced before, such as omelettes and gardens.I have travelled to other places and enjoyed them very much, but there is something special about England. This author has a gift for articulating those special qualities. I found myself smiling often as I read these pages and drinking more tea than usual. I would say that this book would be more enjoyable for someone who has already been to England rather than someone who is trying to plan their first visit there. I can't wait to get back to the U.K. -- or to read Ms. Toth's next book -- and I would like the people of Britian to read this book and see that *this*, rather than Bryson's, vision is the one I carry for their lovely isle.

This is a book to sip with your tea. If you like England, you will love this account of such a glorious landscape and its people. On certain days, I miss England a lot, and when I do I pull out my copy of this book and return instantly.

I purchased this book after returning from England where I spent a college term. My experiences in the UK were amazing, and Ms Toth does an excellent job of bringing to life the little things that make England so wonderful. I have probably read the book 10 times, and have never tired of it. Since I can't be in England, the next best thing is traveling through the book. I enjoy her tone, describing her experiences as though to a friend, rather than a cut and dry "go here, see this"- although from some of her descriptions, I have definitely found some places to put on my schedule for my next visit.

Since I won't be able to go to England this year, this book nearly made up for it and I became an armchair traveler instead. The author writes as if she is talking to her best friend about her trips - there were several times when I wanted to chime in or ask her more questions! I am looking forward to reading the other two books she has written about England and would love to be a part of a tour group she leads!

When I read Toth's book, I had not yet read M.F.K. Fisher. Fisher's endorsement of this book is on the cover, and that makes sense to me as there are similarities in their writing styles. Toth has written many articles on her travels in England. She has compiled this information into a number of books. Some the books concentrate on a particular location in Englan -- as she puts it one that fits under your thumbnail when you hold it to a map. This book is a distillation of her various trips to England between 1963 and the early 1990's. Ms. Toth writes autobiographically, sharing her ups and downs. I've learned to listen to what she suggests. Probably the most important chapter in the book, "1984-1992, On the Sunny (If Wrong) Side of the Street--travels with James" tells about life in the fast lane, or wrong lane from the American perspective. A couple of decades ago my husband and I made our first trip to England together (I hadn't read Toth then) and we rented a car. I will never forget our arrival in Bath where my husband jumped out of the car and handed the attendent a 10 pound note to drive it 20 feet and park it. This followed a day of his learning how to negotiate roundabouts and driving on the wrong side of the road while I navigated, the hedgerow slapped the mirror an my side, and I screamed in fear. It was 10 years before we could laugh about our first driving trip in England and we took trains, cabs and buses for a long while, but finally mastered the road only to discover the enormous increase in traffic has made much of southern Engand like LA at rush hour. On my last trip, I went back to subways and trains. If you are a very nervous person or this is your first trip don't rent a car. I enjoyed all the chapters, but I liked the "Among the Alchemillas" best because I've learned Ms Toth knows where to go to find the best gardens. It's not enough to buy a book that lists all 10,000 gardens. I want someone to tell me what they found. As Ms. Toth points out, the English have a different idea of what constitutes a garden. I have followed her footsteps more than once and been rewarded.