It’s that time of year, so I think I’ll have a few more stories on nifty gifties for the holiday season, then get back to retro-wonderland. I am obsessed with houses and especially, the history of what is in them, and why. In case you haven’t noticed. A few weeks ago, I saw that one of my favorite writers of all time, Bill Bryson, had written a book seeking answers to this very question. The book is At Home: A Short History of Private Life. Yes, I bought a copy off the Amazon — using the wee earnings that I get from my Pamazon store — my favorite house books — here on this blog. Bryson’s At Home is available in both hard cover and paperback. It’s 532 pages long… I am on page 178 so far… and yes, I am liking this book very much. Bill Bryson’s books are always very… genial, bemused… easy to read. So don’t let the 532 pages put you off, this one is fun. If, like me, you are a house nerd geek dork, I think you will like it.
Reader Interactions
6 comments
tenantproof says
I loved this book Pam it is a great read about how homes and home maintenance changed over the centuries. It is a fun, amusing tour of history and homemaking. I also recommend
House Thinking: A Room-by-Room Look at How We Live by Winifred Gallagher
Bungalow Bathrooms by Jane Powell (lots of historic bathroom pics)
Bungalow Kitchen by Jane Powell (lots of historic kitchen pics)
Make Your House do the Housework by Don Aslett
A Home of Her Own by Nancy R. Hiller
pam kueber says
Thanks for all the tips, tenantproof. I have the Jane Powell books, but need to add the others to my list. My summer reading had just presented itself!
Andi says
Pam,
Not sure what rock I’ve been hiding under but Bill Bryson was not on my radar; never heard of him before your post. However, this book sounded intriguing & I ordered it. LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I’m on page 200 or so and it just keeps getting better. I love the way he uses the house and the things found there to thread together what is essentially a history of the world—and makes in fun and fascinating all at the same time.
Thanks so much for the post…I’ll be searching out more Bill Bryson soon!
Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares says
I, too, love Bill Bryson, especially enjoying the one where he hiked the Appalachian trail with his out-of-shape friend. I don’t think you need to be a house geek / nerd / dork to enjoy his writing. Thanks for the recommendation!
Nathan says
I laughed out loud while reading A Walk in the Woods many times – often while reading at a restaurant during lunch. Now I finally know what to tell my wife when she asks me what I want for Christmas.
Kate Fowle Meleney says
Thanks for the suggestion, Pam – he’s such fun to read. We read In a Sunburned Country before a trip to Australia and planned our stops based on his adventures there. A Walk in the Woods is also hilarious!