Reviews for American Notes

The average rating for American Notes based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-05-03 00:00:00 Joaquin Silveira This can be thought of as an early Bill Bryson, but with sharper penetration. Kipling at his best is a great writer and although this is a youthful example of his work it clearly shows immense potential. He cut his teeth on Indian (as in India not native Americans) journalism and he compares many aspects of American life to the very different culture he was born into. At times funny, and he pulls no punches at a society that seems to have very different values from those of the people under the Raj. Always highly observant and with a brilliant ability to get to the heart of any character he meets on the road. It is great to read a young man's observations that are not coloured by notions of modern-day political correctness. He may have a biassed view because of his youth, but he tells it as it seemed to him then. Surely a journalist's duty. A short, fun read.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-01-22 00:00:00 Pete Taylor Kipling is usually delightful, if somewhat unpredictable, and his wit and grip are as anticipated here. However, this book reads like a bitter rant, rambling, vitriolic, and abrupt. He clearly thought himself superior to this people who were barely a united civilization even yet, ironically lampooning them for taking like attitudes themselves. He writes of 1889 America as Dickens wrote of 1800-20 London, but without the subtlety and with decidedly more venom. The only thing he seemed to like of us was our fishing and our girls.