Musn't Grumble 'bout Mustn't Grumble - Rated 
Very enjoyable read. It just shows how we have changed into the paranoid nation that we are here in Britain allowing the politicians, the press and reality TV to dictate our behaviour and turn us into a blame culture irresponsible, untrusting society! Well that's a bit harsh to put on the back of one book but it is a good read and does make one realise that things have changed markedly in the last twenty five years and not really always for the better, even though materially we are thriving in our consumerism. That said the book also introduced me to H V Moreton so another exciting avenue to follow but sadly yet another example of our changing lives. I will certainly read other books by Joe Bennett, so get writing Chap!
Ironic title - Rated 
I had high hopes for this book. An Englishman who lived into adulthood in the UK then spent years overseas comes back to the UK. So someone with a nostalgia but also the perspective of an outsider.
I like to know what outsiders think about the UK, even if it's uncomplimentary. It's something Bill Bryson (almost an honorary Brit now but still with his own outsider viewpoint) does very well and this chap was being compared with him so I thought it was worth a go.
Well, I must admit I didn't finish it. I got half way through and then took it to the charity shop. It's very rare for me not to finish a book but this one I just could not bear to go on with.
He seeemed to hate everything and everyone he came across and there was absolutely no humour at all for me. On the rare occasions when he liked someone it passes in the blink of an eye. He did like one place (in Cornwall I think), a place where there were hardly any people. If you are going to write about travel, I think you need to like travelling and also be willing to engage with you people you meet along the way. He doesn't do either.
It was so unrelentingly grumbling that I couldn't take any more and stopped reading it.
As to the comparisons with Bill Bryson, there are things Bill Bryson doesn't like wherever he goes and he talks about them but he does it with humour. He also talks about the things he does like. So I would say forget those comparisons. They aren't relevant. Others may like this as a disgruntled look at the UK today but Bill Bryson it ain't.
Disappointing - Rated
This book was a disappointment throughout. Bennett obviously wanted to follow Morton's trip but it's a shame this his journey had to have so many literary connections. Also, why the need to spend so little time in the north? It's as if he was in a rush to get back to New Zealand. If so, he shouldn't have bothered with this effort.
Not as good as his first, but good - Rated 
This book is a follow up to his Land of two Halves, which is a fine, fine book. If you wish to read a travel book entirely about the place and its culture this may not be for you. With Bennett, you journey more into the guy himself and he is pretty open and honest about his personality. He also explains in this book his tactic. You simply follow Bennett around Britain in a very honest way. When he gets lost and ends up in the wrong place, so do we. When he is bored of a place, we leave it. He has a vague plan, he never promises to follow it. His words are sharp and witty as expected from him. He has opinions. He tells us. He also contradicts himself depending on his mood. He's human.
This is not a learn-about-Britain book. Its about Joe and a factual account of his journey.
Its not as good as Land of Two Halves. Probably because he found it harder in Britain to meet people (couldn't hitch-hike). It also dwells a bit too much on waffling literature. But its still a cracker.
don't buy it - Rated
This book is not about England; it is about the author's grumpy dissatisfaction with almost everything.
I expected to read an interpretation of events, but instead the book offers only blunt statements and the author's dislike about them (e.g. "curry is now England's national dish. I have never liked curry.")
The book is an example of the worst travel writing, offering no insights, only a boring listing of places visited and recording some random irrelevant overheard dialogues.
The author fails to actually follow Morton, and at the same time does not motivate his own route as a valuable alternative, but blames his route on his inability to navigate traffic, or bases it on personal choices that are of no interest to the reader.
This is no travel book, but an excretion of one person's midlife crisis. It is on the whole no pleasure to read.
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