Such Miserable Weather

by Dom Joly

Dom Joly has itchy feet. Again. He wants to get away. But, at the same time, something is nagging at him. He’s pretty sure he’s taken the country he lives in, England, for granted. As the 18th-century Italian playwright, Carlo Goldoni once 'A wise traveller never despises his own country.' But that was alright for Carlo. He lived in Venice.

Mystifyingly, 37.9 million visit England each year. Why? There’s basically nothing here. What are they looking for, and what do they find? Dom decides to try to find out. To do something he’d never considered to treat England as he would any other country. Surely there’s more to England than a slightly dull, green and pleasant land. Surely, it’s not just fish and chips, Shakespeare and the queen. Is it?

Maybe not, but there is one English cliché that’s definitely such miserable weather.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

Audible Audio

Published June 24, 2021

Reviews

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to make of this Audible Original. This is billed as a sort of reverse travelogue: somebody incredibly well-travelled (Dom Joly) decides to visit England as a tourist for the first time.

Whilst Dom Joly recognises his own privilege - boarding school, nannies, etc - I still found myself saying “really?!” Not one little city break or country weekend, ever? Even Centerparcs couldn’t tempt him?!

The issue, it transpires, is that Dom Joly doesn’t think he is a tourist, as becomes evident when he talks in this book of walking into Bletchley Park “behind some gormless tourists,” in the manner of somebody who believes themselves to be stuck in traffic, but definitely not traffic themselves.

This book could be aptly renamed Person Who Already Believes England Is Crap Visits England’s Crappest Towns To Confirm Already-Held View.

That being said, as a cynical ode to crapness, it is quite funny. I’m just not sure it knew what it wanted to be.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure how to rate this. It was certainly entertaining, and it made me chuckle, though the chuckle was often uneasy because the humour was a bit mean, dare I say rather snobbish. But then I have never come across Dom Joly before, perhaps this is his signature style, his ‘act’. I was interested in the premise - having lived outside my country of origin for well over a decade, I also find myself wondering whether I could grow to love the U.K. again, even after the devastations of brexit and the ravages of austerity, covid, and Mr Johnson’s non existent moral compass. I’m not sure Joly even tried to convince me that anywhere in the U.K. was somewhere to look forward to, though he put in a good final word for Cheltenham, which is something.

[minnajee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Äänikirja Jolyn matkailusta kotimaassaan just koronapandemian kynnyksellä. Tuttua hupaisaa kerrontaa ja eläväistä luentaa.

[Miki Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this after seeing Dom Jolly on his tour. I love to travel and it is really interesting to hear his unique spin on the quirky parts of England. This are the kind of things I would go and visit myself. His travels in the book took place in the time leading up to the first lockdown and in the background he observes the shops being sold out of hand sanitiser, bumping elbows instead of shaking hands and the mention of the first Covid deaths.
Definitely worth a read.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually read a (signed) hardback copy but I still "heard" the author's sardonic narration, albeit in my head! Not as many laugh out loud moments as I'd perhaps expected but it was interesting and informative.

[Sheldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dom knocks out another travel book whilst touring the UK promoting his last travel book. Bit lazy in the approach, but has enough humour to make it a worthwhile listen.

[Mark Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why there is only audiobook option on here as I read a physical copy.
Book was ok, he seems a bit disparaging just for the sake of it at points and there is too much name-dropping.

[Robert Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this from Dom at a festival when I was bit p****d. Glad I did, even if it was a pain lugging it around all day