" This book started out somewhat boring, but interesting. Each chapter explores a different room in a home and explains how each room evolved over centuries to what we know today. Interesting facts are abundant, if not overwhelming. There are some great stories such as how the modern chimney came to be and when glass in windows started becoming prevalent. However, this book slowly sinks into the depths of stomach-churning, nauseating descriptions of Victorian life. I was so completely turned off by Bryson's gory details of the dreary, horror-filled life of 19th-century English citizens that I actually put this book down and I don't expect to finish it. For instance, the chapter entitled "Nursery" was almost totally devoted to recounting the tragedies, misfortunes and abuses of the unfortunate English children of the Victorian era. Bill Bryson really got off track on this one! A more fitting title would be "The Victorians: A Damned Crazy Bunch". "
— Rachel, 2/1/2014