Amazon Category:  Travel Publisher: iUniverse ISBN-10:  0595191967 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 140 Copyright: Jul 1 2001 A ramble through London, Wales, and Yorkshire with wry humor, lively characters and sometimes misshapen adventures. A FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST is a morning meal served at many British bed & breakfasts. This meal has all the trimmings: coffee, tea, orange juice, fruit, cereal, eggs, sausages, bacon, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms and a host of other offerings including orange marmalade and brown sauce. A ramble might be a wandering narrative, but it can also be a leisurely excursion, taking in the pleasures of the land and the peoples of the region and enjoying every minute of it (well, almost). In this trek through London, Cardiff, York, and Thirsk, you’ll encounter — along with the author and his brother, Bill — historical tourist sites, the London Underground, and public houses. Nods are given to The Beatles, Monty Python, James Herriot and ABBA (really!) -also read about an impatient train car attendant, short-legged field trippers, Americans attempting to find some real food in London, and many other lively characters and situations. Excerpt "I was glad I still had my morning bacon in my pocket; I was ready for a snack. I pulled a surplus of necessities out of my pockets, items that I had stashed away for the day, before I recognized the greasy napkin where my snack waited for me. There was a couple in their mid 60’s in the foldyard who were also watching the movie. They gave me glances out of the corners of their eyes and cleared their throats while I rustled around, pulling items out of my pockets and stuffing them away again. As I started munching on my slice of bacon, I heard a throat clearing again and then a sigh. They must have been downhearted because they didn’t think to bring along a snack like I did. At the movie’s end, I hurried out the foldyard door, giving a quick smile to the couple with whom I had shared the movie. I hoped that my flashing of teeth would send a message saying that I was sorry I hadn’t brought enough bacon for everybody."

BOOK REVIEW by David Ross, Publisher, Britain Express, http://www.britainexpress.com
American author Todd Wisti is a man with an eye for the comic and a sense of timing. In this enjoyable trek through the highs and lows of travel in the UK he explores culture, history and where to find a good beer; managing to do so while retaining the ability to laugh at himself and his attempts to come to grips with the strange and wonderful English-ness of it all! The book follows Todd and his big brother Bill as they discover that it "isn't done" to ask for ice water at a London B&B, and that "antique" Toilet signs at a flea market are perhaps not so old as all that. Full English Breakfast is easy to read. If you are new to travel in the UK, or planning your first trip, you'll find the book full of useful tips and pointers such as where to go for tickets and meals at Victoria Station in London. If you're a seasoned traveler you'll find yourself, as I did, nodding your head and saying to yourself, "yes, I did that too," or "I thought the same thing!" Too often travel books focus on the great attractions to visit and ignore the necessities of life, such as finding tea that doesn't taste like used dishwater or making sure that your cash machine card works in a small Yorkshire village. Then there are the waiters that never seem to be able to decipher the peculiarities of an American accent. Todd Wisti has done an admirable job of telling the tale of his journeys through England and Wales with just the right human touch. Full English Breakfast is less filling than its culinary namesake and easy to devour at a single sitting.

Highly Recommended: by Jennie S. Bev, Managing Editor of Bookreviewclub.com
Amazingly enjoyable and captivating! Reading Wisti’s Full English Breakfast would make the readers feel as if they were traveling together. His observation over English and Scottish culture (author's note: Scottish culture???), history and lifestyle is extremely candid and witty. Obviously, this traveler (or should I call him “explorer”?) enjoyed every second of his journey. Whether you’ve been to London, Wales and Yorkshire or not, Todd will take you to the homes of the Royal Family, The Beatles, Monty Python, James Herriot and gazillions of British subjects with fresh eyes. You will laugh, cringe and –even—salivate waiting for English breakfast to be served. Wisti’s writing style is another admirable thing worthy of mentioning. It’s succinct and energetic, truly reflecting the quality of an award-winning author, which in many ways resembles that of his idol’s: James Herriot. I read this book in only one sitting. I’m sure you will too.

Minnesota author - born in Oroville, breakfasts in London by Dan Barnett - Book Columnist Chico (CA) Enterprise Record
Todd Wisti was born in Oroville but now lives in Columbia Heights, Minn., pretty much on purpose. Recently he traveled with his big-bearded brother Bill to England and Wales and kept a travel journal. That journal is now a book. "Full English Breakfast: A Ramble Through London, Wales, and Yorkshire: Travel, Adventures, and History" is available in paperback for $11.95 from iUniverse.com, as well as bn.com and amazon.com. Wisti's goal was to write a humorous travelogue, and though parts are indeed amusing the various incidents themselves are far from extraordinary. That means the author's style must carry the burden of hooking the reader, but I found the narrator not all that congenial. The story begins at a London Bed and Breakfast in late autumn, and the consternation of the kitchen staff because Wisti had asked for a glass of ice water with breakfast. That, apparently, is a no-no. "I half-supposed the proprietors of the B&B would walk up to the table and ask me to return to my room, pack my belongings, and leave at once. Or possibly my presence would be requested in the kitchen in order for me to make a formal apology to the staff for my actions. Or maybe, and this is where I gasp, I would be informed that ice costs extra. "I made a mental note to make an attempt to not ask for ice water with my full English breakfast again. ... On the other hand, maybe something I should try next time I'm feeling a little spirited is to once again ask for ice water with a meal. But, when I receive the glass of ice water I could look at it, tilt my head sideways, close an eye halfway, really study the glass hard, sigh, and ask the server, "If it's not much trouble, could I have just one more ice cube, please?' No. I could never do that. Well, maybe." Wisti and his brother spend about a week touring the British Isles, but while Bill was more interested in relaxing and meeting with a business associate, Todd focused on visiting Big Ben and journeying to Thirsk, the small-town home of the James Herriot Museum (in honor of the author of "All Creatures Great and Small"). Wisti has the curious combination of typical tourist's sensibilities and a puckish rock 'n' roll attitude. As an author's note says, he's been a "bass player for various rock 'n' roll ensembles over a twelve year period (including the Minneapolis based bands The Masterbeats and The Landsliders)" and "he wrote and co-wrote pop songs for the unsuspecting but forgiving public. His attention turned toward creative nonfiction at North Hennepin Community College, after receiving an award and placement of a short story in the college's quarterly magazine." At one point on the trip Wisti's brother suggests they find "Abbey Road Studies, the place where that old band, The Beatles, used to record. I was all for that. The Beatles have always been at or near the top of my favorite band list. When I was two years old I used to sit out on the swing in the back yard and warble "I Want to Hold Your Hand' over and over again, much to the amusement of our next door neighbor, Mrs. Finch, who would listen in on my impromptu concerts." The two found the "famous zebra crosswalk that is pictured on the Abbey Road album cover." Finally they were there: "A couple doors down from the crosswalk is a nondescript white building with a small lighted sign above the doorway that reads: "Abbey Road Studies.' We had found it. There are a number of graffiti scribblings on the low, concrete wall that is in front of the studio offices. ... I've always like the Beatles, but I was content with my visit to this shrine after snapping a couple pictures, and walking across the zebra crossing." See? A touristy rock 'n' roller! Many of the B&B's mentioned in the book offer that "full English breakfast": "Toast, eggs, bacon, Cumberland sausages, tomatoes, and mushrooms." Todd is also on the outlook for British pubs, and in the odd index to the book there are 13 such entries with 10 different beers mentioned. Todd is also interested in the toilets (at least nine references are indexed), but, well, we won't go there. Maalox, anyone?