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Summary: Bryson Finds Love at Last
Review: For most Americans - and probably for most Europeans, too - Australia is a big, roughly circular blank spot on the map. For us, it's an easy-to-defend territory in Risk, and the source of many a bad Down Under joke - a country that's gone to another planet, but occasionally sends back bands and boomerangs.Bill Bryson doesn't see Australia like that. Strange to say - *very* strange, if you've read his other travel books - Bryson actually seems to like, even love, Australia. He certainly relishes traveling through it and revels in the odd little facts he unearths. This makes for a touching travel book rather different than his previous works. In a Sunburned Country is actually extremely different than, for example, A Walk in the Woods. The primary focus of Walk was the humor and the experiences, not the Applachian Trail, and certainly not America or Americans. In Sunburned, Bryson has produced a much more straightforward travelogue more concerned with little museums and cheap hotels than with the inside of his own head. It's still funny, of course, and it's still got a lot of Bryson in it - his reactions to the museums (he loved every one of 'em), his reactions to the hotels (if you're going to Darwin, better check out this book first), and his inexplicable ability to find danger and injury in places where other people are fine (the dogs in the park, petrol in the outback). This is by no means an in-depth exploration of Australia; in fact, it could be subtitled "Australia: Only the Good Parts." Bryson just gives hints about the darker side of modern Australians (a man in a train who says that all Aborogines should be hanged), then hastily retreats to another museum. It's as though he's reluctant to let his fantasy of Perfect Australia be tainted. However, it's engrossing both as armchair travel and as humor, and that, as we all know, is a perfect combination. And if the government of Australia owes Bryson a hearty thank-you for this book, so what? (One last note: he's done a book and a half with Stephen Katz, who is in his own way delightful. But if Bryson has any sense at all, he'll take Alan Sherwin along on his next book trip. Bryson is always better with a companion, a foil, and Sherwin is perfect for that. In addition, Sherwin doesn't appear to hold a grudge, which is essential for someone who is traveling with Bryson. In Sunburned, many of the funniest and best bits involve Sherwin, even though he's in less than a fifth of book.)
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Summary: A wonderful travel book! I'm packing my bags!
Review: The only reason I first picked up this book is because I heard so much buzz about it. I found Australia to be a mildly interesting country and a place I'd love to visit, but would I really want to listen to someone describe their travels there? YES. Bill Bryson made me crack up laughing as he worked he away across the continent known as Australia. From Uluru to Sydney and all the way to lonely Perth, I found myself utterly wrapped up in Bryson's tales of his travels, which included sprinklings of history, plant and animal life, and racism. Except for a dry area in the middle, I found the book to be rather fast moving. If you want to read a wonderfully concise, witty writer, and get a real feel to Australia, pick up this book!
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Summary: STOP THE PRESSES he has already published this book
Review: I was shocked to read this book. It seemed familiar, very familiar. I had already read it!!! I thought this was a new book by Bryson on Australia. But the same book was also published prior under another title: "Bill Bryson Down Under". So if you read that - as I had - this is the same book but (just) with a new cover and name. Here is my review already posted for that book also sold at Amazon.com. I first found this book at the Melbourne airport where there were piles of these books with bright yellow covers flying off the shelves to eager buyers. The new book has a blue cover - by the way with a kangaroo I was in a hurry at the time and on this trip did not see much of Australia. In any case this is a wonderful book and made up for a lack of travel time. It is really excellent. Bryson travels around Australia like he does in England and Europe in other books and gives a sort of diary of his daily activities, all in minute detail and with much humor. Unlike those other books this is a car and plane trip. It present a picture of day to day life around the wilds of Australia - especially some of the more famous spots such as Alice Springs, Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Outback, Queensland, the Victoria coast, Surfers Paradise, etc. It wants to make you follow in his steps and re-trace his travels, pub by pub or through each isolated Chinese restaurant and small museum in the outback. Just a superb and entertaining book. Jack in Toronto
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Summary: It's a big country...*somebody* has to travel it
Review: I have a great deal of affection for Bill Bryson's writings. I'm a long-time fan of travel essays, but I always cringe at those that take their subjects too seriously...reflecting solely on the majesty, history, culture, and tradition of a place. I want to shout at these writers: C'mon! You're looking for a clean public toilet too, just like the rest of us! Bill Bryson isn't the only humorous travel writer, but he's one of the most effective at taking the p*ss out of travel as a holy grail. He's well informed and read on his subjects, but not afraid to say he's forgotten the name of Australia's Prime Minister (and reflect that that says a lot about the rest of the world's focus on Australia in the global stage). He's curious and willing to try new things like body surfing, but not too proud to let you know he's dead rotten at it. He'll seek out exotic wildlife, and then retreat quickly to safety if it's venomous. He loves to try out the local cuisine, but spends much of his time looking for a cold beer. In short, he's someone *I'd* like to travel with--informed, funny, and personable. He's less grumpy than usual (then again, these travels are less physical arduous than hiking the Appalachian Trail in "A Walk Through the Woods"). His anecdotes are entertaining and informative. I read this book the weekend before the airing of the PBS mega-series on Australia, and learned much more (and laughed a whole lot more too) from Bryson than from Robert Hughes. From the big cities to the Outback Bryson travels (sometimes in a good nature, sometimes in a humorous grumpiness), talking to the people we wish we'd meet on our travels, doing the things we'd like to do, and asking the questions only a man with the outspokenness of an American but the politeness of an Englishman could ask. Which is not to say the whole book is a laugh riot. He's remarkably effective discussing the treatment of Australia's Aborigine tribes by modern culture, and the self-fulfilling prophecy of the country's educational failure in teaching the Aborigines' next generation. That's the mark of the best travel writer, in my view: he makes you laugh, he makes you think, he teaches you something, and best of all, he makes you long to visit and experience the country for yourself.
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Summary: A place we really don't know...
Review: I picked up a copy of In A Sunburned Country and like usual, when I get hooked into a book I quickly devour it. Then there is a slight mourning time afterwards because I wanted to keep reading more. Bill Bryson's newest book takes a look at the land down under, Australia. Having read A Walk in the Woods I expected Sunburned to be a great read and I wasn't disapponted. He conveys the danger of land in very clear terms, yet makes you aware of it's inherent charm. I'll confess to little interest in traveling there before reading Sunburned, not even for a good reason, I'd just hate the idea of being in an enclosed space for the the 24 hours the trip takes. But having finished Sunburned I'd like to give it a try sometime, though I think it would be in their winter season. As Bryson tells the story of his travels he conveys his mistakes and disasters in a way that you can imagine standing next to him in the middle of the Outback wondering if he will indeed run out of gas before making it to the next town. He also informs us about the history and hardship of the land. It does in a sense lead us to understand the rye Australian humor and perpetual cheer, to be bluntly put, smile we are here today and you never know when a shark, jellyfish, snake, spider, or other wild creature may make you lunch. Last and certainly not least his style of prose is fun to read. Perhaps it's his two decades of living in England that makes his writing engaging, but what ever it is he captures the readers attention and drops him into the story of the place be it the woods or the Outback. Looking for a good summer read for travel or even a bit of engaging writing then pick up this book. ps- One rather minor complaint, the abrupt change between some chapters could have flowed alittle better.
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Summary: On my way
Review: This is the 1st Bill Bryson book I've read, and already I love the guy!!! Easy read, VERY informative, and funny! I will not depart from this world without first having experienced Australia, thanks to Bill....!!! I will soon be reading his other works during my summer vacations.
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Summary: Will make you wish you were there!
Review: This book is an excellent introduction to this vast country that is Australia. In his journal, Bryson recounts all of his adventures and all of his yawns while down under. And he goes everywhere too! Whatever part of Australia you might be interested in whether it be Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, Alice Springs, Perth or Surfer's Paradise it's all in this book. Unlike most travel companions that try to convince you that every spot is worth your time, Bryson is brutally honest. If a place is boring and the pits, he'll let you know. I definitely recommend this book both as a travel guide and as a comic adventure. Bill Bryson's writing style is hilarious. The only people I might not recommend this book to are those who might not have the time or financial resources to ever go to Australia. After reading In a Sunburned Country, you'll wish you were there.
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Summary: Thanks Bill!
Review: A new Bill Bryson book is always a treat of the highest magnitude. I preordered this book and counted down the days until its arrival. This book was as wonderful as his previous efforts, in fact, maybe even more so because it hit so close to home. As a former Sydney gal, I miss my homeland and Mr. Bryson reminded me of why. He takes the reader on a journey that most people (including most Aussies) would never go on; Australians tend to travel abroad before exploring their own country. I think anyone who reads this book will want to actually travel to this beautiful country and explore its riches. The reader will discover that there's more to Australia than Kangaroos and Foster's Beer (which no self-respecting Aussie would ever drink.) The author introduces us to the colorful locals and explains in painful, yet hilarious detail, how he gets from place to place. He has toned down the sarcasm for this book, and one almost gets the impression that he just likes the place too darn much. This book will not disappoint fans of his previous books. Thank you, Mr. Bryson, for writing a humorous, yet flattering book about the most under-appreciated country on the planet!
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Summary: A most engaging travelogue
Review: Bill Bryson manages to convey wit, humor, insight, and information in a way that is unmatched. He's every bit the ideal travelling companion. I found this book to be thoroughly engaging and informative, and I was sorry to finish it.
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Summary: Great style, very conversational
Review: I have started buying Bryson's books because I enjoy is conversational style. Not heavy on details, just wit and wisdom with a few thought provoking moments thrown in. An entertaining read - would be a GREAT beach book if you, like me, take along a book to pass the idle relaxation times.
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