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Summary: Bill Bryson Rides Again
Review: Readers of Bill Bryson are familiar with his quirky and reflective sense of humor. Be prepared to grip your sides and have tears come to your eyes as Bryson describes the rudeness hotel staff in Darwin, his fear of the ocean in Sydney, and fear of the potently dangerous Australian animals in the outback. Australia has long been regarded by the world as mysterious, unusual, and generally forgotten. Bryson brings Australia to the top of the world as he examines Australian phenomenon in-depth. How could a non-govenment atom bomb blow up in the desert unnoticed? How can a prime minister disappear into the surf never to be seen again, and for that matter, why would Melbourne name a municipal swimming pool after him? Why are meat pies, although full of fat, gravy, and are generally unappealing, such a big hit with the Aussie population. Who are these mysterious Australians and how did Australia become such a prosperous nation when the settlers were convicts ranging from age 8-72, and had virtually no skills that would contribute to making any economy at all? Bryson bravely delves into these questions and more, and answers them with the whole hearted, candid style that is uniquely his own. Although this book is incredibly funny, it is also very insightful. Only Bill Bryson could describe Australia in such a colorful light. He covers subjects such as Australian history and Austrialian historians views of Australian history, what it meant to be an Australian fifty years ago and what it means today, travel and tourism, and much, much more. This book is essential for anyone who has ever had a love affair with the mysterious land down under. I can't find the words to accurately praise this book. All I can say is I recommend 110%. Whether or not you have ever gone to Oz, or whether or not you plan on going, if you are looking for information about Australia far beyond what is offered in the typical narrative or travel guide, this book is for you.
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Summary: In a Sunburned Country
Review: This is a very funny book. Easy read with heaps of humor. Having been to Australia twice and preparing for my third journey, I found Bryson's book quite accurate about the Aussies. They are wonderful people, it is a wonderful country, and this is a wonderful book.
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Summary: You'll enjoy this book.
Review: I had to read A Walk In The Woods for a grad school class. I liked Bryson's sense of humor and decided to give another book a try. In a Sunburned Country continued Bryson's wacky adventures but in a new land. It was entertaining and educational. I almost feel like I'm watching the travel channel while I read his books. I recommend it for a quick read.
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Summary: Down Under with the Master
Review: Another excellent read...informative, humorous, entertaining!
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Summary: Good Book Mate
Review: This is terrific travel literature. I had never read Bryson before, but I cannot wait to read his other books. In this book, Bryson travels to Australia multiple time to see everything he can of the "Sunburned Country," which proves to be an enormous, though empty, home to fascinating people, places and things. Using his terrific sense of humor, Bryson chronicles his tours through the cities and countryside, all the while stopping at every roadside attraction he can find. He also gives excellent historical background with adds rich texture to his stories. Bryson writes very well, tells engaging tales and really makes Australia look beautiful, welcoming and completely unique. This is not an on-the-beaten-path tourist guide, rather it is a terrific journal of the real Australia that only ambitious tourists usually find, but he makes it seem like a wonderful place. I would recommend this as the first book for would be Australia visitors (it will make you very excited for your trip) or people looking for an introduction to Bryson. It is, however, a great book for anyone looking for an enjoyable book to read, regardless of their interest in the land down under and I would recommend its purchase to anyone.
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Summary: The Best Travel Book Ever
Review: To start this book, Bill Bryson is landing in Sydney, Australia. He remembers how much he loves Australia, and can't wait to start his journey. For most of the first third of the book he visits the major populated areas. Throughout this portion and the rest of the book, he peppers the text with little facts here and there to keep you attentive. He elaborates on some of these facts and tells stories in some parts.
While in the populated areas of Australia, he mentions a lot of great things to do that aren't always common knowledge among tourists. For example, he visits the most filmed and photographed bar in Australia. It is in Cook. A town named after Australia's equivalent to Christopher Columbus. Also he visits a large casino to discover Australia is the world's largest gambler. "Australia has less than 1 percent of the world's population, but more than 20 percent of its slot machines."
After he is through with the populated areas, he moves on to the less populated and lesser known areas. These are actually where the most interesting things are. He drives everywhere except for a short spat on The India Pacific train. The places he visits are few and far between so to fill the boring time while he is driving, he tells many stories about Australia and its rich and entertaining history. A quick example is how one of the Prime ministers of Australia just disappeared one day after he was caught by the undertow while walking the beach and dragged out to sea. The two most interesting parts of the trip occur in the unpopulated "bush" as the outback is known. They are when he visits Ayers Rock, a historic megalith worshipped by the Aborigines, and a living culture of Stromatolites. Stromatolites are the most primitive living things on earth.
What I love about this book is how Bill Bryson is just so average. He seems like a regular guy. I can relate to him. He is just hilarious. He isn't afraid to make fun of anything, not even the National Anthem of Australia. Plus he gives a great insight into what Australia has to offer. Think of what I've already mentioned and that isn't even including what he had to say about the Great Barrier Reef.
The only thing I didn't like, was that despite his wit and humor, it got slow at some spots. It was just slightly boring when he elaborated too much on something I didn't care much about. But that only happened rarely, and didn't take away from the book.
Overall, I love this book. I'm going to Australia this summer and hope to see some of the things that I read about. I would recommend this book to anyone. To be honest though it probably isn't for younger kids, due to some adult language. I must say this is the best travel book I have ever read. It is also a great book to read even if you aren't planning on going to Australia.
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Summary: Funny but sloppy with the facts
Review: Bryson is as funny and as lively as ever. Laugh-out-loud funny. But this is one of the few books I've ever quit before finishing. Bryson makes too many factual mistakes and mis-shadings of his subjects. He clearly tried to assimilate too much material too fast as a writer when he was travelling; the result is bad history and bad journalism, though good comedy. Nothing I spotted was consequential by itself, but by the third little error in 30 pages -- and who knows what else I didn't spot - I figured I might end up mistaken about Australia when I get there myself if I kept reading. Read this book if you want to smile, not if you want to learn and get things right. Think of reading this book like watching a sitcom about Australia; you'll laugh and pick up a few things, but never forget it's just entertainment.
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Summary: Terrific
Review: This book is *not* a thorough examination of Australian history, geography, sports, contributions to science, Aboriginal relations, social peculiarities, or tourist destinations. It is, however, loaded with fascinating facts and anecdotes about all of these things, and is utterly engaging and well written. It's hilarious, too, and all in all, the best book I've read in months.
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Summary: A Superb CD Book Listening Experience
Review: I love to hear Bill Bryson read his books aloud. His 10 disc monologue on Australia was, by turns, fascinating, LOL amusing, astonishing, informative, good natured and good company. I won't describe the book's content here - others have done a fine job in their reviews. My focus is, instead, on the experience of LISTENING to Bill Bryson. I regularly listen to books on CD as I drive around Upstate New York for work. After spending many hundreds of hours hearing recordings of books, I fancy myself an experienced and discriminating listener. IMHO, Bryson is an engaging and sociable reader as well as a superb (virtual) travelling companion. I believe he genuinely enjoys the act of reading aloud for others. After hearing this generous yet informal treatment, I am reluctant to read the print verion. I fear that the inevitable change in my experience of Bryson's Voice, caused by experiencing him visually instead of with my ears, would strike me as a loss. Listening to the CD version of In a Sunburned Country, it was my happy experience to feel that Bryson was sharing his stories of Australia directly with me.
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Summary: Adventures of an antisocial wimp
Review: Bill Bryson spends most of his nights in Australia in a back of a country pub, alone, reading a paperback about the dangers of crocodiles, jelly fish or some other creatures; moaning about the probability of meeting them and, consequently, never stepping a foot outside his motel room. In the day, he drives the highways, which is his idea of an adventure. Never taking a backroad for fear of being stuck and dying of dehydration, rarely stepping outside for fear of being bit by a snake, he wanders through Australia like a ghost, never making a connection with anybody or anything. However, his overview of an Australian history, based on the books he read, is quite good. So probably the writer should do what he does best - sit in the reading room of the library, far from dangers of the outside world, read and write. And my recommedation for the title of his next book - "Adventures in a paperback country".
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