In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.76 You Save: $11.23 (70%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of In a Sunburned Country
Book Review: Must read for all travelers
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book in England, at the airport, for something to read on the way home. Having traveled to Australia a few years ago, I thought it would be nice to read someone else's impressions of the country. I loved it! Some parts had me laughing out loud so hard I was crying (which I am sure the flight attendants thought strange) while insights about the treatment of the Aborigines inspired some serious reflection. This is not a 'how-to' guide for planning a trip to Oz, but it is wonderful at giving gut reactions, background information and history, as well as the pure, honest emotions involved in traveling somewhere far from home. So, after talking to your travel agent and reading Fodor's or Lonely Planet's guides... read Bryson before boarding the plane. And if you fly into Sydney, you will know more than the locals about Kingston Smith, for whom the airport is named! Even if you aren't bound for Down Under, Bryson can transport you through the sights, sounds, and conversations that he reports so well.Book Review: If you only read one Bryson book read this one...then you'll read the rest.
Summary: 5 Stars
The editorial reviews do a great summary of the book (though I can't resist mentioning how Australia managed had a Prime Minister who went swimming and just never came back), so I'll focus on comparison to other Bryson books.
I'm a huge Bryson fan and have read everything. This is my favorite. I've already read it twice and am thinking about doing it again. First, Australia is just such a great topic for Bryson. He can make relatively mundane travel (touring the midwest, circling Britain) interesting...look at what he can do with this wonderful exotic place. Second, I think his writing has simply matured. As much as I like "Neither here nor there" and other earlier books, I think Sunburnt and a Short History are just better written, with more finely honed jokes that his earlier books.
Finally, I must say everyone in my family has read this book several times, including my 89-year old aunt. Quotes are a regular part of family dinners. Just a great read.
Book Review: What an entertaining look at Australia!
Summary: 5 Stars
This travelogue was filled with not only anecdotes from the author's trips around the continent/country, but also glimpses into its little known history and a plethora of other interesting facts. I learned a lot - and I have been to Australia before! Bryson's writing felt honest and completely authentic. I imagine that if you were to bump into him at a party, these are the same stories that he would share. I really enjoyed reading this and I am looking forward to reading more of his work!
He brought up the couple who were lost at sea quite a few times throughout the book, and I wonder if this had anything to do with that movie _Open Water_ being made. Bryson certainly seemed fixated by their mystery, and while the movie was not great, it was worth seeing once.
The real highlight of the book, to me, was Bryson's trip through Tennyson Park... I had hoped to hear about some of the dogs of Australia, but after that escapade, I understood why this wasn't included in the book.
Book Review: Witty and accurate!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was born in Australia and spent my first 28 years living in various parts of the country, so I wondered how accurately Bill would portray my old home. Well, he did a fantastic job. His summary of Australian history taught me more than I garnered from years of schooling, and the way he fleshes out the facts with witty vignettes makes them anything but dry. I clearly recognised, not only familiar Australian places, but also the people depicted here. The book had me laughing out loud in places and reading sections to my family. My only negative commment on the book has to do with the chapter that deals with the aborigines. His chief source of information is a lawyer who makes his living representing them legally, not someone who is able to give an unbiased opinion. Without launching my own little political tirade, I thought that this aspect was just a tad one-dimensional and written more for the shock value, rather than in order to present a balanced view of current affairs.
Book Review: In a Sunburned Country
Summary: 5 Stars
Like all of Bill Bryson's books, In a Sunburned Country is a hilarious look at the people and places of another country. In this book, Bryson travels to Australia and has a variety of adventures. He always stumbles finds himself in hilarious and awkward situations. The book is littered with interesting tidbits about the country, from the history of Australia to the animals that inhabit it. Another interesting aspect of his journey is the conversations he has with Australian locals, in both the large cities and the small towns in the middle of the desert. It's interesting to see how they perceive their country and how they view Americans. Lastly, Bryson makes you realize how similar people are in all parts of the world. Though everyones home is a different place, they all have the same feelings about why they call it home and why they love it. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially people interested in travel.
Griffin Mason