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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “The funniest book I have ever read. I literally laughed out loud all the way through the book.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “I read this book when I was planning a trip to Australia. Honestly, the book didn't excite me about going. But who knew that waltzing matilda was about a delusional man dancing with his sleeping bag?” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Hysterical. Not only did I feel like I had journeyed through Australia myself after reading it, I laughed my head off in the process. Love his books!”
Ms. C wrote this review 10 hours ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Jen M said: Rating: 4 stars
Author, Author Shelf wrote this review 5 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Review: In this installment of travel writing, Bryson shares with the reader his love of and fascination with the island/country/continent of Australia. Anecdotes ranging from his intense fascination with all creatures and flora capable of killing him in this empty space, to the often friendly but occasionally confusing encounters with the residents of the outback's small towns provide amusing insight into his adventures and the clues to understanding why he loves the country so much.
This is my third Bryson book, and my second audiobook, and I think I prefer the audiobook format. There is something about his delivery...so dry and matter-of-fact...that just helps to enhance the hilarity of his storytelling. His voice really enabled me to imagine the odd situations he found himself in, and I felt that I was sitting at a dinner table swapping tall tales rather than just listening to someone read words on paper.
I've long wanted to visit Australia myself, and though I don't have the same fascination with the crocodiles or box jellyfish that he seems to, listening to the stories had me rushing to Google image animals and trees mentioned so that I could picture it better and dream of when I might see them for myself.
Bradb said:
I reread In a Sunburned Country, and obviously, I loved it the first time, I loved it just as much the second time. I listened to the audiobook which was read by Bryson which adds so much to the reading. Definitely love this book - one of my top three with A Walk in th Woods and A Short History (which I'll be rereading for the third time (unprecedented) in January.)
”
“great read for anyone who has been or would like to visit Australia”
Mike S wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Very funny especially when you are a foreigner traveling around Australia.”
Lynda T wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Jen M said: 4 stars
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In this installment of travel writing, Bryson shares with the reader his love of and fascination with the island/country/continent of Australia. Anecdotes ranging from his intense fascination with all creatures and flora capable of killing him in this empty space, to the often friendly but occasionally confusing encounters with the residents of the outback's small towns provide amusing insight into his adventures and the clues to understanding why he loves the country so much.
This is my third Bryson book, and my second audiobook, and I think I prefer the audiobook format. There is something about his delivery...so dry and matter-of-fact...that just helps to enhance the hilarity of his storytelling. His voice really enabled me to imagine the odd situations he found himself in, and I felt that I was sitting at a dinner table swapping tall tales rather than just listening to someone read words on paper.
I've long wanted to visit Australia myself, and though I don't have the same fascination with the crocodiles or box jellyfish that he seems to, listening to the stories had me rushing to Google image animals and trees mentioned so that I could picture it better and dream of when I might see them for myself.
”
“In this installment of travel writing, Bryson shares with the reader his love of and fascination with the island/country/continent of Australia. Anecdotes ranging from his intense fascination with all creatures and flora capable of killing him in this empty space, to the often friendly but occasionally confusing encounters with the residents of the outback's small towns provide amusing insight into his adventures and the clues to understanding why he loves the country so much.
Jen M wrote this review 4 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This is my third Bryson book, and my second audiobook, and I think I prefer the audiobook format. There is something about his delivery...so dry and matter-of-fact...that just helps to enhance the hilarity of his storytelling. His voice really enabled me to imagine the odd situations he found himself in, and I felt that I was sitting at a dinner table swapping tall tales rather than just listening to someone read words on paper.
I've long wanted to visit Australia myself, and though I don't have the same fascination with the crocodiles or box jellyfish that he seems to, listening to the stories had me rushing to Google image animals and trees mentioned so that I could picture it better and dream of when I might see them for myself.”“I read this book when I was planning a trip to Australia. Honestly, the book didn't excite me about going. But who knew that waltzing matilda was about a delusional man dancing with his sleeping bag?”
Hala Y wrote this review Thursday, December 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I found this book while looking for vacation reading, and had no idea of who Bill Bryson was beforehand. Since then, I've read a bit more of his work and at least one kid had a book of his assigned for English class. Who could not be interested in a personable bit of reading about Australia, such a wild place? ”
kirsten a wrote this review Tuesday, December 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Bill Bryson's best, funniest travel diary”
Mark C wrote this review Thursday, November 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“7800 miles of coast line in west australia, 23,000 in total..he went from sydney to melbourne, to canberra to queensland ,to great barriers reef back to sydney fly to darwin, drove down to alice spring, to ayers rock, down to Adelaide, then way up to darwin drove towards perth...
Bonbon wrote this review Sunday, November 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
he covered history, stories about 16+ prime ministers of Aus; he covered dangerous, venomous creatures -, snakes, jellyfish, sharks, crocodiles, spiders in details; he covered plants; he covered the formation of rocks, desserts, stromatolites. He also covered the "biggest" stuff, he covered architects.
I like what he said in the end "the tihng about Australia - that there is such a lot to find in it, but such a lot of it to find it in! you could never see the half of it. .....crocodiles would attack, bush fires would rage, ministers would depart in shame, amazing things would be found in the desert, and possibly lost again, and word of none of this would reach my ears. Life in Aus would go on...."
also not to mention his candid opinion about the aboriginal issues and plenty of Bryson's humour...”
