Comments (28)

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1 to 25 of 28 items
Feb 18, 2024
not a very good travel writer he tries to turn every experience into something funny. The happy isles of oceania by Paul Theroux is very much better. When Bryson wrote about the UK he claimed the Wigan Pier was a large barn full of tat…
Oct 09, 2023scaiola rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Typical Bill Bryson. Very informative with a comedic twist.
Apr 14, 2023Henrietta7 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Irresistible. Fascinating account of historical treks and current locations, especially in the area north of Alice Springs discovered by the explorer Charles Sturt.
Sep 26, 2022mandychough rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Hilarious. Great information about Australia.
Mar 11, 2022kkirby221 rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
I found the book boring and hard to get through. Did not complete.
May 12, 2021Kmoellering rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I loved this book. I found the authors's sunny cynicism really aligned with my personality and it was just hysterical. Great read. I've never been to Australia and it's not on my agenda any time soon, so it was a just-for-fun read for…
Aug 05, 2020andreaj3 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Was planning on going to Australia this year, but in the wake of the pandemic, had to settle for an "imagination vacation" with this book. And what an enjoyable trip it was! I loved the "No BS" approach to the information presented. …
May 13, 2020SandraMB rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
It's perfect! I love Bryson's writing style. He's so informative and inquisitive, yet easy to read. I learned so much about Australia. What an incredibly unique country and continent. I plan to keep reading more of his books.
Jan 30, 2020KellyLatimer rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
This book was a little disappointing. I'd previously only read 'A Walk in the Woods' by this author, and thought it was excellent, funny and informative, and was hoping for another homerun from Bryson. I found that this book lacked the…
May 17, 2019
LHTL friday newsletter funniest book
Oct 28, 2018SurreyLibraries_Reads rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This book follows Bill Bryson’s travels across Australia. He stops at several major cities and makes his way through the Outback, visiting both well-known and long-forgotten points of interest. Along the way, he recites wonderful bits of…
Oct 22, 2018Hillsboro_RobP rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Bryson weaves in plenty of history, biology, and humor in his travel narrative that has officially made me afraid of crocodiles and any snake I find in Australia.
Jul 06, 2018SCL_BethZ rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A great armchair travel book. Our staff brought it to a read-aloud program for seniors and the selections we read generated lots of interest and discussion. It's getting to be a bit out of date, but still a lovely read.
Jun 06, 2018graciemc rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A bit out of date, but worth a read nonetheless. It's very funny, I found myself laughing out loud at various points in the book. I learned a lot about Australia too. Bryson weaves history, facts and stats effortlessly into this…
Mar 21, 2018SPPL_János rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Bryson tackles Australia with wit and wonder, musing on its bounty of poisonous animals, its utopian chumminess, its addled explorers, the inexplicability of cricket, and its delightful inhabitants. Quite possibly his most enjoyable book…
Jan 31, 2018swheeler89 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
If you like Bryson, you'll enjoy this one. He keeps his readers laughing while venturing to a new and, in this case, very far off lands. While he can get dramatic at time (no Bill, you will not die of shark attack nor snake bite) he weaves…
Jul 31, 2017TootinMoose rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Great Bryson. Not as crabby as he is in later books. He does a great job balancing travel narrative, personal experience, and historical connections. Definitely worth your time to read it.
Jun 13, 2017QueenSheba_0 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The book is a bit dated now but still well worth a read. You'll never find a more entertaining travel companion than Bill Bryson and the glimpses of Australia that he offers are quite intriguing.
Feb 24, 2017
Still a great read if a tad dated. So many changes in the interval -communications for one- must have altered that lovely country too.
Jul 02, 2015elwright rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Brilliant, laugh-out-loud funny, classic Bryson.
Sep 10, 2014hey44 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I’d left this book, freshly checked out from the library and not yet cracked open, on the dining table and gone upstairs, leaving my partner still seated at the table finishing his morning coffee. A few short minutes later, I heard some…
Sep 09, 2012
I have no plans to go to Australia (I wish), just happen to pick it up off a family members coffee table...and could not put it down. I laughed throughout and learned a ton. Most importantly I was entertained on my long bus rides:) I am…
sheilastewart
Jun 16, 2012
I loved this book. Read it just before travelling to Australia - its full of anecdotes, history, and travel information. Well written and humerous. Recommend it to anyone planning to travel down under.
bmetcalf64
Feb 23, 2012bmetcalf64 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Loved this book. I knew next to nothing about Australia. Now I know there are lots of poisonous and dangerous things, and that it's little explored and vast. Well, and a lot more besides. It's my first book by Bryson. I will…
brendanjon
Apr 26, 2011brendanjon rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite all time books, it makes me want to move to Australia.