Sign in with Facebook
Jeff 's Reviews > In a Sunburned Country
In a Sunburned Country
by
by
Bill Bryson never seems to use the same approach to each of his books. Is this book going to be snarky Bill? Is this going to be funny Bill? Is this going to be funny, yet informative Bill? Is this going to be snarky, yet informative Bill? I could go on, but my hands would start to cramp up with the unlimited combinations.
This one is reverential, informative, and mostly self-effacing humor Bill. Bill loves Australians, but he hates the fact that the country is over-run with hordes of killer species and there’s a big hot-assed desert in the middle of the continent.
Australians are lovely people. The one’s I’ve known were incredibly friendly and generous. I worked with a couple who were touring the United States and working at odd jobs along the way. When they were leaving, they gave me their contact information and invited me to visit at any time. If they are reading this, my family will be down under in a week or so and plan to stay for about a month. We don’t eat much beyond shrimp and steak and don’t wish to try vegemite, so thanks and keep that stuff to yourself. So good onya, mates and crikey and stuff!!
Although it’s a topic that needs examining, Bryson’s writing on the treatment of Aborigines seems out of place and shrill compared with the Australian lovefest and repeated warnings about deadly jelly fish, killer spiders and gun-toting snakes.
This was a buddy read with la doyenne of non-fiction buddy reads: Le Trish.
This one is reverential, informative, and mostly self-effacing humor Bill. Bill loves Australians, but he hates the fact that the country is over-run with hordes of killer species and there’s a big hot-assed desert in the middle of the continent.
Australians are lovely people. The one’s I’ve known were incredibly friendly and generous. I worked with a couple who were touring the United States and working at odd jobs along the way. When they were leaving, they gave me their contact information and invited me to visit at any time. If they are reading this, my family will be down under in a week or so and plan to stay for about a month. We don’t eat much beyond shrimp and steak and don’t wish to try vegemite, so thanks and keep that stuff to yourself. So good onya, mates and crikey and stuff!!
Although it’s a topic that needs examining, Bryson’s writing on the treatment of Aborigines seems out of place and shrill compared with the Australian lovefest and repeated warnings about deadly jelly fish, killer spiders and gun-toting snakes.
This was a buddy read with la doyenne of non-fiction buddy reads: Le Trish.
Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read
In a Sunburned Country.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
March 16, 2015
– Shelved
June 1, 2018
–
Started Reading
June 1, 2018
–
0.0%
"Very soon, Le Trish and I journey Down Under in search of vegemite sandwiches, vicious kangaroos, rabid platypus (platypii??) and Chris Hemsworth, who gets a throat punch from me.
He knows why.
"
page
0
He knows why.
"
"
June 12, 2018
–
3.58%
"Australia has made some fabulous contributions to the world of entertainment, but nothing tops Skippy, the Bush Kangaroo.
Nothing.
"
page
12
Nothing.
"
"
"
"
"
June 29, 2018
–
41.49%
"Bryson again brings up the topic of acclimatization � foolishly introducing species that aren’t native to the continent � usually with unforeseen consequences. His favorite example involves 24 bunnies that quickly multiplied and overran Australia. I picture it happening like this�
"
page
139
"
July 2, 2018
–
46.57%
"Fact: Australia was overrun by huge lobsters in the early �70’s. Australians would chase them down with huge vats of melted butter in tow.
"
page
156
"
July 6, 2018
–
57.31%
"
More freakishly weird Australian fauna: The Giant Earthworm, which will one day, of course, inevitably lead to, you guessed it, TREMORS!!
"
page
192
More freakishly weird Australian fauna: The Giant Earthworm, which will one day, of course, inevitably lead to, you guessed it, TREMORS!!
"
July 10, 2018
–
69.85%
"Box Jellyfish, the most deadly jellyfish on Earth, overrun Darwin!!!
"
page
234
"
July 11, 2018
–
75.82%
"In the line to get a hotel room, Bryson gets stuck behind the dude who asks way too many questions. Throat punching is a viable option here, Bill.
"
page
254
"
September 10, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-7 of 7 (7 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Jessaka
(new)
-
rated it 2 stars
Jun 04, 2018 10:21AM
this book didn't cut it for me. will be interested in reading the rest of your review.
reply
|
flag
I am going into with no expectations either way, so... :)
Jeff wrote: "I am going into with no expectations either way, so... :)"Good idea to do that.
Doyenne? Aw, shucks! I'm blushing!Although it’s a topic that needs examining, Bryson’s writing on the treatment of Aborigines seems out of place and shrill compared with the Australian lovefest and repeated warnings about deadly jelly fish, killer spiders and gun-toting snakes.
Actually, I thought it was good that he included at least a few critical lines about it so it wasn't just fanboying. After all, I can be a fan of something or someone and yet still be critical about it/them. Or maybe he was required to do it by the publisher. *shrugs*
It was probably done to salve his conscience after his snarky book about traveling around the USA.
*lol* That one really hit a nerve, didn't it? Probably better that I didn't read it.
BTW: having just visited the country, and being led on an interesting tour of Melbourne’s downtown “alley cafes� and other glorious landmarks there by a well informed guide, I was corrected in my use of the word “aborigines.� Apparently, the CORRECT reference is aboriginal, as in reference to racial origins. The reference, “aborigines� is considered an offensive racial slur, much as the “n word.� This was an aside spoken to me by the kind, informative guide after I misspoke through sheer ignorance. I was grateful to be corrected and informed.
