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Trish's Reviews > Down Under
Down Under
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by
Bill Bryson is not exactly known as an adventurer despite having written a few "travel guides". In fact, he's known for being constantly looking up and subsequently freaking out about all sorts of dangers. Him going to Australia ...
... what could possibly go wrong?
I just KNEW this would be fun. Bryson is clumsy, pale and already of a certain age so just picturing him in Australia of all places, among the boogie-board-surfing tanned Aussie hunks made me chuckle.
And I wasn't disappointed. He managed to combine important historical information about the continent's discovery and colonization with chuckle-worthy stories of him freaking out on land and in the water alike.
Through his (mis-)adventures we're taught some of the local slang
meet the truly weird people (you can tell how much the place has shaped them)
and get to travel from one side of Australia to the next - visiting city parks such as Perth's Kings Park, marvelling at sights such as Mount Uluru
encountering living rocks and strange animals and plants along the way, while hearing about people meeting dreadful ends thanks to the most venomous animals on the planet (or for lack of / due to too much water).
Bryson also incorporates political and economical information such as the racism against the Aborigines that is called "prejudice" there (I was very interested to learn about the seizure of children that went on for decades as well as the on-going problems regarding education that apparently also lead to barely any Aborigines working in restaurants, museums or shops to this day) and tells the readers about almost comical contradictions such as Australia being the country with the fewest trees but the biggest exporter of wooden pallets ... in short: we get to know an impossible place.
Alas, he missed out on Bungle Bungle and Kakadu National Park amongst other things but on a whole, I'd say he and therefore we got to see a lot nevertheless. For details of where he was and what he/we encountered along the way, please see my numerous status updates. What is more, I like how he went from freaked out tourist to enamoured enthusiast who is likely to go back there again. Not bad as a crash course about this unique and volatile country/continent and its inhabitants.
This adventure has been proudly presented by Jeff, my non-fic buddy-reader.
... what could possibly go wrong?
I just KNEW this would be fun. Bryson is clumsy, pale and already of a certain age so just picturing him in Australia of all places, among the boogie-board-surfing tanned Aussie hunks made me chuckle.
And I wasn't disappointed. He managed to combine important historical information about the continent's discovery and colonization with chuckle-worthy stories of him freaking out on land and in the water alike.
Through his (mis-)adventures we're taught some of the local slang
meet the truly weird people (you can tell how much the place has shaped them)
and get to travel from one side of Australia to the next - visiting city parks such as Perth's Kings Park, marvelling at sights such as Mount Uluru
encountering living rocks and strange animals and plants along the way, while hearing about people meeting dreadful ends thanks to the most venomous animals on the planet (or for lack of / due to too much water).
Bryson also incorporates political and economical information such as the racism against the Aborigines that is called "prejudice" there (I was very interested to learn about the seizure of children that went on for decades as well as the on-going problems regarding education that apparently also lead to barely any Aborigines working in restaurants, museums or shops to this day) and tells the readers about almost comical contradictions such as Australia being the country with the fewest trees but the biggest exporter of wooden pallets ... in short: we get to know an impossible place.
Alas, he missed out on Bungle Bungle and Kakadu National Park amongst other things but on a whole, I'd say he and therefore we got to see a lot nevertheless. For details of where he was and what he/we encountered along the way, please see my numerous status updates. What is more, I like how he went from freaked out tourist to enamoured enthusiast who is likely to go back there again. Not bad as a crash course about this unique and volatile country/continent and its inhabitants.
This adventure has been proudly presented by Jeff, my non-fic buddy-reader.
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Quotes Trish Liked
“Australians are very unfair in this way. They spend half of any conversation insisting that the country's dangers are vastly overrated and that there's nothing to worry about, and the other half telling you how six months ago their Uncle Bob was driving to Mudgee when a tiger snake slid out from under the dashboard and bit him on the groin, but that it's okay now because he's off the life support machine and they've discovered he can communicate with eye blinks.”
― In a Sunburned Country
― In a Sunburned Country
“But don't worry," she continued. "Most snakes don't want to hurt you. If you're out in the bush and a snake comes along, just stop dead and let it slide over your shoes."
This, I decided, was the least-likely-to-be-followed advice I have ever been given.”
― In a Sunburned Country
This, I decided, was the least-likely-to-be-followed advice I have ever been given.”
― In a Sunburned Country
“No one knows, incidentally, why Australia's spiders are so extravagantly toxic; capturing small insects and injecting them with enough poison to drop a horse would appear to be the most literal case of overkill. Still, it does mean that everyone gives them lots of space.”
― In a Sunburned Country
― In a Sunburned Country
Reading Progress
July 4, 2013
– Shelved
July 4, 2013
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 12, 2018
–
Started Reading
June 12, 2018
–
1.0%
"Are you ready?
I get the feeling that Australia doesn't care if you are. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Knowing Bryson, it'll be very funny to see how he copes with this most volatile of continents (fauna-and-flora-wise). *rubs hands together, grinning evilly*"
I get the feeling that Australia doesn't care if you are. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Knowing Bryson, it'll be very funny to see how he copes with this most volatile of continents (fauna-and-flora-wise). *rubs hands together, grinning evilly*"
June 15, 2018
–
6.0%
"I'm pleased that Bryson researched the history of Australia well enough to know and mention that Captain Cook was NOT the one to actually discover Australia and that he wasn't even a captain when he landed.
But we have to talk about his dig at Bruce Willis action movies. *grumbles*"
But we have to talk about his dig at Bruce Willis action movies. *grumbles*"
June 19, 2018
–
25.0%
"Think you gonna be safe so long as you stay in the cities? You better think again, mate!
"
"
June 23, 2018
–
37.0%
"*sighs deeply*
You know how there are more reboots and remakes right now than ever before? Well, here is another classic they are going to defile: Crocodile Dundee!
No idea if they'll get away with it but there are plans and they apparently have already spoken to a very well-known Australian actor who is said to take up the croc-skin vest and knife. Sorry, Jeff.
"
You know how there are more reboots and remakes right now than ever before? Well, here is another classic they are going to defile: Crocodile Dundee!
No idea if they'll get away with it but there are plans and they apparently have already spoken to a very well-known Australian actor who is said to take up the croc-skin vest and knife. Sorry, Jeff.
"
"
July 8, 2018
–
64.0%
"Bryson keeps travelling from one side of the country to the next, meeting interesting people, hearing all kinds of quirky stories about near-death-experiences. *lol*
"
"
July 8, 2018
–
70.0%
"One of the worst Australian bushfires took place in 2009. How bad was it, you ask? Well, let me put it this way:
This is fire fighters resting. Yep. Because the flames on the right are nothing to be worried about compared to what they had been and shortly would be battling again.
"
This is fire fighters resting. Yep. Because the flames on the right are nothing to be worried about compared to what they had been and shortly would be battling again.
"
July 8, 2018
–
75.0%
"Bryson is surprised at how little can be found out about the Aborigines. What has been done to them in the past is horrible, but that there is so little interest is just as bad. I like how Bryson nevertheless dedicates a chapter to them.
Here is some astonishing Aboriginal rock art:
"
Here is some astonishing Aboriginal rock art:
"
July 9, 2018
–
80.0%
"Now in Cairns, Bryson has found a victim friend to inform about all the dangers of Australia and seems to be enjoying himself a little too much when telling him about cone shells, marine stingers, ... not to mention dengue fever.
But never fear, only hurricanes can get boat tours cancelled (and only due to the prices). *lol*"
But never fear, only hurricanes can get boat tours cancelled (and only due to the prices). *lol*"
July 9, 2018
–
85.0%
"Bryson has been to THE symbols for Australia: Mount Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef!
"
"
July 9, 2018
–
90.0%
"Bryson encounters the famous platypus and echidna
and talks about the impressive native trees and shrubs.
"
and talks about the impressive native trees and shrubs.
"
July 9, 2018
–
Finished Reading
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NOOOOOOOOOOOO. You cannot remake a classic like Crocodile "Mick" Dundee
Adrian wrote: "NOOOOOOOOOOOO. You cannot remake a classic like Crocodile "Mick" Dundee"
Exactly!
I'll post the appropriate gif as soon as I get home (doesn't work here).
*lol* Only if you like Audrey Hepburn.
This adventure has been proudly presented by Jeff, my non-fic buddy-reader. If we're ever trapped in the Outback together, Trish, you can have as much urine as you need. :)
Also, that Australian girls gif w/ the snake is still pretty smoking.
Excellent review!!
Jeff wrote: "This adventure has been proudly presented by Jeff, my non-fic buddy-reader. If we're ever trapped in the Outback together, Trish, you can have as much urine as you need. :)
Also, that Australian..."
BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks. And you can have as much as I can spare. ;P
And I really like the gif as much as what it says about that woman!
So, jetzt aber, Dennis:
Trish wrote: "So, jetzt aber, Dennis:"
Ha! That's the one I was expecting. That's Audrey though.
But it's really nice you chose the one with "darling" in the subtitles. ;)
Ooops, yeah, right. Typical Tuesday. *doh*
No need to blush, btw.This review really is excellent.
Now let's see what Jeff is able to come up with.
Aw, thanks. And yes, I'm looking forward to his review too. :)
I find your review hilarious, and also your (and Jeff’s) timing extremely coincidental as I independently just picked up with this from the library. Feels a little like you’re both influencing me subconsciously ... >_>
Bwahahahahaha. Behold our awesome powers! *wiggles eyebrows*And thanks, I'm glad my review could entertain. I hope you'll like the book as much as I did.
Yeah, I know but I have to take the memes as they are. And it's funny nevertheless. Also, If I had created this, I would have included a koala dropping on someone's head and those toads instead of showing two snakes, two spiders and two sharks. It's not like Australia hasn't enough different species that wanna kill ya. ;)