Bill Bryson is a fixture in the world of travel writing, and for good reason. His books have long been favourites of mine, and this one may very well be top of the pile. I read it a couple of decades ago, and have been wanting to re-read it pretty much ever since. Not only is this Bryson at his finest, but it will make even readers who know nothing about Australia instantly fascinated by such an interesting and unique country.
Bryson’s gift lies in his ability to search out both the mundane and the extraordinary, and interweave them in such a way the they become one – and in such a way that they are both just as interesting. He’ll discuss several of the animals that can kill you in the Australian landscape in one breath, then move right on to describing a thoroughly banal hotel in which he finds nothing of note whatsoever. But this juxtaposition only serves to make the former that much more dramatic. And the thing about Australia is that the unforgiving outback, the heat, the venomous and violent creatures, the painful ones, the dangerous oceans, all combine to make it an extremely interesting – if dangerous – place.
In this book Bryson travels to various parts of the country and recounts, in great detail, the various things that could kill him in that place. He then, secondarily in many cases, goes on to share the history of the place, what it currently has going for or against it, and the places of note he visits while there. And there are a lot of beautiful places he shares, Perth being possibly the most glowingly reviewed for its lovely weather and landscape.
He’s not afraid to metaphorically throw himself to the sharks, either. He mercilessly pokes fun at himself by describing his attempt at boogie boarding (it didn’t go well and he managed to flap even the most unflappable of Aussie onlookers), and the time he went for a walk to find a very expensive house… but forgot his sunscreen. A decision which would haunt him for days afterwards in the form of gawking bypassers and the occasional mention of, “mate, did you know you got a bit of sun there?”
This book is as informative as it is hilarious. It’s impossible to put down, and will have you alternately feeling absolutely terrified and wanting to hop the next plane down under. But whichever end of the spectrum you are on while you read, I can guarantee you will not be bored. Whether you want to learn more about this amazing place, are planning a trip there yourself, or are just looking for some premium armchair travel, this book will absolutely not disappoint. Though it may have you rethinking your itinerary if you’re heading there yourself!
It is the driest, flattest, hottest, most infertile and climatically aggressive of all the inhabited continents, and still Australia teems with life – a large portion of it quite deadly. In fact, Australia has more things that can kill you in a very nasty way than anywhere else.
Ignoring such dangers – and yet curiously obsessed by them – Bill Bryson journeyed to Australia and promptly fell in love with the country. And who can blame him? The people are cheerful, extroverted, quick-witted and unfailingly obliging: their cities are safe and clean and nearly always built on water; the food is excellent; the beer is cold and the sun nearly always shines. Life doesn’t get much better than this… – Goodreads
Book Title: In a Sunburned Country
Author: Bill Bryson
Series: No
Edition: Audiobook/Paperback
Published By: Anchor Canada
Released: January 1, 2000
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Travel, Australia, YIKES!
Pages: 360
Date Read: June 22-26, 2024
Rating: 9/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.08/5 (113,324 ratings)
[…] on my all-time favourite travel book list, but I haven’t read it in decades. When I re-read In A Sunburned Country this year, I realized there are plenty of other travel books I’d also like to re-visit. This, […]