Australia

Let's face it...that long haul flight is certainly worth it.

Not only that, any Australian will gladly tell you that there is so much more to see and do than what you just see in the brochure!

That's why it's so important to get your travel plans sorted out properly - whether it's Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, or even the Great Barrier Reef - Australia has it all!

Title : Down Under
Author : Bill Bryson
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Slight criticism of a superb book.

I recently spent almost 5 weeks in Oz and was handed this book by my son on arrival. Its a perfect book to read of relaxation ( and a little education) either whilst travelling or on return from Oz. His writing is so enjoyable and so apt. My only criticism is that there are some places he should have given more time to, although he did this in his book about Great Britain, as soom places are far more fun than he seemed to appreciate. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Title : Down Under
Author : Bill Bryson
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Hilarious Portrait of Oz and its People

As an Aussie living overseas, this book was a fabulous read for me. It was my first Bryson read, and I think his best. It really captures a lot of the eccentricities and uniqueness of the country and the Australian character- and provides some great laughs in the process! I enjoyed the way he didn't necessarily always do typically touristy things, but rather set out to experience and capture the local life.

Sometimes the view of an outsider can be the best way to see the uniqueness of your own country and people. Bryson really does this. So many things he mentions that seem amusingly distinct to Australians are things that never would have entered my head because I see them as usual! One example is how he mentions the Aussie habit of finding a name then naming everything after it (eg: MacQuarie- MacQuarie Street, Lake MacQuarie, the town of Port MacQuarie, Lady MacQuarie's Chair, and so on). It's absolutely true!

Perhaps the best part is the people he meets- some real characters! This makes the book really personal, as you get a feel for the personality of the Aussie people. I gave the book to my European boyfriend, whose dream now is to go to Queensland- not because it's so beautiful, but because he thinks they sound like a bunch of crazy people with a great, relaxed outlook on life.

If you're an Aussie living overseas, read this book for a true piece of home. If you're not an Aussie, read this book for a true feel about the country and its people. Bryson hit the nail on the head with this one!

Title : The Fatal Shore: History of the Transportation of Convicts to Australia, 1787-1868 (Harvill Panther S.)
Author : Robert Hughes
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Odd

My only gripe was: An Australian author, writing on England (let's face it, it wasn't 'Britain' doing any of this and most people outside Great Britain think Wales and Scotland are just large sities in 'England') and Australia, in English - using American spelling. Every time I saw 'Sydney Harbor' and suchlike, I couldn't help but think a little less of his abilities.

Title : Rough Guide Map Australia (Rough Guide Map S.)
Author : Rough Guides
Rating : 5 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Map review

The rough guide map is great. I am looking to travel in Oz next year and needed a planning map. All the other maps concentrate on each state, or area. This one is perfect, as it covers a large area of the country on each side, yet you feel that it can be used to get about as a normal regional map.
Excellent value for money

Title : Down Under
Author : Bill Bryson
Rating : 4 Stars out of 5.
Summary : Very informative, telling you many things no ordinary travel book does

Bill Bryson is best known for writing very humorous travel books, and "Down Under" is indeed a funny account of his travels in Australia. Those who love Bill Bryson's books for their humor won't be disappointed.

But unlike most people, I like Bill Bryson best when he's NOT trying to be funny, and my appreciation of this book is mostly due to the great amount of very interesting information presented.

Bill Bryson amazes you with loads of information about the geology, the animal life, the plants and insects, the history, the statistics, the folklore, etc., etc. The many dangers: poisonous snakes, poisonous insects, poisonous jellyfish, crocodiles, sharks, and rip currents - they're all out to get you. The inhospitable deserts, the beautiful beaches, the huge distances; Bill Bryson gives you a feeling of what it's all like.

The book goes into detail about many aspects of Australian life that are fairly unknown, including the discovery (and re-discovery) of Australia, the settlement by British prisoners, the early expeditions to explore the interior, the gold rushes, the outlaws, and the devastation caused by rabbits and other imported animals and plants. Bill Bryson talks about the many unusual animal species found only in Australia, including giant earthworms that grow up to 1 meter (and can be stretched to 4 meters) and the platypus, a cross between a reptile and a mammal. He talks about Australians and the Australian society, and the situation regarding the native people, the aboriginals.

Bill Bryson doesn't cover all of Australia from the geographical point of view, and the parts he does cover are somewhat random. But that doesn't matter because he captures the spirit of the whole country based on the parts he does visit and the general information he includes.

A very positive aspect is that Bill Bryson makes it clear that he loves Australia. The feeling is infectious, and it makes you want to pack your bags and head "down under" for a long leisurely trip so you can do your own exploring.

If I were to mention two things I was less happy about, it would be the occasional excessive attempts to be funny and the lack of contact with Australians. One of the best parts of the book is about his traveling together with an Australian couple for 3-4 days, but other than this passage Bill Bryson is mostly playing the typical tourist, with little or no contact with Australians. And despite a fairly long discussion about the aboriginal situation he does not ever get into contact with any aboriginals. Why not?

A final note regarding the unabridged audio version of the book, read by Bill Bryson himself: Most authors are poor readers, but Mr. Bryson does a very good job here, almost on a par with a professional reader. Recommended.

Rennie Petersen

PS. "Down Under" has also been published under the title "In a Sunburned Country". It is exactly the same book.

Australia Flight Virgin and Australia online resources.