In a Sunburned Country in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jun 13, 2019 fleurette rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, australia, travel

I read this book for a challenge and I don’t think I would read it otherwise. I have never read anything by Bill Bryson. I don’t really read travel books (the few I read where pretty boring and uninspiring). I also don’t read funny books because I usually find them just silly and not funny at all. And here I found a book that I really loved.

At the outset, I must say that Australia has always fascinated me. I have never been there, since I were a teenager I liked to read about it and it always s I read this book for a challenge and I don’t think I would read it otherwise. I have never read anything by Bill Bryson. I don’t really read travel books (the few I read where pretty boring and uninspiring). I also don’t read funny books because I usually find them just silly and not funny at all. And here I found a book that I really loved.

At the outset, I must say that Australia has always fascinated me. I have never been there, since I were a teenager I liked to read about it and it always seemed very exciting to me. Probably that's why I have a 'australia' shelf on the GR, and I do not have a shelf dedicated any other region/country. So the very subject of this book worked in its favor.

And God, but Bill Bryson makes a wonderful work in this one. These are not just mundane entries from Bill Bryson's journey, it is much more than that. He carried out very detailed research, read many books and all the most fascinating little tidbits included in this book. And maybe even not only the most interesting, because Bill Bryson can tell so wonderfully that everything seems fascinating. The most boring moments in history become colorful stories straight from Hollywood movies. Flora (which usually interests me less than moderate) seems to be the most interesting thing on this planet. And all the facts that he gives us seem to be curiosities that we will not find anywhere else. This is all seasoned with a powerful dose of humor and a large distance to oneself.

As I rarely laugh when I read a book, here I laughed time and again. The language of this book is so colorful that it is impossible to do otherwise. And what's even stranger, I have the impression that I remember a lot from this read. Reading it, I had the impression that I learn a lot. I also really appreciate that the author has placed a bibliography at the end. It's just something! It proves a thorough preparation for writing this story and respect for the reader. The author did not write this or that just because he thinks it’s like that, but he did detailed research, checked when he had doubts. It is a great feeling for the reader to know that the author values him/her so much.

I already recommended this book to my best friend. And I will definitely read the other books from this author.
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