Sign in with Facebook
Carol's Reviews > In a Sunburned Country
In a Sunburned Country
by
by
In a Sunburned Country is what it is. Pure Bryson all the way and I loved every minute of it. It is not meant to be a scholarly course on Australia history but it is informative and fun. Considering Bryson's repeated mention of the many things that can kill you and the possibility of drinking your own urine, it's a wonder that we come away with a desire to see Australia for ourselves. But we do. Along with Bryson's familiar humor, he manages to capture the vastness of the land, the people, the diversity of nature, the beauty of this country. He wraps it up so well in his quote:
"Australia is an interesting place, it truly is and really is all I'm saying."
Enough said. This is an entertaining read, it truly is, just saying.
"Australia is an interesting place, it truly is and really is all I'm saying."
Enough said. This is an entertaining read, it truly is, just saying.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
In a Sunburned Country.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Started Reading
October 5, 2014
–
Finished Reading
October 9, 2014
– Shelved
October 9, 2014
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
October 9, 2014
– Shelved as:
travel
November 30, 2015
– Shelved as:
book-group-reads
Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Robin
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Oct 09, 2014 07:28AM
I have to say the comment about the flies being so obnoxious having me thinking twice about visiting. :-)
reply
|
flag
*
Robin wrote: "I have to say the comment about the flies being so obnoxious having me thinking twice about visiting. :-)"LOL - Not to worry about the snakes, crocs, venomous jellyfish, riptides, etc., but those darn flies could be a deal breaker.
It was all the fantastic ways to die that made me visit in the first place. I guess my visit was too short for me to actually die :-)
Elizabeth wrote: "It was all the fantastic ways to die that made me visit in the first place. I guess my visit was too short for me to actually die :-)"Oh, that's too funny Elizabeth. I do hope to get there one day myself. Sounds like you need another visit but please be careful.
I think if I avoided swimming in the ocean, walking on the beach, exploring the Outback, hiking in the woods, being near any rivers, or strolling down the city streets, I'd be fine. Sounds like there are some hotel/motel rooms I could hole up in. ;-)
No no! It's all great, if you can manage it at sometime you should all come here at some stage!!!! Nice review Carol :)
I am with Suzanne, you should all come and visit Australia. It is the most amazing country in all the world, and we (the people) are the friendliest.
As for the things that kill you, I have been up close to brown snakes and tiger snakes, swum with great white sharks, picked up red back spiders, box jellyfish, blue ringed octopuses and haven't been killed yet (not even once) and so far this year we have only had 3 fatal shark attacks :)
As for the things that kill you, I have been up close to brown snakes and tiger snakes, swum with great white sharks, picked up red back spiders, box jellyfish, blue ringed octopuses and haven't been killed yet (not even once) and so far this year we have only had 3 fatal shark attacks :)
John wrote: "I am with Suzanne, you should all come and visit Australia. It is the most amazing country in all the world, and we (the people) are the friendliest.As for the things that kill you, I have been u..."
John & Suzanne - I absolutely hope to get there one day but I'd better do it soon before the taxes kill me here.
If people are as nice as both of you I'm in for a treat.
Suzanne wrote: "No no! It's all great, if you can manage it at sometime you should all come here at some stage!!!! Nice review Carol :)"Please see my comment to John & Suzanne - thanks for commenting and hope to see your country one day.
Kidding y'all. If I can swing it someday, I'd love to visit the place, along with New Zealand.
Robin wrote: "Kidding y'all. If I can swing it someday, I'd love to visit the place, along with New Zealand."I knew you were Robin and you did it beautifully. I think most of us would love to visit Australia.
I think we can't help pass up an opportunity to invite everyone we come across!! Perhaps I should read the book ladies?!
I'm so glad you read this! You know it's one that I always recommend to people. Have you read Bryson's The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid? It's kind of a love letter to growing up in the '50s, told in Bryson's inimitable style. I loved it, and although he grew up in the Midwest, I found many parallels to my own life.
Suzanne wrote: "I think we can't help pass up an opportunity to invite everyone we come across!! Perhaps I should read the book ladies?!"We could have a book discussion and you could tell us more about your country.
Bas wrote: "I'm so glad you read this! You know it's one that I always recommend to people. Have you read Bryson's The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid? It's kind of a love letter to growing up in the ..."We listened to The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid on a trip a few years ago. We were so engrossed we missed our exit and had to drive another 15 min. each way to rectify this. We didn't even mind as we got to listen extra time.
Paul had listened to In a Sunburned Country years ago while recouping from an operation. He would tell me something about it everyday when I came home from work. I was a bit disappointed in Bryson's One Summer: America, 1927 which I read for book group. It was interesting but lacked his wit and the style that I'm used to in his other books. Certainly an author can write something different but I needed the Bryson I know and love so In a Sunburned Country it was. The humor is there but far more as I stated in my comments.
I agree...Lenny read One Summer: America, 1927 this past year. He would read sections of it aloud to me, and I found Bryson's signature style to be lacking. I like his books that make me laugh at inappropriate times and places until people look at me and wonder what is wrong with me.I am so glad that Paul didn't bust out any stitches or anything while he was listening to In a Sunburned Country. That was another one that was sidesplittingly funny in parts.
Bas wrote: "I agree...Lenny read One Summer: America, 1927 this past year. He would read sections of it aloud to me, and I found Bryson's signature style to be lacking. I like his books that make me laugh at..."That's it in a nutshell - signature style!
Carol..I love his books
Murf the Surf wrote: "Carol..I love his books"There's much to love.
Carol wrote: "Murf the Surf wrote: "Carol..I love his books"There's much to love."
Carol, did you watch the movie, A Walk in the Woods? I was so disappointed.
Bas commented "Carol, did you watch the movie, A Walk in the Woods? I was so disappointed."No I haven't and really don't think I will. Such a great book. How could they?
I know...it was pretty grim...divested of all the humor...and a really poor choice of casting as well. It was more like Grumpy Old Men in the woods than the Bill Bryson book.
Bas wrote: "I know...it was pretty grim...divested of all the humor...and a really poor choice of casting as well. It was more like Grumpy Old Men in the woods than the Bill Bryson book."Nodding my head in agreement.
