Terri's Reviews > In a Sunburned Country

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
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bookshelves: general-non-fiction, adventure-travel

An entertaining book in so many ways and I would recommend it to anyone. Sadly, I had some issues with the author that come from my being an Aussie and with him for being a bullshitter.
Of course, considering my origins, I should like to read a book by a first class bullshitter, seeing as Aussies are renowned for their special abilities in that department. However, in this book he is trying to pass his fabrications off as truth and I don't like that at all.
Not everything you read in this book is true and Bryson elaborates a lot in an effort just to be funny. So, if you go into this book remembering that not everything is as it seems, then maybe you will enjoy the ride and come out the other end not disliking my country.

A final comment...I had an ENORMOUS issue with the disrespect Bill Bryson showed to the Aboriginal nation. He portrated them as brainless victms moving about on the peripheral of white society. A large portion of the aboriginal people are proud and very aware if who they are and their history. Bryson buys into the aboriginal issue half heartedly basing his opinions on a few points given him by second or third hand.
He casts opinions about the 'poor' aboriginals and yet never took himself to an aboriginal community or visited any aboriginal and Islander schools or heritage centres. He visited an aboriginal museum in Alice Springs, and then proceeded to be critical and obnoxious about there only being photos of relics on display not real relics. Real relics aren't on display for cultural reasons, but he didn't seem to respect that. It was just another thing for Bryson to mock.
I nearly gave the book 2 stars, and now I am finishing this review I am wondering why I didn't, but I must remember that there is some entertainment to be had in this book. I just wish he didn't provide
entertainment at expense of others so much.
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Reading Progress

May 24, 2011 – Shelved
June 6, 2011 – Shelved as: general-non-fiction
June 6, 2011 – Shelved as: adventure-travel
January 22, 2012 – Started Reading
January 28, 2012 –
page 50
14.93%
January 29, 2012 –
page 120
35.82%
January 30, 2012 –
page 230
68.66%
January 30, 2012 –
page 335
100.0%
January 30, 2012 – Finished Reading

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Comments Showing 1-8 of 8 (8 new)

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message 1: by Terri (new) - rated it 3 stars
Jan 27, 2012 05:49PM

Terri Chris wrote: "The fellow I was riding with apologized for stopping at Wooloomooloo, but he had to get his daily body surfing fix. My first experience with warm water waves. A marvellous beating with free sand ..."

hahaha! Well you know you are on the east coast when you have to stop for a surf.
Your first warm wave experience. That is so foreign to me. I had not even realised people could have one of those, but of course they do. Ignorant of me to not realise. :)

Esperence. Now there is a beautiful place. The whitest of sands and bluest of waters. (And biggest of White Pointer Sharks, but let us not ruin the image I am creating here).

You need to write a memoir. Wooloomooloo, Scottish Nurses and The Land of Hearts Desire.

:D


message 2: by Caroline (new)
Feb 02, 2015 02:36PM

Caroline Good to know all this going in, Terri. Thank you (but sorry some of this was offensive to you)! This has been on my TBR for a while. I've only read one other by Bryson--it was funny, and I really enjoyed it--and have almost all his other books on my TBR. I'd say it's time I read another of his.


message 3: by Terri (new) - rated it 3 stars
Feb 03, 2015 03:11AM

Terri You won't even notice the things that got under my skin. :)


message 4: by Cheryl (new) - rated it 2 stars
May 04, 2018 05:20PM

Cheryl Thank you for your review articulating this. l also was extremely bothered by the disrespect and ignorance shown to the Aborigines by this author. It feels like too many voices are missing in talking about Australian history and present day, and I'm now inspired to seek them out.


message 5: by Terri (last edited May 04, 2018 05:29PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars
May 04, 2018 05:27PM

Terri I'm glad someone else felt as I did. The Aboriginal issue is a complex one and while yes, they suffer and travail in many places in Australia and governments do not do enough (no doubt the same with the Native American in the US), they are also a beautiful people. With a fascinating culture and history that they are proud of.


message 6: by Tony (new) - rated it 3 stars
May 01, 2020 04:34PM

Tony Hinde I'm with you on the Aboriginal front, although I can see how a visitor could easily walk away with Bryson's views. You're right though, he clearly seemed concerned about the issue, but failed to take any serious steps to get the other side of the story. For a writer famed for his research, that smacks of laziness or bias.


message 7: by Terri (last edited May 01, 2020 07:37PM) (new) - rated it 3 stars
May 01, 2020 07:36PM

Terri Yeah, it's a shame someone with such a large readership was in Australia and did not deal with the topic sensitively. He even believed what his friends in Melbourne (I think it was Melbourne) told him about indigenous issues.
It does smack of laziness or bias. He told the easiest story he could in order to be topical.


message 8: by Fran (new) - rated it 5 stars
Sep 07, 2020 06:47AM

Fran No worries. No one could read this book and not admire the country. I wish I were young enough to endure the long flight to get there. I think it sounds like an amazing country with amazing people.


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