Having visited several of the Australian locations in this book – Sydney, Canberra, Alice Springs, Uluru, Darwin, and the Great Barrier Reef, among several others - I loved reading about Bill Bryson’s experiences there. He is the most engaging non-fiction writer: I was captivated by his mix of whimsical observations, self-deprecating anecdotes, hilarious remarks about the foibles of his travelling companion, and reports on overheard conversations. These are interspersed with occasional excursions into the history, geography, politics or scientific facts and curiosities about particular places. What I enjoy most is the feeling he gives the reader of moving in close to a subject, examining its quirkiest or most singular aspect, then panning out again to take a more distant or panoramic view. He reserves his funniest writing for those occasions when he encounters total frustration and annoyance. I don’t think I will ever again be on my travels, up against an infuriating person or chain of events, without wondering what Bill Bryson would make of this. He is at his best as a writer when things go wrong. I think my favourite episode in the whole book is when he and his companion drive around Darwin several times trying to find a hotel whose name is unaccountably different from the name it went by when he booked it. When he finally arrives in the reception of the hotel he has now driven past several times, disgruntled and fractious, the receptionist makes it quite clear she has never heard the saying ‘the customer is always right’. Bill Bryson’s assessment of her, the hotel, and the people of Darwin would not look good on Trip Adviser. When I later checked this hotel out, I discovered that several travellers had indeed given it a very low star rating with a mixture of scornful comments. Those who read Bill Bryson’s travel books must end up in two minds about whether they would like to be his travelling companion for one of his journeys: or indeed, one of the people he meets, chats with, or whose conversations he overhears and records. From my experience, people rarely recognise themselves in books, and of course, the author can always change the names. Would it be fun to agree to accompany Bill, or one of their worst decisions ever? I will now read Bill Bryson’s other travel books and continue to find inspiration as a non-fiction writer.

Another very funny travelogue from Bill Bryson this time from his adventures down under in Australia. Bryson meanders around Australia so we the reader do not have too. There are plenty of belly laughs throughout the book. When Bryson opens his account, he reminds the reader that there are more things in Australia that can kill you than anywhere else on earth. Bryson is obsessed with this fact throughout the course of the book, and understandably so when he travels to the areas that this is a real possibility. The book reflects that Australia is not only a country but a continent and that the majority of the civilisation is gathered around the coastline. The rest of the country is a massive area of bush and desert. It is a country that is teeming with life and Bryson that falls in love with the country. Even though Bryson wanders around the towns and cities on foot it not until the very end of his travels that he suffers sunburn. You find that Bryson always travels with books to explain the history of the places he visits as well exploring the museums, gardens and outback. Bryson highlights Australia’s history, some of it shameful, some of it unknown and plenty that has been forgotten. Another brilliant Bryson book.

I got this book in preparation in visiting my brother and family in Oz. It goes into detail about the history of the country and the people in it. It's a great tale of funny stories and little facts. It keeps you entertained and finish it in one go, but like most things it's best to savour it in small doses. He makes the read so enjoyable it makes you gasp, ponder and laugh. I would recommend it to anyone as either someone going out there for a visit, to get a little more knowledge on the country, or those who want a really good read. After this I have sort out more of his books and currently reading Neither here Nor there.