If You have heard of the book/now movie A Million Ways To Die In The West than you must also know there are a million ways to die in Australia; or at least according to humorous author Bill Bryson there is. Crocodiles, poisonous spiders, sharks, and lots of miles of hot desert with no relief in sight are just to name a few.
Bill Bryson shares his adventures of visiting the Land Down Under mixed with true experiences of a killer sun burn, scary hotels, miles of driving to look at famous (or not) spots, as well as a good dose of history in this amazing area; In A Sun Burned Country will give you a pleasant mix of what Australia is like today, and how it was discovered.
When this book showed up in Candace’s guest post about books recommended either about Australia or with Australian authors, this is the one that caught my attention. Why not read a book about the country I was about to visit by an author that was known for his humor. I liked the fact that I was not about to read a dry commentary on Australia and I dug in.
Bill Bryson is definitely an author to experience. Not only did I learn interesting facts about the country of Australia and the places it is known for, but I also laughed along the way as I read. (You must read about the history of the Opera house and what happened to the man who designed it. EEP!) I found myself quoting this book frequently through the trip including reading passages out loud to my fellow travelers.
I read this one on the plane to Australia, and while on the cruise ship. I found it interesting, insightful, and full of fun – exactly the type of book you want to read on vacation. I highly recommend it to anyone who is going to experience (or has experienced) Australia.
- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Broadway Books (May 15, 2001)
Book Journey 