In a Sunburned Country is an armchair travelogue by Bill Bryson. The author takes the reader on a journey to his favorite country, Australia. Bryson’s irreverent wit and engaging prose make for an entertaining read as he recounts both the well-known and little known aspects of this vast continent.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for armchair travelers, readers who enjoy learning about new places from a witty writer’s perspective. It would also make an excellent gift for anyone who has visited or plans to visit Australia.
Pros :
- The author’s wit and engaging prose make for an entertaining read.
- The book provides a well-rounded view of Australia, its history, culture, and landscape.
- It is the perfect travelogue for armchair travelers or those planning to visit Australia.
Cons :
- Bryson’s humor can be juvenile and overdone at times
- The author occasionally succumbs to wanderlust and goes off on tangents that don’t really add much to the narrative
- Some of the information in the book is dated
Learn more about the author
Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951. He is a journalist and bestselling author of travel books as well as memoirs and general nonfiction. Among his many bestsellers are A Walk in the Woods (1998), The Lost Continent (1989), Made in America (1994), Notes from a Small Island (1995), I’m a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years Away(2000)and At Home: A Short History of Private Life(2010).He has won numerous awards, including the National Book Award for Nonfiction and the Royal Society of Literature’s Ondaatje Prize. In 2004 he was made an Officer of the Order of UK Westminster Medal for Services to Literature.
Reader Reviews
“Bill Bryson is a master at making the strange familiar and the familiar strange. . . His wit and humor make this book a joy to read, even as it transports you to some of the most remote corners of Australia.”
“In a Sunburned Country is laugh-out-loud funny, but it’s also eye-opening. Bill Bryson has written the perfect travel companion to Australia.”
“Witty, observant and just the slightest bit cranky.”
“Bill Bryson takes us on a marvelous journey to his favorite country, Australia. Irreverent wit and engaging prose make for an entertaining read as he recounts both the well-known and little known aspects of this vast continent.”