Down Under - Bill Bryson

Last Thursday night I was scurrying round the Trafford Centre desperately looking for some Coconut Oil, (another story) when I felt the irresistible pull of WH Smiths. Now I wasn’t there to splurge on books, but what can you do when you feel the force. Before I knew it I had made a number of completely unnecessary purchases one of which being the delightful ‘Down Under’ by Bill Bryson. I hadn’t read any of Bryson’s other work before this but I knew I was going to like it straight away. It’s the subject matter you see; I’m drawn to all things Australian after my round Oz trip earlier this year, and although I was fairly sure I would enjoy the book that didn’t ...  Read the complete review

Bill Bryson used to be my neighbour. He did y'know! well, he used to live about 2 miles away. And I met him on many occasions! I did to! well, he shopped in waitrose and so I stalked him and I swear he walked past me holding his hand to the side of his face and muttering something like "bloody woman" under his breath. Anyway I digress, this was supposed to be a book review, not a review of my celebrity obsessive stalkerish tendancies. I first came across Bill Bryson when my dad started to read his books many years ago. As you couldn't fail to be aware if you have been awake for the last 12 literary years, Brysons written genre is in Travel. ...  Read the complete review

'Down Under' is Bill Bryson's travel account of his time spent exploring Australia. It was written in 2000, and is 394 pages long. It is available in hardback and paperback - the paperback is on sale on Amazon for £5.39. Having already read several other Bryson's books, when I spotted this one in my local library, I was extremely keen to read it. I was not disappointed. The book begins with several maps of Australia, each map indicating Bryson's different trips and journeys across what is a extremely large country. I found this inclusion particularly useful - when reading the book, you can easily refer back to the maps to clarify exactly where he ...  Read the complete review

It takes a lot for me to laugh out loud at a book. Perhaps it's because slapstick appeals more and it is just so much easier to be wooed by visual comedy. Bill Bryson has changed all this forever. He writes as if he is talking directly to you, as if having a one to one conversation in a bar. Within the first 2 pages of 'Down Under', his description of his own sleeping patterns had me rolling out of my hammock. As you might expect, 'Down Under' is a travelogue of a trip (several trips in fact) Bryson took in Australia. The journey took him from Sydney in the south east to Perth on the other side of the world's largest ...  Read the complete review

Bill Bryson has to be the best travel writer currently plying their trade. That is if, like me, you like a bit of humour injected into this type of writing. I came across him last year when browsing the shelves of my local bookstore. I like to just look at the covers and have a little look at anything that takes my fancy. As I scanned the titles I came across a book by an American who had written about his return to his native land after a period of time living in Britain. It took the format of short essays on the people and problems that he encountered as he tried to settle back into his homeland. I had a little delve and bought the book. I was instantly converted to ...  Read the complete review