A Land Down Under (Down Under - Bill Bryson)

Member Name: looby5

Product:	Down Under - Bill Bryson
Date:	18/09/04 (1761 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny, Informative, Entertaining

Disadvantages: Couldn't put it down

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 necessarily mean it was going to be a quality book or a humorous yet realistic look at the vast land that is Oz.. The only way to discover this was to get stuck in, so I did, the very same night,

Bryson travelled round the country in a fractured fashion, starting in Sydney and exploring the south eastern corner including Melbourne and Adelaide and much in between. He makes much of the fact that eighty percent of Australia’s population is concentrated in this peninsula and yet he can still drive for many miles without much in the way of anything at all. Few vehicles, animals or people caused him any detraction on his journey. He really gives the reader a true flavour of what this part of the country looks and feels like and I found many of my own descriptions of the area coming off the page at me. I of course, loved this and now feel like a ‘proper’ traveller. The Ozzie character was also well portrayed and people are generally welcoming, friendly and easy going, it’s not just a stereotype as Bryson quite rightly points out.

The second part of the trip, up the east coast to Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef was done a while after the first and Bryson had a companion along. I enjoyed very much the repartee between the two men and the authors delight at some of the reactions of his companion in certain situations. I have never been this far north so can’t comment on the authors view of what he found. Al l I can say is that I enjoyed it and I will be adding this part of the country to my itinerary next time I’m there.

One of the other things Bryson really wanted to share with us is just how perilous Australian Flora and Fauna can be. This is something that captivates most travellers to the country and one can’t help but simile at Bryson’s description of a seashell that will go for you. What with the Crocodiles and the Box Jellyfish and the myriad other horrors just waiting to get you Bryson’s emphasis of the dangers is entirely justifiable.

The subject of Australia’s indigenous people, the Aborigines is touched upon and Bryson tries to understand how they have ended up in poverty, poorly educated and why it is not a popular topic of conversation with other Australians. He’s doesn’t really do the topic justice but my own feeling is that he doesn’t try to. This is ultimately a travel book and any political observations will and should always be secondary. Australian political history and identity and history of previous Prime Ministers also gets a light dusting and Bryson marvels at how much of what goes on in this country is completely unnoticed by the rest of the world.

The exploration continues to Darwin, or the ‘Top End’ as the locals call it, then onto Western Australia, which is quite beautiful and faithfully recreated in your imagination thanks to Bryson’s efforts.
As I mentioned earlier, I bought this book on Thursday night and here I am 395 pages and 2 days later writing a review. That must mean this book is pretty addictive and although my sides weren’t splitting it raised more that the odd smile and roused many pleasant memories of the time I spent there.

It’s safe to say this is a really good book. I enjoyed it immensely and couldn’t put it down. I would recommend this book even if you have never been Down Under and don’t plan to go. It stands on its own two feet as an enjoyable and easy read.

I paid £7.99 for this, which is a bit on the pricey side. Had I taken the time to bother I could have found it for as little as £1.99 on ebay or Amazon Marketplace which would have made it great value for money.

ISBN 0-552-99703-x


Now, where’s that credit card? I’m off to book a flight.

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