Billy's a good un mate! (Down Under - Bill Bryson)

Member Name: MurphEE

Product:	Down Under - Bill Bryson
Date:	18/08/01 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hilarious

Disadvantages: Too short

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 the Bryson style.

Down Under is the latest offering from Bryson and a thumping good read it is too. To explain the Bryson style, he is very much an everyman type. He is the sort of guy you would love to have as a friend. A man who can seemingly turn ordinary encounters into the most amusing stories that would keep you amused for hours down the pub. But alas as he is not among my friends I have to content myself with the books that the man turns out all too infrequently. Having already had a go at Britain and America Bill has arrived in Australia and sets out to explore it in his own inimitable way.

He has a liking for the country and its inhabitants that shines through the writing. He is a keen observer of human nature and this was pointed out to me on a recent visit to the country. In the book Bryson makes the point that Australians seem to believe that they are inferior to the rest of the world because of the lack of interest that the rest of world shows them. I was reading the book on a flight from Cairns to Sydney when the flight attendant sat down in front of me during the takeoff. He enquired what the book was about and I told him. His first question was if Bryson was “having a go at the Aussies”. At that moment I knew that our man Bryson was spot on as usual in his
observations.

The book is full of his adventures as he tours the big cities and entertains us with the stories of the people and places that he encounters on his journey. He also takes a trip into the outback and is astonished by the size and emptiness of this vast country. He has an almost childlike fascination with the various ways in which you can come to harm in Australia and everything from snakes to jellyfish are discussed and their methods of disposing of you should you be unfortunate to encounter them explained. This might sound a trifle morbid but the way that these facts are interwoven into the story of the journey sum up the style that makes the writer so easy to read and enjoy.

Bryson tries to take a big bite out of a huge country and succeeds in informing and entertaining. He really does his research and has copious facts at his fingertips with regard to the country, its people and its history. This makes the book both entertaining and informative; you will come away knowing much more about the history, flora and fauna, politics and general attitudes of the people that you would expect to have gleaned from such a funny narrative.

If you have never read any of Bryson's work then please try this but be warned you will not be able to put it down and will find yourself scouring the bookstores for further Bryson gems.

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