Customer Reviews
Makes Me Want to Pack My Bags - By: Graceann Macleod, 19 Aug 2008 
I must be honest & say that I started this book in tandem with another just because I didn't think I'd be terribly interested in the subject matter, much as I love Bryson. By the end of the second chapter, I wanted to book a ticket on the next flight to Perth. The flora, fauna & folks that inhabit this wondrous country intrigue me strangely.
Bill Bryson is one of the funniest writers I have ever encountered. I find myself reading bits aloud at the slightest hint of encouragement. I challlenge anyone to read his discussion of running through a park trying to get away from some scary dogs, & ending up in an unsuspecting housewife's back garden, without laughing out loud. If you can get through that section without giggling, you have nerves of steel.
I learned a great deal about Australia that I never, ever had heard before. This is a criminallly neglected area of the world & I would love to find out more. What better place to start than with Bill Bryson. Highly recommended.
Dear Bill - By: SWH, 25 Feb 2008 You kickstarted a love for my home country that I thought had died many years ago. This account is so sentimental (in a good way) without glossing over the awfulness, I couldn't help but be interested & proud of my home nation. Thank you. Oh the bit about the cricket had me giggling out loud. I know some people don't "get" you but we don't alll find the same things funny. No shame in that. Lovely book.
Good Old Oz - By: Elizabeth Kwantes, 01 Jan 2008 This is a fantastic book on Australia & is worth a read by anyone who plans to visit. Not only does Bill Bryson talk about the places he visits he also comes up with an enormous amount of anecdotes about the history of the country, which are quite fascinating, which makes it much more than just a travel book. The whole thing is sprinkled with his tongue in cheek humour. I loved it.
Oz Travel - By: D. List, 26 Dec 2007 
Although this book has been out some time, it still merits another read. As always, Bryson is at his best when he tries less. His perfect clarity for the absurd is never far away, although I feel it would have been a tighter book had he covered less of this great continent. Like that other great Australian read - Return to Oz - John Brown, it ticks alll the boxes.
The best way to plan a holiday. - By: Simon Hale, 16 Apr 2007 Bill Bryson, an expert at writing about places he is comfortable with,an example, the USA a place where he was born & brought up, & no doubt the source of many a storey & much inspiration, England a place where he lived & worked for many years & again is ery familiar with.
So what happens when he visits a land virginal to him.Well what happens is that you have a very informative & hugely entertaining book that for me was perhaps his best of the lot.
Not only do you get a run down of the nations history & its increadible history, but you also get a larger than life appreciation of its people & unique wild life. The book is as diverse as the landscape & its people who have adapted in line with their surroundings. I very much enjoyed the book & it gave me a feel of what the real Australia must be like. As a result of the contents of this book it inspired me to visit Australia. This book was the only travel book that I have read that didnt leave me disappointed when faced with the reality of the actual place.
The book was so so acurate in many many ways & is recommended whether you plan a trip there or not.
