"Down Under" (review)

...by Bill Bryson, pub. 2000 by Doubleday (hardback).

What's NOT to like in this book - nothing!

Over the span of 315 pages, Bryson introduces us to Australia, biggest island in the world, and as he explains, the most dangerous (in terms of wildlife), the emptiest...a place of undiscovered treasures (still!).

Each chapter deals with a different geographical location, its environmental makeup, its distinguishing characteristics (at one stage Bryson gives an account of playing around with a new catch phrase for Canberra - "Canberra - There's Nothing To It!", "Canberra - Why Wait For Death?", "Canberra - Gateway to Everywhere Else!"), its locals, culture, significance - and although told in first person narrative, Bryson's stylistic trait, the research into these places is comprehensive, entertaining and extremely focussed.

The book cannot be put down, unless and until sleep creeps in upon the reader (or the need to refresh or relieve oneself)...never have I read a book which has made me laugh so much - there is at least one oneliner or hilarious anecdote per page (not that I counted them!) - except for the noticeable change of mood that comes in Chapter 13, which is Bryson's heartbreaking introductory essay into the history of and injustices meted out to the Aborigines.

I would love to be able to publish Bryson's description of cricket, but due to copyright reasons am restricted to telling you to read page 111...but don't stop there!

Read the whole darn book, AT LEAST ONCE.

Gerald.