Bryson is his usual engaging self in Australia. (BTW, the stunningly original title is something else in the US.)

But if you already know Australia, there is little revelation. Early on, he promises some insight into the plight of Australian aborigines, but somehow doesn't get round to it.

Passed to auglaise at Cardiff BC-meet 12 September 2004

Picked it up at the Cardiff meet-up. Thanks mike!

The only other Bryson I read was Notes from a Small Island before I moved to Britain. Down Under both made me want to visit Australia, and also to stay as far away from it as possible on account of all the things that can kill you. I think it's called In a Sunburned Country in the States, as we wouldn't (obviously) be able to understand what Down Under means. ^_^ Thanks for passing it on mike!

RELEASE NOTES:

Hope you enjoy it MrBones!

Bryson arrived safe and sound at my doorstep here in Regensburg. Thanks to Mike and Auglaise! I've read most of Brysons books and they never fail to crack me up! My favorites so far were 'A walk in the woods' and 'Notes from a big country'!
More to come....

Maybe not Brysons funniest book ever but nontheless quite amusing!
To me his funniest book is still 'Notes from a big country'! But that may be due to the fact that I lived in the States for a year and could relate awfully well to most of the stuff he wrote about. It was also the first of Brysons´ books that I've read and his style and sense of humor cought me completely offguard. Once you´ve read a couple of his works you feel that it can get a little repetitive sometimes. Still, I liked it very much! Bryson is also the master of useless yet interesting information! Australia has never been one of my favorite vacational destinations but 'Down Under' definitely makes me wanna go there.
Thanks for sharing and the book will shortly be heading out again!

And here's one of my favorite anectotes:
In the 1950s, a friend of XX moved with her young family into a house next door to a vacant lot. One day some builders arrived to put up a house on the lot. XX´s friend had a 3-year-old daughter who naturally took an interest in all the activity going on next door. She hung around on the margins and eventually the builders adopted her as a kind of mascot. They chatted to her and gave her little jobs to do and at the end of the week presented her with a little pay packet containing a shiny new half crown, or something.
She took this home to her mother who made all the appropriate cooings of admiration and suggested that they take it to the bank the next morning to deposit it in her account. When they went to the bank, the cashier was equally impressed and asked the little girl how she had come by her own pay packet.
'I´ve been building a house this week,' she replied proudly.
'Goodness!' said the cashier. 'And will you be building a house this week, too?'
'I will if we ever get the fucking bricks,' answered the little girl.

Goes next to Rabe-de and then on to katti.
Enjoy!

It's bookring day today. Bryson arrived with three other books and I've got a lot to read now. I'll try to make it quick.

This was my first Bryson and I enjoyed it very much.
I've learned a lot about an unkown continent and had a lot of fun meanwhile. I'm afraid, I won't be able to go to Australia in the near future, as much as I want now, but I definitely will get some more books of Bill Bryson.
Thanks to all for sharing!
Book will travel on to Katti now.

This book had a really hard trip, I guess. Arrived at my home nearly naked (the wrapping was a little torn)... Will help this book to recover and read it asap.